Wat Chedi Chet Thaeo Si Satchanalai

The Wat Chedi Chet Thaeo is a huge temple situated in the Si Satchanalai Historical Park, the ancient town within defensive walls..Wat Chedi Chet Thaeo means “the temple with seven rows of chedis”. Sukhothai King Lithai constructed Wat Chedi Chet Thaeo between 1340 and 1350.
The Wat Chedi Chet Thaeo is a beautiful temple with several shrines in different styles.A boundary wall with 4 gates surrounds it.
The temple consists of 32 subordinate chedis,,a viharn and a main chedi. Since it contains many chedis, historians trust that the Wat Chedi Chet Thaeo is the funereal temple of the rulers of Si Satchanalai.

Principal Lotus Bud Chedi

Themost important building of the temple is its main chedi, the biggest one. A concentric spire is on top of the lotus bud chedi which is on an elevated base of 5 declining square tiers.There was a passageway with seated figures of the Buddha which surrounded the chedi. Now very little of it is left.
At the neighboring Wat Suan Utthayan Noi and a number of temples in Sukhothai Historical Park, you can find other models of lotus bud chedis.

Viharn

There is the viharn, the assembly hall in front of the main chedi with an entrance gateway at the front and back. The lower portion of the columns provided support to a pedestal as well as the roof with lower portion of a seated Buddha figure.

Subordinate chedis

The grounds contain 32 less significant chedis in different architectural styles which include Khmer, Bagan and Sukhothai,. A number of bell shaped stupas, prasat style stupas and lotus bud chedis are assembled round the main lotus bud chedi..A lot of places preserve figures of the Buddha in different positions, including many of very stylish Sukhothai style standing and walking Buddha images.
There is a smaller chedi to the rear of the main chedi preserving Buddha figure on the curved up body of a multi headed Naga snake. The Buddha meditated for a week, after reaching enlightenment, when a vicious storm with torrential rain hit Mucalinda, the King of the Naga snakes protected the Buddha with its hood.
The top portion of a small circular chedi surrounded by elephants has collapsed. Around the base of the chedi are small statues of elephants standing, one on each corner and 5 on each side. A number of these “elephant surrounded chedis” were constructed during the Sukhothai era. Other models can be found at the close by Wat Phra Kaeo in Kamphaeng Phet Historical Park, the Wat Sorasak in Sukhothai Historical Park and Wat Chang Lom.