Jenny S.
Yelp
Wat Dhammararam Buddhist Temple was featured on Huell Howser's TV Series "California's Gold" in 2007. (http://www.visitstockton.org/things-to-do/free-things-to-do/stockton-cambodian-buddhist-temple-wat-dharmararam)
We visited the temple to see these larger than life hand carved and painted statues, and they did not disappoint. (One was approximately 50 feet long, it was huge!) They were all uniquely beautiful, the colors were so vibrant (jewel encrusted even), and it is evident that there was a lot of attention paid to detail. We even had the opportunity of witnessing them painting murals on the building, they were standing on the roof! Other volunteers were working on a newly crafted statue, and painting it ever so carefully.
We couldn't help but feel a very peaceful aura while strolling around the temple.
Everyone we encountered there, both volunteers and monks, were all so friendly and inviting. I saw many cats roaming around the temple, as though they were strays with no where to go and the temple provided a sanctuary and home for them. They were all laying around relaxing, and some even approached us!
I read on visitstockton. org that every year the Cambodian New Year Celebration "draws thousands of people to the Wat Dhammararam Buddhist Temple for delicious food, music, dancing, and celebration of the Cambodian New Year"
This year it takes place on:
"Date: Thursday, April 17, 2014 - Sunday, April 20, 2014
Event hours at 8:00am to 7:00pm.
The New Year's Celebration is free and open to the public.
Admission is free and parking within the Temple is free! Donations greatly appreciated." For those of you who haven't been here and would like to, maybe then would be an even more exciting time to go?
Overall we had a pleasant experience there.
On a side note, I've heard that Wat Dhammararam Buddhist Temple is the largest Cambodian Temple in the United States, but I can't confirm that. (If anyone knows, I'd love to know if this is true or not?!) I read somewhere online that these are probably the updated phone numbers: "Khmer 209-915-6411 and for English 209-423-9356."