Sukhothai - Wat Sri Chum

Wat Sri Chum This temple houses one of the most impressive Buddha images in Sukhothai. Originally surrounded by a moat, the focus of this temple is a square mondop housing the Phra Achana Buddha image.

Mondop The mondop is 32m long and 15m high, with walls 3m thick. There is a passageway in the left inner wall leading to the top of the Buddha. On the ceiling of the passageway are fifty engraved slate slabs illustrating Jataka scenes. The passageway is now closed as many people had fell of the top a number of times. Perhaps they had violated the rule that a person should never be taller than the head of a Buddha.

Phra Achana The Phra Achana Buddha image seated inside the mondop is the biggest Buddha image in Sukhothai and is a good example of Sukhothai sculpture. It is in the bhumisparsa mudra and is built of stucco over brick. It is said to be once gilded all over during the Sukhothai Period. This Buddha is said to have talked on a number of occasions although the window behind the Buddha provides a good place to play a prank. There is a story that troops gathered here before an ancient battle heard an ethereal voice that came from the Buddha. The soldiers are said to have been so spurred by the Buddha's words that they routed the enemy. On one occasion, the Burmese were on their way to attack Ayutthaya and they passed this temple. Such strong was the Buddha's withering gaze that all the Burmese fled upon seeing the Buddha.

A monk paying homage to Phra Achana at Wat Sri Chum. The gold-leaf plastered fingers of the Buddha image testify to the fact that it is highly-revered by the residents of Sukhothai.