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Once an important line
of defense for the Sukhothai Kingdom, the town of Kamphaeng Phet (also
known as the Diamond Wall) now makes for a delightful day trip
destination for those who are interested in ancient temple ruins and
remnants of the small northern provincial capital’s long history.
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.
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, hence the name the area was given.
What to See:
Museums
 1.
Kamphaeng Phet National Museum
Located on Pindamri Road in Muang district, the museum has an awesome
display of 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.
2. Kamphaeng Phet Chalermphrakiat Museum
There are exhibitions on the local history with replicas of the city,
lifestyle and urban and hill tribal customs, regional architectural
styles, and traditions. It also displays the development of Kamphaeng
Phet votive tablets and other resources.
TEMPLES
 1.
Wat Phra Kaeo
Believed to have once been a palace, the Wat Phra Kaeo is a large, royal
temple that is usually used as the center of important city events.
Major features include the principal Chedi with a lion-adorned base and
a round Chedi with elephant-adorned base. There are also other Chedi of
different bases and remains of several chapels.
 2.Wat
Phra Sri Iriyabot
This Wat features the shattered remains of standing, sitting, walking
and reclining Buddha images. 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.
3. 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.
4. Sa Mon
Located to the north of Wat Phra Kaeo with a square earthen wall, the Sa
Mon was built on what was once a site of a royal temple. Surrounding the
walls on three sides are moats with a pond in the middle. There are no
standing structures remaining today.
 5.
Wat Phra Non
Fenced in by laterite walls on four sides, visitors are enthralled by
the front of the temple where a square-shaped pond, bathrooms and an
ancient floating pavilion which is supported by a large laterite column
may be found. 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. Remnants of a lion sculpture and
Sema stones (boundary stones) can still be seen.
6. Wat Phra Sing
Believed to have been constructed during both the Sukhothai and
Ayutthaya periods, the Wat is differentiated from the rest by its
laterite walls, and a square-shaped principal Chedi with arches on four
sides. In front of the Ubosot are ornamental lions and Naga figurines.
 7.
Wat Chang Rop
A large temple situated on a high hill, the temple’s main chedi of which
follows the Ceylonese style still stands in the middle of the yard
though its top part has broken down with time. 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.
8. Wat Phra Borom That
Situated in the center of Muang Nakhon Chum, the temple features a
Burmese-style Chedi. An Ubosot housing several Sukhothai-style and
Ayutthaya-style bronze Buddha statues maybe found on the southern part
of the temple complex. 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.
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