Chofa

Chofa (Thai: ช่อฟ้า; lit. sky tassel) is a Thai architectural decorative ornament that adorns the top at the end of wat and palace roofs in most Southeast Asian countries, such as Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar. It resembles a tall thin bird and looks hornlike. The chofa is generally believed to represent the mythical creature Garuda, half bird and half man, who is the vehicle of the Hindu god Vishnu.

Components

Types

Chofa of Ubosot, Wat Phra Kaeo, Bangkok (Garuda tip Chofa)

Chofa of Ubosot, Wat Phra Kaeo, Bangkok (Garuda tip Chofa)

Chofa of Viharn, Wat Ched Yot, Chiang Mai (Elephant head Chofa)

Chofa of Viharn, Wat Ched Yot, Chiang Mai (Elephant head Chofa)

Chofa of Ubosot, Wat Phra Singh, Chiang Mai (Lanna art Chofa)

Chofa of Ubosot, Wat Phra Singh, Chiang Mai (Lanna art Chofa)

Chofa of Viharn Luang, Wat Suthat, Bangkok (Fish tip Chofa)

Chofa of Viharn Luang, Wat Suthat, Bangkok (Fish tip Chofa)