Wat Sri Chum

THAILAND, Sukhothai

Wat Sri Chum means Temple of the Bodhi Tree. It is one of the most impressive temples in Sukhothai, and it is famous for housing one of the largest Buddha statues in the kingdom. The temple is believed to have been built in the 13th century, and the main hall enclosing the gigantic Buddha statue was constructed in the 14th century. The temple and statue were restored during the 1950s. As part of the Historic Town of Sukhothai and Associated Historic Towns, it was listed as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site in 1991.
The extant structures include the main hall and several shrines. The main hall is square, measuring 32 m on each side, and 15 m in height, and open at the top. The wall is 3 m thick with a tunnel leading to a sealed underground chamber inside the right wall, and a fully enclosed stairway inside the left wall leading to the top of the main hall. The stairway contains 50 engraved slates depicting Jataka tales. The centerpiece of the main hall is the brick-and-stucco Buddha statue named Phra Atchana. The statue is almost as high as the building and it is apparent that the main hall was a later structure erected after the Buddha statue. The entrance is high and pointed, so that the peaceful smile on the Buddha can be seen through the opening.
In front of the shrine there is a hall that is 12 m wide and 20.5 m long. The brick and plaster Buddha statue housed within is damaged. The remains of the old shrine are situated north of the main hall, but only the base platform and round columns remain.