Samnaksong Charoentham Kamala – Wat Baan Kamala

Thai Temple – Kamala Beach

Samnaksong Charoentham Kamala (สำนักสงฆ์เจริญธรรมกมลา), also known as Wat Baan Kamala, is a small temple in the middle of Kamala village, just a short distance from the beach. It’s not one of Phuket’s famous temples, but people in the area come here often to make merit or join ceremonies. You’ll see monks around in the early morning, and the atmosphere is quiet, especially during weekdays.

The layout is quite simple. A few temple buildings stand around an open courtyard, and the architecture follows classic Thai style—red roofs, golden trim, and carved details above the entrances. One eye-catching feature is the long walkway lined with dozens of identical golden Buddha statues. Each one has a black alms bowl in front, and many people like to drop coins in as they walk past. It’s a quiet routine, but it’s part of everyday life here.

There’s also a seated Buddha near the entrance, made from lek nam phi, a rare iron from northern Thailand. Local people say it offers protection and good luck. The temple isn’t big, and it’s not designed for tourists, but it’s well cared for and open to visitors.

Wat Baan Kamala was also involved in relief efforts after the 2004 tsunami and remains part of the local emergency plan today. It’s more of a neighbourhood temple than a sightseeing place, but that’s what gives it charm. There’s no ticket, no crowds—just a local temple where things happen slowly and quietly.