The Cloister or Gallery Hall, sometimes referred to as Phra Dan (meaning "Buddha on the side"), is called a "cloister" (Wihan Khod in Thai) because the structure is built in a rectangular shape surrounding the inner area of the main stupa (Phra Borommathat Chedi). Its corners are designed with right-angled turns, which is why locals began calling it “Wihan Khod,” or “the bent cloister.”
It is also called Phra Rabieng or Phra Dan for different reasons. The term Phra Rabieng means a cloister or gallery that wraps around the main stupa, while Phra Dan refers to the fact that the gallery is lined with rows of Buddha statues placed side by side. These are seated Buddha images arranged neatly along all four sides of the cloister, totaling 173 statues. These Buddha images are the craftsmanship of artisans from the Ayutthaya and Rattanakosin periods.
The presence of Buddha statues on every side of the main stupa is the reason locals commonly refer to the gallery as Phra Dan.
