Si Thep Historical Park

Opening days: Daily

Opening hours: 08.00 - 16.30

 

Si Thep Historical Park It is one of Phetchabun's most interesting and important ancient monuments. It has received two Thailand Tourism Awards for the year 2000, namely the award in the category of the Best Ancient Cultural Tourism Site and the Outstanding Internet Public Relations Media Award. The park covers an area of ​​ancient sites in Si Thep Old City. which was originally named city ​​of forgiveness Built in the Khmer Empire Aged at least 1,000 years.

 

Si Thep Ancient City surrounded by ditches and embankments The total area is about 2,899 rai, divided into 2 parts: the inner city, with an area of ​​1,300 rai, which is almost round in shape. The diameter is about 1.5 km. There are 6 entrances and exits. The area inside is a flat, wavy area, with ponds and swamps scattered everywhere. More than 70 archaeological remains were found, some of which have been excavated and restored, and the outer city covers an area of ​​1,589 rai, is rectangular in shape with the inner city, twice the size of the inner city. There are 6 entrances and exits, with pools scattered throughout. and found ancient sites scattered in the same way.

 

Ancient sites and important places in the park For tourism and education routes within the park area They are arranged in order to make it easy to walk around as follows. call center It is a building exhibiting ancient monuments. and an exhibition on the history and archeology of the ancient city of Si Thep Inside consists of an exhibition room. and book distribution section souvenir

 

Archaeological excavation pit building It is a building displaying human skeletons and elephant skeletons obtained from archaeological excavations in 1988.

 

Prang two brothers It looks like two pagodas, located on a large laterite base. facing west There is a single entrance door. from archaeological excavations Found a lintel with a carved image of Lord Shiva holding Nang Parapati sitting above the Ko U ​​Suparat.

 

The appearance of the lintel and the pillars adorning the door frame determines the age of the prang. It was in the 16th-17th Buddhist century. It is a Khmer art style of sin towards Angkor Wat. and there was an additional small prang being built Found traces of construction over the glass wall that surrounds the large prang. And there is also a construction blocking the way up by adding the front to protrude. and construction of smaller buildings in the north.

 

Prang Si Thep is a Khmer architectural style facing west. Built of bricks and laterite The lower base is made of laterite, a lotus base similar to the typical Khmer architecture. The elemental house is made of bricks. in the excavation of this area Found a piece of carved lintel aged between the 16th-17th Buddhist century, which was likely to be added after the ancient site of Khao Klang Nai. Later, around the 18th Buddhist century, attempts were made to renovate but were unsuccessful. presumably from the discovery of scattered pieces.

 

Between the Song Phi Nong Prang and the Si Thep Prang there is a wall around it and there are small ceremonial buildings scattered throughout. It shows the style of planning in the form of Khmer religious places of art similar to those found in the northeastern part of Thailand.

 

Khao Klang Nai archaeological site It is located almost in the middle of the city. Built around the 11th-12th Buddhist century, the plan is rectangular facing east. The city planning and construction art was in the Dvaravati period, similar to the discovery in Nakhon Pathom. and the ancient city of Ban Khu Bua Ratchaburi Laterite was used as the main material in construction. At the base are stucco statues of people and animals decorated in the Dvaravati period. It is believed to be a storage place for weapons and treasures, hence the name "Khao Klang".

 

Khao Klang Nok Archaeological Site, Village No. 11, Ban Sra Prue, Si Thep Subdistrict, is located on the north side of the ancient city of Si Thep, approximately 2 kilometers away.

 

Because it is shaped like a mountain and is believed to have treasures and weapons inside. and in the ancient city of Si Thep There is an ancient site that looks like a mountain called "Khao Klang Nai", therefore this ancient site is called "Khao Klang Nok".

 

Khao Klang Nok looks like a great stupa. located outside the ancient city May accept the motto of creation from Mahayana Buddhism popular to build buildings on a high base Cosmic County Layout and has a relationship with him Located away from the city of Si Thep to the west. for a distance of almost 20 kilometers.

 

There are carvings about Mahayana Buddhism inside the cave on the top of the mountain. and likely to be of the same age Highlights of this ancient site at the base of the building which is still in perfect condition And there are many Indian art forms mixed in. It can be said that in Thailand there has never been a contemporary ancient site. that is still intact and as large as this before.

 

Clearly show the value of the artistic style Important antiques found include Buddha images in Dvaravati art. carved from green sandstone Standing in the posture of preaching the Dharma (Vilogic) 2 hands, height 57 centimeters, width 16 centimeters.

 

Concluded that Khao Klang Nok archaeological site has an architectural style as a stupa that sits on a large base. There is a space for ceremonial ceremonies on top. There is an artistic style that is clearly influenced by India. The age is probably between 1,200-1,300 years ago or during the Dvaravati culture. and has a relationship with the community that prospered at the ancient city of Si Thep And he asked Morat very closely as well.

 

Shrine of Chao Pho Si Thep It is located inside the Saen Ngon Gate. (West Gate) Chao Pho Si Thep Shrine is a shrine that is worshiped by the general people on the 2-3rd day of the waxing moon of the 3rd lunar month around February. There is a worship service every year.

 

In addition to the archaeological sites mentioned above, there are also small archaeological sites scattered everywhere. South of the Klang Hill found a laterite church. Stone sema leaves were found near the excavation pit. and found a square-shaped archaeological site in the Dvaravati period which has been built over the period of adopting Brahmanism It shows that the former inner city was probably a Dvaravati town. and more Khmer architecture was built in later stages.

 

In addition, in the south is a large Dvaravati style mondop building. and has been changed to Thewalai around the beginning of the 18th century, but has not been successful. as well as Prang Si Thep In addition, an ancient pond called Sa Kaeo was found outside the city to the north, and there was also Sa Kwan in the outer city area. Both of these ponds have water all year round. believed to be holy water and has been used in the ceremony of holding the water of Pipat Sattaya from ancient times to the present.

 

Si Thep Historical Park Open to visit every day from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The entrance fee is 20 baht for Thais, 100 baht for foreigners, 50 baht for a car for those who are interested in visiting as a group and wanting a lecturer. Contact directly at Si Thep Historical Park, Si Thep District, Phetchabun Province 67170 Tel. 0 5679 9466, 0 5655 6555.

 

How to get there: Si Thep town is approximately 130 kilometers from Phetchabun town on Highway 21, Saraburi-Lom Sak route. Arrive at the 102 kilometer marker and turn onto Highway 2211 for about 9 kilometers, you will see a sign indicating the entrance to the Si Thep Historical Park on the right hand side. bus There are both regular and air-conditioned buses leaving Bangkok's Mo Chit Bus Terminal to get off at the market in Amphoe Si Thep (Ban Klang) and then take a taxi to the national park.