Chedi Yuttha Hatthi

The lotus-bud tower is a stupa under 20 metres in height. On its upper northern section, i.e. on its most sheltered part, the stupa still shows some designs and remains of embellishments, such as Rahu eating the sun or the moon (stucco), flowers stylised in the form of a cross (stucco), as well as yellow and green mica (Kaeo Angwa, "Ava glass"). East of the stupa are the ruins of what may have been a small vihara. The stupa and vihara are both situated on a tiny hill with rather steep sides which, in former times, may have been an island in the river, close to its western bank. The hill probably had just enough space for a small to a medium-sized monastery. Chin Yudi calls the stupa Phra Chedi Yot Song Phum Khao Bin, "Cetiya with a spire in the form of a Phum Khao Bin". On the Thailand l:50,000 map (sheet 4863 III), it is called That Khun Ram Khamhaeng, "Khun Ram Khamhaeng Memorial'', whereas the local population calls it Chedi Yuttha Hatthi, "Elephant Fight Cetiya". The stupa was restored by the Fine Arts Department in 1970 CE.

As for the lotus-bud stupa called Yuttha Hatthi, there are two legends. One has it that Khun Sri Intharathit from Sukhothai and Khun Sam Chon from Muang Chot (Mae Sot) had agreed to fight an elephant duel near the Chedi called Phra That. Fearing however that this might damage the Phra That and thus constitute a grave sin, they had their elephants fight on the present site of the Chedi Yuttha Hatthi. After Khun Sam Chon had been defeated, the stupa was erected in honour of Khun Sri Intharathit. Another version says that Khun Ram Khamhaeng and Khun Sam Chon fought an elephant duel on the spot and that later after Khun Ram Khamhaeng had won, the Chedi Yuttha Hatthi was erected in his honour. [Source: Penth, Hans. A Note on old Tak. Journal of the Siam Society Volume 61]

Ayutthaya Historical Research