Wat Chang Rop (Kamphaeng Phet)
The Wat Chang Rop ( Thai วัด ช้าง รอบ , temple surrounded by elephants , alternative spelling: Wat Chang Rob ) is a Buddhist temple complex ( Wat ) in Kamphaeng Phet .
location
Wat Chang Rop is located on a hill in a north-westerly direction outside the city walls of the old town of Kamphaeng Phet. It belongs to the northern part of the "Khet Aranyik" of the Kamphaeng Phet Historical Park, which is divided into several smaller, densely packed areas .
Building history
The temple complex was built in the 15th and 16th centuries and served in the final phase of the Sukhothai Kingdom for the religious consolidation of the claim to power.
Attractions
The temple consists mainly of a viharn , of which only the foundation walls are preserved, and the ruins of a large chedi . The tip of the chedi is broken off, but it was likely a bell shape in the Sri Lankan style. Traces of stucco decorations can be seen on the uppermost ring that has been preserved. It stands on a high, square base with an edge length of 31 meters with four symmetrically arranged steep stairs. The base is surrounded by 68 elephant figures, the front half of which protrude from the base. The elephants are made of laterite covered with stucco. The fine decorations are only preserved on one side of the building. Between the elephants there were plasterboards with various representations of Bodhi trees .
literature
- Clarence Aasen: Architecture of Siam: A Cultural History and Interpretation . Oxford: Oxford University Press 1998. ISBN 9835600279 .
Web links
Coordinates: 16 ° 30 ′ 17 " N , 99 ° 30 ′ 22.4" E