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Thailand - Sri Satchanalai


Photo Gallery of Sri Satchanalai in Thailand.

Sri Satchanalai is about 60 km north of Sukhotai.
It seems that the history of this area along the Yom river dates back to prehistoric times from the discovery of stone axes. It's known that 11th century Sri Satchanalai is described in Thai or Chinese documents and buildings around 3rd century before Sukhotai era was found from archeological excavation.

Supporting Elephants
(39 elephants supporting the chedi of Wat Chang Lom. They are out of shape.)
In Sukhotai era, around 1240 to 1438, Sri Satchanalai was one of dynasty ruled cities and was developed as the second largest city, following Sukhotai, where a crown prince lived and ruled.
(Sri Satchanalai became a special area since the first king, King Sri Indradhit, had sent his first son, Ban Muang, to Sri Satchanalai, and then when Ban Muang had become a king of Sukhothai, he also had sent his younger brother there to govern.)

This area is a hometown of pottery called " Sunkoroku " in Japan whose name is from " Sawankhalok " or " Sangkalok ".
(" Sawankhalok " was exported to the Philippines, Japan, Indonesia and so on.)

See Photo Gallery of  Sukhothai about Sukhothai in Thailand.




[SriSatchanalai] Historical Park

Historical park, the vast area along Yom river, has more than 215 ruins in around 45 square km. It's about 550 km north of Bangkok.

Not far behind from Sukhothai Historical Park, it has a lot of things to see and I guess it's difficult to go see around on foot. (I went around by car. :D )

The entrance fee: 40 Baht for a foreigner, 50 Baht for a car. (As of 2005.)
Historical park, the vast area along Yom river, has more than 215 ruins in around 45 square km. It's about 550 km north of Bangkok.

Not far behind from Sukhothai Historical Park, it has a lot of things to see and I guess it's difficult to go see around on foot. (I went around by car. :D )

The entrance fee: 40 Baht for a foreigner, 50 Baht for a car. (As of 2005.)
Atmosphere in the park
(Feels like Sukhothai is managed more than here but roads are set out neatly.)
Elephant
(After passing the entrance, an elephant welcomes you.
You can give him bananas but some visitors go around riding on him ?)
Rental
(You can rent a bicycle. What's more, tents or a sleeping bags are ready, but someone will sleep here ???)
Tourist car
(This looks go and guide you in the park.)
Atmosphere in the park
(Feels like Sukhothai is managed more than here but roads are set out neatly.)
Elephant
(After passing the entrance, an elephant welcomes you.
You can give him bananas but some visitors go around riding on him ?)
Rental
(You can rent a bicycle. What's more, tents or a sleeping bags are ready, but someone will sleep here ???)
Tourist car
(This looks go and guide you in the park.)

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[Historical Park] Wat Chang Lom

In 13th century (1291), this temple was built by Ramkhamhaeng the Great as a commemoration of victory against Khmer (Cambodia) and it's located in the center of the site surrounded by walls.

Sri Lanka style and bell shaped chedi (Buddha stupa) stands high on a square base and is supported by 39 elephants who are almost broken.
Appearance 1
(Distant view of Wat Chang Lom.)
Appearance 2
(Whole view of Wat Chang Lom.)
Appearance 3
(Entering from the front.)
Close-up
(Elephants on a base and Buddha statues above.)
Appearance 1
(Distant view of Wat Chang Lom.)
Appearance 2
(Whole view of Wat Chang Lom.)
Appearance 3
(Entering from the front.)
Close-up
(Elephants on a base and Buddha statues above.)
Supporting Elephants
(39 elephants supporting the chedi. They are out of shape.)
Chedi
(Sri Lanka style chedi.)
To the chedi
(You can go up the stairs.
The Buddha statues has no head.)
After going up the stairs
(The view of upstairs.)
Supporting Elephants
(39 elephants supporting the chedi. They are out of shape.)
Chedi
(Sri Lanka style chedi.)
To the chedi
(You can go up the stairs.
The Buddha statues has no head.)
After going up the stairs
(The view of upstairs.)
Buddha statue 1
(Some of statues have a head. Put a new head later ?)
Buddha statue 2
(Close up. No head.)
View from the chedi 1
(You can see another chedi.)
View from the chedi 2
(View from the chedi toward the entrance.)
Buddha statue 1
(Some of statues have a head.
Put a new head later ?)
Buddha statue 2
(Close up.
No head.)
View from the chedi 1
(You can see another chedi.)
View from the chedi 2
(View from the chedi toward the entrance.)

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[Historical Park] Wat Chedi Chet Thaeo

The temple, opposite to Wat Chang Lom, is "Wat Chedi Chet Thaeo" which means "the temple with seven rows of chedis". Looks like it was built in fifteen century, and it's said that the wat (temple) is one of the most beautiful temples in Sukhothai.

