Wat Phra That
The Wat Phra That is a 15th century temple located in the central zone of Kamphaeng Phet Historical Park. It is the second largest temple in the old walled town, the largest being the Wat Phra Kaew directly to its West.
The temple was built next to the Sa Mon, the Royal Palace of which nothing is left. The Wat Phra That was one of Kamphaeng Phet’s most important temples since it enshrined relics of the Buddha.
Buddhavasa area
Like all temples built in the old walled town, the Wat Phra That only features a Buddhavasa area, where all structures are dedicated to the veneration of the Buddha. Since there were no resident monks, there is no Sanghavasa area, the area that contains the monks’ living quarters.
The temple comprises of a large principal chedi, a viharn and two subsidiary chedis. It is one of the few temples in Kamphaeng Phet with galleries enclosing the principal chedi, a feature often seen in Ayutthaya era temples.
The rectangular temple area is surrounded by a brick wall. At each of its four corners is a square structure with indented corners. The entrance was East, through a gateway in the enclosing wall. The temple’s main structures, the principal chedi and the viharn are aligned on an East West axis.
Sukhothai style principal chedi enshrining Buddha relics
The Wat Phra That’s most important structure is its principal chedi which enshrined relics of the Buddha. The bell shaped Sukhothai style chedi is in a good state of preservation. A relatively small bell topped with a finial stands on a square laterite base and several octagonal receding tiers. The large, brick chedi was covered in stucco. Some traces decorated with carved petals of lotus flowers are still visible around the base of the bell. The chedi was enclosed by a gallery adjoining in the East to the viharn.
Viharn and subsidiary bell shaped chedis
Merely the base of the gallery remains today. Only the base and some of the pillars of the large laterite viharn or assembly hall are left. Flanking the hall are two smaller brick bell shaped chedis. The South one is well preserved, the top of the North one has collapsed. Both feature a large bell on a square base and several receding octagonal tiers.