Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Si Satchanalai
This
zone
(admission 100B, plus car 50B; 8am-5pm)
contains the majority of ruins. An
information
centre
( 8.30am-5pm)
at the park distributes free maps and has a small exhibit outlining the
history and attractions. Bike hire
(per day 30B;
8am-5pm)
is available near the entrance gate.
Wat Chang Lom
This fine temple, marking the centre of the old city of Si Satchanalai, has elephants sur-
rounding a bell-shaped
chedi
that is somewhat better preserved than its counterpart in
Sukhothai. An inscription states that the temple was built by King Ramkhamhaeng
between 1285 and 1291.
HISTORICAL SITE
Wat Khao Phanom Phloeng
HISTORICAL SITE
On the hill overlooking Wat Chang Lom are the remains of Wat Khao Phanom Phloeng,
including a
chedi,
a large seated Buddha and stone columns that once supported the roof
of the
wí·hăhn
.
From this hill you can make out the general design of the once-great city. The slightly
higher hill west of Phanom Phloeng is capped by a large Sukhothai-style
chedi
- all that
remains of
Wat Khao Suwan Khiri
.
Wat Chedi Jet Thaew
HISTORICAL SITE
Next to Wat Chang Lom, these ruins contain seven rows of
chedi,
the largest of which is a
copy of one at Wat Mahathat in Sukhothai. An interesting brick-and-plaster
wí·hăhn
fea-
tures barred windows designed to look like lathed wood (an ancient Indian technique used
all over Southeast Asia).
Wat Nang Phaya
South of Wat Chedi Jet Thaew, this
chedi
is Sinhalese in style and was built in the 15th or
16th century, a bit later than the other monuments at Si Satchanalai. Stucco reliefs on the
large laterite
wí·hăhn
in front of the
chedi
- now sheltered by a tin roof - date from the
Ayuthaya period when Si Satchanalai was known as Sawankhalok. Goldsmiths in the dis-
trict still craft a design known as
nahng pá·yah
, modelled after these reliefs.
HISTORICAL SITE
