Wat Sala Loi, Khao Yai

The temple is located on the road encircling the old city moat, was jointly constructed in 1827 by Thao Suranari and her husband, the deputy governor of Nakhon Ratchasima. The temple’s ordination hall (Ubosot) received accolades for pioneering religious architecture from the Association of Siamese Architects under Royal Patronage, and from the Sathirakoses-Nagapradipa Foundation in 1973. The Ubosot, a unique blend of Thai artistic style, resembles a Chinese junk riding the waves. Its façade is adorned with Dan Kwian clay tiles, depicting the Buddha’s victory over Mara. The rear wall illustrates the Buddha’s descent from the Tavatimsa Heaven. The doors feature embossed metalwork narrating the Vessantara Jataka (the tale of Vessantara) in 13 panels. Inside the Ubosot, the principal Buddha image, named “Phra Phuttha Prapattana Sunthon Thammapisal, Sala Loi Phimalaworasan Santi Sukhumunin”, is a white plaster standing Buddha in the ‘Pacifying the Ocean’ posture. At the entrance of the Ubosot stands a plaster statue of Thao Suranari, depicted with folded hands amidst a pond. The Ubosot is encircled by a sema-shaped glass wall, symbolising the ancient city of Sema. Adjacent to it is a small stupa, which formerly housed Thao Suranari’s ashes before they were moved to Wat Phra Narai Maharat.