Rating: 4/5 (5 votes)

Opening Days: Daily

Opening Hours: 09:00 - 16:00

Entrance Fee: Thai visitors: 20 THB Foreign visitors: 40 THB

 

Kamphaeng Phet Historical Park is one of Thailand’s important historical attractions. It is located in Nai Mueang Subdistrict, Mueang Kamphaeng Phet District, Kamphaeng Phet Province, not far from Sukhothai Province. Historically, Kamphaeng Phet served as a frontier city of the Sukhothai Kingdom. Today, the city is filled with historically and culturally significant monuments, showcasing valuable art, architecture, and history.

 

Tourists interested in visiting Kamphaeng Phet can start at Wat Phra Kaew, a major temple in the city. Built entirely of laterite, the temple has rectangular walls and a central Lanna-style chedi as its main structure. Surrounding the chedi were previously niches housing lion statues. Excavations have revealed 35 chedi bases, 8 large and small viharns (assembly halls), and 3 ubosot (ordination halls), highlighting the temple’s former grandeur and significance.

 

Wat Phra Kaew is also a venue for local traditions and festivals, such as the Nop Phra – Len Phleng ceremony and the Kamphaeng Phet Banana Festival. Visitors can experience traditional Thai lifestyle and culture alongside the historical sites.

 

Another must-visit temple is Wat Phra That (Wat Mahathat), built in the distinctive Kamphaeng Phet style with multiple stacked octagonal bases and a round chedi, surrounded by a cloister. It contains a main chedi, one viharn, two smaller chedis, and a square-shaped pond in front. Excavations revealed about ten small gold and silver Buddha images, each with a three-inch base, which are now displayed at the Kamphaeng Phet National Museum. Wat Phra That served as the principal temple of the city, reflecting Kamphaeng Phet’s historical prosperity and importance.

 

The area known as Sra Mon was the former royal palace of Kamphaeng Phet, located near Wat Phra Kaew. It illustrates the city’s original layout, with the palace area following traditional designs similar to ancient palaces in Ayutthaya. Visiting Sra Mon helps tourists understand the relationship between religious sites and royal residences in the past.

 

Kamphaeng Phet National Museum is another key site for visitors interested in the historical park. It displays Buddha images, jewelry, and artifacts excavated from the province, reflecting the city’s past lifestyle, religion, and culture. The museum is open daily except Monday and Tuesday, from 09:00 to 16:00, with a small entrance fee.

 

Another temple not to be missed is Wat Phra Si Ariyabot (Wat Phra Yuen). Built from laterite, it features a large four-sided mandapa housing large Buddha images in four postures: standing, walking, sitting, and reclining. Although most of the images are damaged, the standing Buddha remains intact and impressive.

 

Wat Chang Rob, located on a hill north of the city, has a large bell-shaped central chedi surrounded by 68 plaster elephants and ornate plastered gates, showcasing Sukhothai–Kamphaeng Phet artistry. It also features intricately decorated lion statues and guardian figures on its stairways.

 

Wat Phra Non is another temple worth visiting, located outside the northern city walls. It comprises an ubosot, viharn, and round chedi, all made from laterite. Inside, a platform for a reclining Buddha is still visible, reflecting the temple’s historical and artistic significance.

 

Visiting Kamphaeng Phet Historical Park provides a comprehensive understanding of Thai culture and history. In addition to temples and chedis, there are city pillar shrines, Shiva shrines, and fortifications, offering insight into the old city’s structure and the lives of its past inhabitants.

 

Kamphaeng Phet Historical Park was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site on December 12, 1991, along with the Sukhothai and Si Satchanalai Historical Parks, under the name “Historic Town of Sukhothai and Associated Historic Towns.” This recognition confirms the city’s role as a center of art and history in Thailand.

 

Visitors can explore Kamphaeng Phet at a leisurely pace, enjoying the historical sites or visiting museums for more detailed knowledge. Every monument, temple, and museum reflects the city’s past prosperity. Kamphaeng Phet Historical Park offers a complete historical experience with temples, chedis, viharns, city shrines, fortifications, and museums, allowing visitors to fully appreciate the city’s ancient grandeur, intricate art, and traditional Thai culture.