Koo Chang-Koo Ma

Koo Chang is an ancient site situated in Wat Kai Kaew Community in Muang Lam Phun District, Lam Phun District. In the past, Koo Chang-Koo Ma area was a vacant land. There is only Koo Chang that has complete architectural form. Koo Chang is a pagoda built for storing the corpse of Phra Ya Chang Khoo, an elephant of Phra Chao Mahanta Yos, a son of Phra Nang Chama Dhevi. This white elephant’s name is “Poo Gam Nga Kiew”. The base of the pagoda has five round levels made from bricks and soil and covered with cement. The 5th level is upside down lotus shaped, supporting the cylindrical pagoda. The top bends together. It was made from small bricks. The core was made from bricks and cement in some parts. The outer layer was covered with 10-25 centimeter cement. The pagoda above the upside down lotus base has 5.60 meter diameter. The top has 3.40 meter diameter. The height from above the upside down lotus base to the top is 8.50 meters. The height from the first level of the base to the top is 13 meters. From study, it is assumed that Chedi Koo Chang was influenced from this pagoda. The complete form of Chedi Koo Chang might be upside down cone shaped, similar to Bo Bo Gyi pagoda. However, it was collapsed later. The wooden roof with baked clay roof tiles were assumed to be built to cover the top in the 22nd century of Buddhist era since some baked clay roof tiles were found by Arts Department during the repair of the pagoda’s top.One of interesting points is Koo Chang-Koo Ma Pagoda which is a strange pagoda comparing to other pagodas in Lanna. It was built from bricks and cement. The height from the base to the top is about 20 meters. The round base has five levels. The pagoda is cylindrical. The top is round and narrow. Above the bell is a throne. The top was collapsed long time ago. The form of the pagoda was assumed to be influenced from Bo Bo Gyi pagoda of Burma. The facilities provided in this area are candles and joss sticks, souvenirs, and amulets.Travelling to Koo Chang-Koo Ma by private car is available. From Tourist Information Center, drive on Rob Muang Road to Pra Thu Chang See. Turn right at Pra Thu Chang See Intersection to Charoen Rat Road and go straight for about 1.25 kilometers. Turn right when seeing Chak Kham Kana Torn School to the road next to the school. Turn right at the intersection and pass Koo Chang graveyard a little bit. Then turn left again at the intersection. When arriving at T-junction near Wat Kai Kaew, turn right again to the intersection and then turn left. Passing Wat Kai Kaew Community a little bit, Koo Chang-Koo Ma is on the left hand side. Public transportation is also available: use a tricycle service from the city. Koo Chang-Koo Ma is opened every day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.