If you want to admire the architecture of Northeastern Thailand, Wat Sathorn Ban Bua is an interesting place to visit. Located in Ban Bua, Kud Khao District, Khon Kaen Province, this temple features a "sim" or "ubosot," a structure of significant architectural value that clearly showcases the local Isaan characteristics. The exterior of the building is adorned with colorful paintings and glass decorations, while the interior houses a sand-stone Buddha statue in the Isaan style. Visitors can enter the sim in groups of no more than five at a time. It is the only sim that features intricate stucco work, preserving the original craftsmanship well, while other sims typically decorate their walls with huab taem (paintings). Ban Bua is an ancient community established by revered figures such as Phuyai Khun Siwa, Phuyai Khot Wong, Phuyai Khot Ta, Phuyai Phae, and Phuyai Kun, who led their descendants from the nearby village (now known as Wat Pa Manjakiri) to escape epidemics and a lack of drinking water. They settled by the lotus pond, which was filled with beautiful lotus flowers, hence the name "Ban Bua." The locals constructed the first "sim" or "ubosot" in the area, housing a heavy red sandstone Buddha statue, which is a rare example of pure Isaan artistry. The term "sim" refers to a small, traditional ubosot characterized by its exterior designs, commonly made using low-relief techniques with only 2-3 colors. The craftsmanship reflects the simplicity of that era. Wat Sathorn (Ban Bua) boasts a sim that is 175 years old, built by local artisans using brick and mortar. The sim has only one entrance and features side windows. When it fell into disrepair, the local community, in collaboration with Khon Kaen University and the Fine Arts Department, worked together to restore it while retaining the Isaan traditional style. Notably, the walls of the sim are embellished with low-relief stucco work depicting figures riding elephants, three-tiered umbrellas, celestial beings, elephant-shaped flowers, as well as riders on elephants. The roof is a single-gabled design covered with cement tiles, featuring eaves that extend outward with intricate fish-scale patterns. The Fine Arts Department registered Wat Sathorn (Ban Bua) as a national historical site in 2001, and in 2002, the "sim" of Wat Sathorn Ban Bua received a value award for heritage and cultural preservation from UNESCO in the Asia-Pacific region.