Kamphaeng Phet Attractions
Kamphaeng Phet
The provincial capital of Kamphaeng Phet stands amidst the jungle landscape of northern Thailand's hill country on the Menam Ping. The faded glory of the historic ruins nearby testifies to the fact that this was the site of one of the most important cities in the Sukhothai kingdom. Close to the town is the beginning of the last of Thailand's teak forests, stretching from here well up into the north of the country. Since 1988, when disastrous landslides brought a government ban on the felling of tropical timber, teak is no longer floated from here down to Bangkok on the Menam Ping.
A visit to Kamphaeng Phet would form part of a tour tracing the history of Thailand, and it is a good base for trips to Sukhothai and Si Satchanalai, both once linked to the town by the Phra Ruang Highway, and to Tak and Phitsanulok. Itineraries of this kind are included by Bangkok travel companies in their programs.
By car: Highway 1 from Bangkok (360 km (224 mi.)), highways 117/115 from Phitsanulok (102 km (63 mi.)), Highway 101 from Sukhothai (76 km (47 mi.)).
By air: nearest airport Phitsanulok (daily flights from Bangkok).
The building of the town to serve as a front line of defense for the Sukhothai kingdom was ordered by King Liu Thai (1347-68). It was intended to replace Chakang Rao, of which little remains, on the other side of the river. Since the Sukhothai kingdom only lasted till 1376 Kamphaeng Phet's heyday was brief, but temple building continued in the 15th and 16th c. and was not halted until invasion by the Burmese in the late 16th c. when they plundered and destroyed parts of the city.
The provincial capital of Kamphaeng Phet stands amidst the jungle landscape of northern Thailand's hill country on the Menam Ping. The faded glory of the historic ruins nearby testifies to the fact that this was the site of one of the most important cities in the Sukhothai kingdom. Close to the town is the beginning of the last of Thailand's teak forests, stretching from here well up into the north of the country. Since 1988, when disastrous landslides brought a government ban on the felling of tropical timber, teak is no longer floated from here down to Bangkok on the Menam Ping.
A visit to Kamphaeng Phet would form part of a tour tracing the history of Thailand, and it is a good base for trips to Sukhothai and Si Satchanalai, both once linked to the town by the Phra Ruang Highway, and to Tak and Phitsanulok. Itineraries of this kind are included by Bangkok travel companies in their programs.
By car: Highway 1 from Bangkok (360 km (224 mi.)), highways 117/115 from Phitsanulok (102 km (63 mi.)), Highway 101 from Sukhothai (76 km (47 mi.)).
By air: nearest airport Phitsanulok (daily flights from Bangkok).
The building of the town to serve as a front line of defense for the Sukhothai kingdom was ordered by King Liu Thai (1347-68). It was intended to replace Chakang Rao, of which little remains, on the other side of the river. Since the Sukhothai kingdom only lasted till 1376 Kamphaeng Phet's heyday was brief, but temple building continued in the 15th and 16th c. and was not halted until invasion by the Burmese in the late 16th c. when they plundered and destroyed parts of the city.
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Wat Phra Kaeo
Highlights of the Wat Phra Kaeo include a number of Buddha figures. In the center of the wiharn stands a huge, but weathered, Buddha. Another reclining Buddha has fared better, with fine details remaining on the head.
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Wat Phra That
Wat Phra That shows a Singhalese influence, a practice that was wide spread when the chedi was built.
Lak Muang
North of Wat Phra Kaeo is the town pillar, the Lak Muang, highly revered by the local people, together with two elongated pools surrounding a third round pool.
Kamphaeng Phet Surroundings
Wat Chang Rob
The ruins of Wat Chang Rob are also worth seeing. On its own hilltop, it had a high bell-shaped chedi, of which only the foundations, decorated with some fine stucco work of running birds, remain. The chedi was supported by 68 elephants, and the top half of their bodies protrude from walls that are also decorated by stucco trees and ceramic demons. The only two lions that are intact now mark the entrance to Kamphaeng Phet's National Museum. Four steep steps lead up to the top part of the chedi.
Wat Chao Arwat Yai
The deep pool near Wat Chao Arwat Yai was formed by the quarrying of the stone to build the temple. Enclosed in a low double wall, decorated with small chedis at the entrance, the temple precinct still contains traces of a wiharn in the center, with ruined chedis on both sides of the courtyard. One larger chedi, standing on a stepped base, is still intact but has lost its spire.
Wat Si Iriyabot
The mondhop of Wat Si Iriyabot once held statues of Buddha in the four traditional poses - standing, sitting, walking and reclining - and hence its name (si 5 four, iriyabot 5 poses). Only fragments are left of three of the figures, but the statue of the remaining colossal standing Buddha is held to be one of the finest in the classic Sukhothai style.
Wat Singh
The existing remains of the "lion temple" of Wat Singh give an indication of the grandeur of scale it once enjoyed.
