Wat Sorasak

The Wat Sorasak is a small temple located in the central zone inside the old walled town. It is located in a spacious area with lots of trees and a few little visited temples along the road to the Sanluang gate in the North city wall.

Stone inscription

According to a stone inscription found at the temple, the Wat Sorasak was built in 1412 and named after its builder, Nai Intha Sorasak. The inscription that provides information about the temple’s history is exhibited in the Ramkhamhaeng National Museum, a few hundred meters from the temple.

Chedi surrounded by elephants

The temple consists of a chedi and a viharn.

The chedi is a good example of the “chedi surrounded by elephants”, of which many were built during the Sukhothai era. The attractive bell shaped chedi stands on a low square brick base. Protruding out of the base are the bodies of 24 elephant statues that seem to carry the structure of the chedi on their backs. Both the chedi and elephants are made of brick covered with stucco.

Elephants in history
In ancient days elephants played an important role in South East Asia. They were used intensively in wars and for various tasks, like carrying logs in the logging business. Kings owned rare white elephants that represented wealth and power. Elephants are also believed to protect Buddhism and are often seen as guardians at Buddhist temples.

Other elephant encircled chedis
The chedi has been restored in the 1980’s by the Thai Fine Arts Department. Similar chedis with the base surrounded by elephants can be found in Sukhothai, Si Satchanalai and Kamphaeng Phet.

• Wat Chang Lom in Si Satchanalai
• Wat Chang Rob in Sukhothai
• Wat Chang Rop in Kamphaeng Phet

Other structures of the Wat Sorasak

Next to the chedi, at the center of each side are the remains of an alter. In front of the chedi is the viharn or assembly hall, of which the base and pillars are left. To the back is a pedestal, the once contained the temple’s principal Buddha image.

• Wat Mahathat
• Wat Si Sawai
• Wat Sa Si
• Wat Tra Phang Ngoen
• Wat Si Chum
• Wat Chetuphon
• Wat Phra Phai Luang
• Wat Saphan Hin

• Central zone
• North zone
• East zone
• South zone
• West zone

• Temples
• History Sukhothai
• Sukhothai style Buddha images

• Kamphaeng Phet Historical Park
• Si Satchanalai Historical Park