Wat Chao Chan and Wat Chom Chuen - Chaliang, Si Satchanalai - Northern Most Khmer Ruin In Thailand

Wat Chao Chan

Wat Chao Chan is a 13th century Buddhist temple located in Chaliang, a few kilometers East of the ancient walled town of Si Satchanalai. The temple is found near the banks of the Yom river.

The Wat Chao Chan predates the Sukhothai Kingdom. It was founded in the early 13th during the Khmer era.

During the reign of King Jayavarman in the late 12th, early 13th century the Khmer established Chaliang as a satellite town of their empire. Jayavarman VII was one of Angkor’s greatest Kings who built numerous temples, as well as hospitals and a system of roads with rest houses connecting various parts of the empire.

The oldest structure of Wat Chao Chan is the prasat, a Khmer style tower, probably constructed during the reign of Angkor King Jayavarman VII. The prasat has been restored. Built from blocks of laterite covered with a layer of plaster, the Bayon style prasat was constructed to enshrine a relic of the Buddha. It has porches on all sides with a doorway in the east to chamber, which previously contained an image.

Behind the prasat stands a mandapa similar to the one of the nearby Wat Phra Si Rattana Mahathat Chaliang. The structure enshrined a large Sukhothai style Buddha named Phra Attharot. The laterite image has largely weathered away; merely its outlines remain today. Phra Attharot images were popular during the Sukhothai era.

In front of the prasat are the remains of an assembly hall, which apparently was added during the Ayutthaya era.

During excavations ceramic tiles were found decorated with Bayon style designs. Artefacts have been discovered at the site from the Dvaravati period (6th-9th century) suggesting that the present structures were built on earlier ones.

Wat Chom Chuen

Wat Chom Chuen is a small 14th century temple located in the Chaliang area on the banks of the Yom river.

The most important structure of the Wat Chom Chuen is the principal chedi, which stands next to the mondop. The laterite Singhalese style chedi is believed to have been built over an earlier structure from the Khmer era.

The area was inhabited much earlier. During excavations human skeletons from the 3rd to 4th centuries were discovered buried several meters deep and traces of 11th century brick structures were found. A museum has been built over the excavation site where visitors can see a number of skeletons and several artifacts and tools unearthed at the site.

Wat Chom Chuen is located some 2 kilometers west of Wat Phra Si Rattana Mahathat, and close to Wat Chao Chan.

This is a site that is mostly unknown but worth a visit to see. Both temples and museum are close together and easy to visit together.

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