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Amphoe Muang
Kamphang Phet Historical Park
 Major
features in the Kamphang Phet Historical Park include archaeological
remains of ancient sites such as Mueang Chakangrao to the east of
the Ping River, Mueang Nakhon Chum to the west and Mueang Trai Trueng
some 18 kilometres from the town to the southwest. Services from
the Tourist Centre are available, the centre itself being located
some 5 kilometres from town on the Kamphaeng Phet-Phran Kratai route.
Chakangrao, the ancient Kamphaeng Phet town, had the same town
planning concept as the old Sukhothai and Si Satchanalai, with separate
zones for religious sites both within and outside of town limits.
Structures are usually large and made of laterite. Religious sites
on the west bank of the Ping River at Nakhon Chum are built of bricks
and of smaller size.
Remains of the ancient sites within the city
walls are as follows:
City Walls and Old Fortifications mark the boundary of the rectangular
town area, measuring 300-700 metre wide and 2,200 metre long.
Wat Phra Kaeo is a large royal temple in town centre near a site
believed to have been a palace. The temple itself was used on important
city events and had no monks in residence. Major features include
the principal Chedi with lion-adorned base and a round Chedi with
elephant-adorned base. There are also other Chedis of different
bases and remains of several chapels. Its boundary is marked off
by laterite walls.
Second in size to Wat Phra Kaeo is Wat Phra That. Here the principal
Chedi is built of mixture of laterite and bricks with a 15-metre
wide square base. The style is of Kamphaeng Phet architecture.
Sa Mon is the site of the palace located to the north of Wat Phra
Kaeo with a square earthen wall almost touching the northern city
wall. Surrounded the walls on three sides are moats with a pond
in the middle. There are no standing structures remaining today.
Wat Phra Non is fenced in by laterite walls on four sides. At the
front of the temple are a square-shaped pond, bathrooms and an ancient
floating pavilion which is supported by a large laterite column.
The entire column was cut out in one single piece from its source
and measures 1.1 meters on each side and 6.4 meters in height, the
largest such stone in the country. A lion sculpture and Sema stones
(boundary stones) can still be discerned. The large Vihan which
once housed the Reclining Buddha has crumbled entirely.
Wat Phra Si Iriyabot is located to the north of Wat Phra Non and
have similar pond and bathroom facilities as its neighbour. Walls
on the four sides are of laterite materials with an entrance also
made of laterite. A Mondop structure houses Buddha statues in four
postures-walking, sitting, standing and reclining in the Sukhothai
artistic style. Today only the statue in the standing posture still
remains.
Wat Phra Sing is believed to have been constructed during both
the Sukhothai and Ayutthaya periods. With laterite walls, it has
a square-shaped principal Chedi with arches on four sides. In front
of the Ubosot are ornamental lion and Naga figurines.
Wat Chang Rop is a large temple situated on a high hill. Its main
chedi of Ceylonese style is in the middle of the yard but its top
part is broken down. The base is adorned with 68 half-elephants
between which are Bhoti-shaped designs. There are also traces of
demon and female dancers figures remaining.
Apart from these temples, there are also several ancient sites on
the east bank of the Ping River, including Wat Arwat Yai, Wat Kalothai
and Phra Ruang Road.
Mueang Nakhon Chum is an ancient town on the west bank of the Ping
River. Its 2-3 metre-high earthen walls run along the waterway.
It is in this area that the famous religious tablets of Kamphaeng
Phet have been discovered. Within the city walls are a couple of
ancient sites such as the Kamphaeng Pom Thung Sethi located on Phahonyothin
Road just before entering the town. It is part of the laterite fortifications
83 metres long and 6 metres tall.
Wat Phra Borom That is a temple situated in the centre of Mueang
Nakhon Chum featuring a Burmese-style Chedi. To the south is an
Ubosot housing several Sukhothai- and Ayutthaya-style bronze Buddha
statues. The Chedi itself is believed to originally have been a
Sukhothai-type structure, its style having been altered during a
restoration work financed by a wealthy Burmese about a century ago.
Another ancient town is Mueang Trai Trueng. It was built by King
Chaisiri of Chiang Rai who fled invading enemy in 1542 B.E. (circa
999). Today most of the structures are in disrepair with only ruins
of Chedis and ramparts. The town is about 18 kilometres from Kamphaeng
Phet on the Kamphaeng Phet-Khlong Lan road.
Talat Kluai Khai
This market is on the Kamphaeng Phet-Nakhon Sawan highway
at Km.343. Scores of roadside stalls display and sell both raw and
ripe Kluai Khai (a type of bananas).
The Kamphang Phet National Museum
The Kamphang Phet National Museum, located on Pindamri Road
in Mueang district, houses ancient objects and other antique arts
articles from various eras found in the provincial town. These include
sculptured and earthen designs, heads of Buddha statues, traditional
celadon products, sculptures of demons and celestial and human beings
used to decorate Chedi bases or Vihans. It is open Wednesday-Sunday
from 9.00 a.m.-4.00 p.m. More information at Tel: 0 5571 1570.
The Kamphang Phet Province Museum
The Kamphang Phet Province Museum nearby is made up of groups
of Central Region applied architectural style structures. There
are exhibitions on the local history with replicas of the city,
lifestyle and urban and hilltribal customs and traditions. It also
displays the development of Kamphaeng Phet votive tablets and other
resources. The museum is open daily. For more information, call
0 5572 2341.
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