North Zone
The North zone of the Kamphaeng Phet Historical Park is located on a forested hill North of the old walled town. The large area of 637 acres known as Aranyik contains the ruins of forty ancient laterite monuments. The North zone temples were built from large blocks of laterite, dug out from quarries on the hill.
Temples of the North zone
The rectangular temple area was surrounded by a wall of blocks of laterite; its structures are aligned on an East West axis, oriented towards the East.
Buddhavasa and Sanghavasa area
The temples of the North zone were divided into two areas. The Buddhavasa area was surrounded by its own wall and contained buildings dedicated to the veneration of the Buddha like the viharn, ubosot and chedi. The Sanghavasa area was where the temple’s resident monks lived. It contains building as the monks living quarters, wells and open pavilions used for shelter and resting called Sala.
Structures of North zone temples
A temple in the Aranyik area usually consists of a large principal bell shaped chedi, a large viharn in front of it, an ubosot as well as a number of subsidiary chedis. In front of most Aranyik temples are a water well and bathroom facilities.
The North zone houses a number of very large temples. Often the viharn stood on a large, up to two meters high elevated laterite base with balusters. A number of them, like the Wat Avasa Yai and the Wat Singha were designed to allow devotees to walk on the base around the viharn in a clockwise direction to make merit.
Laterite pillars covered with plaster supported the wooden roof laid with tiles. Rectangular holes in the pillars and walls indicate the spot where wooden beams were once fitted. Being made of perishable wood, the roofs have long gone, and usually little more of the viharn remains than its base, columns and pedestal for the principal Buddha image.
An example of Sukhothai style architecture in the North zone is the mondop of the Wat Phra Si Iriyabot which enshrines four large images of the Buddha in different postures.
Important temples of the North zone
Some of the most important and best preserved temples in the North zone are the Wat Phra Non, Wat Phra Si Iriyabot, Wat Singha, Wat Chang Rop and Wat Avasa Yai.
Other temples
The area houses several dozen large and small temples in various states of preservation.
Wat Khong Chai
The Wat Khong Chai temple comprises of a principal chedi and a viharn standing on a massive elevated base. The upper part of the bell shaped chedi has collapsed. Only the square base and octagonal receding tiers remain that supported the bell. The laterite viharn was built on a very large, high base. Its front was adorned with Sangkhalok ware Makaras, a mythological sea creature. Towards the back of the viharn is a pedestal, on which the lower part of the principal Buddha image remains.
Wat Ma Khok
The Wat Ma Khok was founded in the 15th or 16th century. The temple comprises of a principal chedi, a viharn and several subsidiary chedis. The principal chedi’s large base of several receding tiers supported the bell, which has collapsed. Facing East is a shrine where an image of the Buddha was enshrined. In front of the chedi stands the laterite viharn set on a low base. Only the lower part of the columns and the pedestal for the principal Buddha image remain today.
Wat Mondop
The Wat Mondop was founded during the late 14th or early 15th century. The rectangular temple area is enclosed by a boundary wall. The temple comprises of a viharn, a mondop and several subsidiary chedis. The well preserved laterite mondop serves as the principal chedi. A single entrance facing East leads to the sanctuary chamber, which enshrines an image of the Buddha. The bell that once stood on the mondop has collapsed. The base, lower part of the columns and the pedestal that supports the principal Buddha image remain of the viharn. In front of the temple, outside of the walled area, is a well dug out from the laterite soil.
Wat Nak Jet Sein
The Wat Nak Jet Sein is a 15th or 16th century temple surrounded by a wall of laterite posts. It is one of the few temples in the North zone that did not have a Sanghavasa area where resident monks lived. The Wat Nak Jet Sein comprises of a principal chedi, a viharn, an ubosot, several subsidiary chedis, a well and a wash room. Only the base remains of the large principal chedi. On all of its four sides was a shrine protruding out of the structure that contained in image of the Buddha. The bell has collapsed. The Wat Nak Jet Sein is one of the few temple where the ubosot is larger than the viharn.
Wat Pa Mued
The Wat Pa Mued is a small temple founded in the 15th or 16th century. The rectangular temple area oriented towards the East is surrounded by a wall of laterite blocks. The temple comprises of a principal chedi and a viharn aligned on an East West axis. A slender structure of receding tiers standing on a square base is what remains of the chedi. The upper section has collapsed. Surrounding the main chedi are five small subsidiary chedis.
Temples in the North Zone
Some of the temples in this zone are: