Wat Sa Si

 temple, historic ruins

Wat Sa Si or Wat Sra Sri TH วัดสระศรี

Wat Sa Si, วัดสระศรี, is located northwest of Wat Mahathat. This beautiful ancient monument is in the middle of a large reservoir known as Traphang Trakuan. Its important buildings include a round bell-shaped chedi, an assembly hall (wihan or vihara), and an ordination hall (Ubosot or Ubosotha).
The round stupa (chedi) serves as historical evidence of the prevalence of Sinhalese Buddhism in Sukhothai. This circular stupa is sometimes known as a chedi in the Sri Lankan bell-shaped style. The ordination hall in the middle of the reservoir reflects the Buddhist concept of demarcating an area where monks perform religious functions by enclosing the holy precincts with water as a symbol of purity.
Prior to 1978 A.D. a road named Charot Withi Thong ran through the temple. Fully conscious of the damage and environmental problems of this, the Fine Arts Department demolished the road and built a new one along side the reservoir.
Information from an historical marker at the temple.