The Wat Chang Lom comprises of a large Sinhalese style principal bell shaped chedi, two viharns and a subsidiary chedi. The square temple area is surrounded by a literate wall with an entrance gate on the East side.
Sinhalese style chedi surrounded by elephants
The Wat Chang Lom’s most important structure is its large, well preserved “elephant encircled chedi”, a circular bell shaped chedi in Singhalese style. Enclosed by its own wall, the chedi stands on a high, two tiered base.
Standing around the first tier are 39 large elephant sculptures, eight on the East side, nine on the other sides and one larger elephant at each of the four corners. From a distance it looks like the elephants carry the structure on their backs. Once covered with plaster adorned with elaborate carved decorations, most of them are in a state of disrepair. In front of the elephants are buds of lotus flowers.
In Buddhism elephants are considered a symbol of mental strength, auspicious animals that protect Buddhism often seen guarding temples.