Wat Chang Lom, Si Satchanalai, Thailand

Archeologists believe that this is the place mentioned in stone inscriptions where, in 1285, King Ramkhamhaeng found buried relics of the Buddha. After paying homage to them the King reburied the relics and had a chedi built over them.

Around the square base of the Chedi are 39 laterite elephants, eight along the east side, nine along the others with a crowned elephant at each corner. The elephants have suffered the ravages of time, originally they would have been covered with a limestone plaster and decorated. From a distance it would have looked as if the elephants were supporting the entire Chedi on their backs. An illusion which is still discernable to this day.