The main chedi (stupa) is lotus-bud shaped in the center of the site and various sized 33 chedis are around that. (I didn't count them, though. :D )

I feel this temple is similar to " Wat Mahathat " in Sukhothai Historical Park.
Whole image
(The main chedi in the center is lotus-bud shaped.
Another big chedi is in front of the main chedi. See ? :) )
Naga and Buddha
(The chedi in front of the main chedi has a meditating Buddha image on the coiled Naga (Snake God))
Chedis around 1
(Various sized chedis are around the main one.
Looks like Their styles are different.)
Chedis around 2
(They are chedis around the main one also. A little smaller ones.)
Whole image
(The main chedi in the center is lotus-bud shaped.
Another big chedi is in front of the main chedi. See ? :) )
Naga and Buddha
(The chedi in front of the main chedi has a meditating Buddha image on the coiled Naga (Snake God))
Chedis around 1
(Various sized chedis are around the main one.
Looks like Their styles are different.)
Chedis around 2
(They are chedis around the main one also. A little smaller ones.)
Chedis around 3
(They also are chedis around. A lot, right ? :) )
Chedis around 4
(This is also chedi around.
Feels like this site is a forest of chedi. :D )
Around 1
(The scenery around the temple.
The temple nestles in the green.)
Around 2
(This is the scenery around the temple also. Very wide space.)
Chedis around 3
(They also are chedis around.
A lot, right ? :) )
Chedis around 4
(This is also chedi around.
Feels like this site is a forest of chedi. :D )
Around 1
(The scenery around the temple.
The temple nestles in the green.)
Around 2
(This is the scenery around the temple also.
Very wide space.)

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Wat Phra Si Rattana Mahathat

"Wat Phra Si Rattana Mahathat" is in a town called "Chaliang", outside of the city wall of Sri Satchanalai, about 2km from the Historical Park.

This temple is said to be built in the Sukhothai era. It has a sweet-corn-shaped prang (Buddhist stupa) in the Khmer style. (It's considered that this temple was in the Khmer style but turned to be in the Thai style afterward.)
"Wat Phra Si Rattana Mahathat" is in a town called "Chaliang" (*1), outside of the city wall of Sri Satchanalai, about 2km from the Historical Park.

This temple is said to be built in the Sukhothai era. It has a sweet-corn-shaped prang (Buddhist stupa) in the Khmer style. (It's considered that this temple was in the Khmer style but turned to be in the Thai style afterward.)

This temple had an important restoration by the King Borommakot in the period of Ayutthaya (1732-1758).

  • *1) Chaliang
    This town, Chaliang, already existed in 11st century during the Khmer period (802 - 1432) and it's considered that the town is older than Sri Satchanalai.

By the way, there is a temple with the same name in Phitsanulok.
Across a bridge 1
(To reach the temple, go across this bridge.)
Across a bridge 2
(Yom river from the bridge.)
Across a bridge 3
(Kids enjoy swimming or fishing in the river.)
The front
(A huge prang and a Buddha image in front.)
Across a bridge 1
(To reach the temple, go across this bridge.)
Across a bridge 2
(Yom river from the bridge.)
Across a bridge 3
(Kids enjoy swimming or fishing in the river.)
The front
(A huge prang and a Buddha image in front.)
Prang
(Khmer style.
Compared to Prasat Phimai, each piece might have had a Buddha image carved.)
Buddha statue 1
(The image in front.
If you look at it carefully, you will see the statue has long fingers.)
Buddha statue 2
(Close-up of the front image.
Looks like it's damaged a lot but the face shows peaceful.)
Buddha statue 3
(Side-shot of the front statue.
There is another statue nearby.)
Prang
(Khmer style.
Compared to Prasat Phimai, each piece might have had a Buddha image carved.)
Buddha statue 1
(The image in front.
If you look at it carefully, you will see the statue has long fingers.)
Buddha statue 2
(Close-up of the front image.
Looks like it's damaged a lot but the face shows peaceful.)
Buddha statue 3
(Side-shot of the front statue.
There is another statue nearby.)
Inside of the top
(You can go up the prang to the top. A small temple is placed.)
From the top 1
(The scene of looking down from the top.)
From the top 2
(Looking down to the front of the temple.)
From the top 3
(To the left from the top. There are some shops.)
Inside of the top
(You can go up the prang to the top.
A small temple is placed.)
From the top 1
(The scene of looking down from the top.)
From the top 2
(Looking down to the front of the temple.)
From the top 3
(To the left from the top.
There are some shops.)
Standing Buddha 1
(Big standing Buddha image.
I guess it is as tall as the ones in Wat Mahathat, Sukhothai.)
Standing Buddha 2
(Close-up of the standing Buddha image.
Compared to the front Buddha image, this looks like the eyes are closed.)
Standing Buddha 3
(Around the feet.
There is a small Buddha image and a cup for sticks of incense or candles.)
A pair
(Two Buddha images nearby. Does this style imply something ?)
Standing Buddha 1
(Big standing Buddha image.
I guess it is as tall as the ones in Wat Mahathat, Sukhothai.)
Standing Buddha 2
(Close-up of the standing Buddha image.
Compared to the front Buddha image, this looks like the eyes are closed.)
Standing Buddha 3
(Around the feet.
There is a small Buddha image and a cup for sticks of incense or candles.)
A pair
(Two Buddha images nearby.
Does this style imply something ?)

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