Nan - Wat Cham Kang

Literally translated, the "temple carried by elephants" is located opposite the government buildings. Its beautiful 15th/16th c. chedi, whose pedestal is borne by 28 elephant sculptures, is typical.

The two shrines contain some marvelous Sukhothai-style statues of Buddha. The first has a walking Buddha and also one which is standing, with outstretched arms and open hands; the second a walking, golden Buddha. For centuries this Buddha was hidden beneath a thick layer of plaster; when it was decided to move it to another site, however, the plaster came off. Inscriptions on the pedestals of the first two figures mentioned reveal that King Ngua Pha Sum commissioned the completion of five statues in 1426; the two other life-size figures, perhaps the most beautiful in the series, stand in Wat Phaya Phun.