Wat Phra Si Rattana Maha That Chaliang, Si Satchanalai Historical Park, Sukhothai

Wat Phra Si Rattana Maha That Chaliang, Si Satchanalai Historical Park, Sukhothai Wat Phra Si Rattana Maha That Chaliang is located on the Yom River about one kilometer southeast of Si Satchanalai. The local people known as Wat Phra Prang. The large prang was built in the reign of King Borom Tri Lokanat of Ayutthaya to cover the original Khmer prang. It was made from laterite. It was restored in the reign of King Borom Kot of Ayutthaya. In the front large prang, there are stairways leading up to the porch on front of the prang. In the center of the large hall inside, a small stupa contains the Buddha relic’s is situated. The large vihan in front of the prang has the principal Buddha image in the Sukhothai style. On the right of the principal image is a walking Buddha image made of brick and stucco probably in the early Sukhothai period. Axial stupas stand round the prang and the vihan. The whole group, together with an alcove containing a Buddha image under the naga, is enclosed within walls of large laterite blocks decorated with woodwork designs. The east and the west doors in the walls are mounted with the four-faced head of the Brahma in the Bayon art style. There are in addition figures Devas, dancing girls and the Rahu swallowing the moon’s disc that characterize the Khmer art style. In front of the east door is a bot that is a new structure over the old foundation. In front of it is the monastic cell of Phra Ruang – Phra Lue, probably referring to King Ram Khamhaeng and King Li Thai. At the back of the prang lies the ruin of a large stupa base that has sides, a feature suggestive of the Mon style. This stupa is called Phra Mutao. At the back of the great stupa is a vihan which is locally known as the “two brothers” vihan, presumably because there are two large stucco Buddha images inside.