




Chiang
Mai
Chiang Rai
Kamphaeng Phet
Lampang
Lamphun
Mae Hong Son
Nakhon Sawan
Nan
Phayao
Phetchabun
Phichit
Phitsanulok
Phrae
Sukhothai
Tak
Uthai Thani
Uttaradit
Northern
North-Eastern
Central
Eastern
Southern

Front
Page
Visitor Facts
Forums
Thailand
Map of Thailand
Highlights
Bangkok
Provinces
ThailandLife.com
LearningThai.com
ThaiHypermarket.com
Top
100 Travel Sites
eThaiMusic.com
Do you have
any questions about holidays in Thailand or the customs and culture
of Thailand? Visit our All
About Thailand Forums to have your questions answered quickly.
This web site was made
by students and teachers from Sriwittayapaknam School in Samut
Prakan. This is a non-commercial site and we do not accept any
advertising.
Srinaiweb.com
Sriwittayapaknam.ac.th
|

|
 Thailand
Guidebook > Provinces > Northern
> Kamphaeng Phet
Geographically
located in the Lower North on the bank of the Ping River, Kamphaeng
Phet is 358 kilometres from Bangkok. To its East are riverine flatlands
while the western areas are made up of high mountains lush with fertile
forests where a number of national parks have been established.
Areas along the river
bank at present-day Muang district used to host several ancient towns
which had played a major role as strategic frontline frontiers since
Sukhothai was the kingdom's capital down through the times of Ayutthaya
and early Rattanakosin (Bangkok) eras. In fact, the name Kamphaeng Phet
actually means as strong as walls or forts made of diamonds.
Have your questions
about this province answered quickly in our All
About Thailand Forums. Post questions about your next holiday as
well as culture and language of Thailand.
 |
Kamphaeng
Phet covers an area of 8,607 square kilometres. It is divided
administratively into 9 districts, namely, Muang Kamphaeng Phet,
Phran Kratai, Khlong Khlung, Khanu Woralak Buri, Sai Ngam, Lan
Krabu, Khlong Lan, Sai Thong Watthana and Pang Sila Thong and
2 sub-districts, Bung Samakkhi and Kosamphi Nakhon. |
| Book
your hotel in Khamphaengphat
before you leave home and save money!
If you have already
visited this northern province, please share your highlights
with other visitors to Thailand Guidebook.
The Kamphaeng Phet National Museum located on Pindamri
Road in Muang district, houses ancient objects and other
antique art 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 Wihans. It is open Wednesday - Sunday from
9.00 a.m. - 4.00 p.m. More information at Tel: (055) 711570.
The Kamphaeng Phet Chalermphrakiat 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 hill
tribal customs and traditions. It also displays the development
of Kamphaeng Phet votive tablets and other resources. The
museum is open daily. For more in formation, call (055)
722341.
Major features in the Kamphaeng Phet Historical Park
include archaeological remains of ancient sites such as
Muang Chakangrao to the east of the Ping River, Muang Nakhon
Chum to the west and Muang Trai Trung some 18 kilometres
from the town to the southwest. Services from the Tourist
Centre are available, the center 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
Ancient sites within city walls include:
City Walls and Oil 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 Chedi of different bases and remains of several
chapels. lts 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 sqaure 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. Surrounding
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 Wihan which once
housed the Reclining Buddha has crumbled entirely.
Wat Phra Si lriyabot located to the north of Wat
Phra Non and has 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 lions
and Naga figurines.
Wet 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.
Muang 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 center of Muang Nakhon
Chum featuring a Burmese-style Chedi. To the south is an
Ubosot housing several Sukhothai-style 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 Muang Traitrung. It was built by King Chaisiri of
Chiang Rai who fled invading enemy in 1542 B.E. (circa 999
A.D.). 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 is on the Kamphaeng Phet-Nakhon Sawan highway at
Km. 343. Scores of roadsides stalls display and sell both
raw and ripe Kluai Khai (a type of bananas).
The Khlong
Lan National Park covers an area of some 300 square
kilometres over mountain ranges to the west of the province.
The highest peak is about 1,400 metres. Of mainly virgin
jungles, it is the source of several streams which flow
into the Ping River.
The park headquarters
is near the Khlong Lan waterfall about 60 kilometres from
the town on the route to Khlong Lan district (highway no.
1117). Attractions within the park include the 95-metre
high Khlong Lan Fall with scenic surroundings, and the Khlong
Nam Lai Fall, a 9-level cascade and located off Highway
no. 1117 at Km. 35 and 10 kilometres further on. The Kaeng
Ko Roi (off highway No. 1117 at Pong Nam Ron intersection)
is a group of rock formations jutting out of the stream
looking somewhat like all islands. Visitors can camp overnight
within the park.
The Mae Wong
National Park forms a border between Kamphaeng Phet
and Nakhon Sawan and covers an area of about 894 square
kilometres. Most of the land is rich in various types of
plants. Along the Khlong Lan-Umphang route passing through
the park's area, which leads up to the mountains, are several
viewing points between Kms. 81 to 115. At Km. 102 is a beautiful
road-side waterfall. Other falls within the park include
the Mae Krasa, Mae Liwa and others. To visit
these attractions tourists need to go on foot and overnight
in the jungle. |
FESTIVALS AND FAIRS:
The Nop Phra Len
Phleng Fair is held during the celebrations of Makha Bucha
(around February). A tradition since the times of Sukhothai, it
is described in the inscription stone found at Nakhon Chum of
how processions were organised to pay homage to the town's major
religious sites. The fair today consists of colorfully decorated
parades of participants dressed in ancient attires crossing the
Ping to pay homage to the Holy Relic on the Nakhon Chum side of
the river.
The Kluai Khai Fair
is held in September each year to promote the local banana for
which the province is famous. There are banana contests and competitions
on the making of Krayasat (a local sweet), as well as many entertainment
performances.
|
COPYRIGHT:
Information on this page is used with permission from the Tourist Authority
of Thailand. Additional information from brochures produced locally
and notes made by Nattawud Daoruang and Richard Barrow. All photographs
on this web site are the property of Nattawud Daoruang.

|