Wat Si Sawai, Sukhothai

Wat Si Sawai
Wat Si Sawai

Near the southern wall of the old city is Wat Si Sawai, the most Khmer-styled temple remaining at Sukhothai, and the only one that appears to have originally been build for the worship of the Hindu gods. The temple dates from the era of Khmer rule, and was probably built in the late 12th or early 13th centuries.

The rather small central sanctuary is dominated by three massive prangs, representing the Hindu trinity. The stucco decorations on the towers are quite intricate, and depict guardians, garudas and naga serpents.

The prayer halls on the south side of the prangs were probably added when the temple was converted to a Buddhist monastery around the 14th century, which accounts for the rather clumsy way they meet the towers.