Wat Chom Chuen

The Wat Chom Chuen is a small 14^th century temple located in the Chaliang area on the banks of the Yom river. It is located a few hundred meters West of the area’s largest and best known monument, the Wat Phra Si Rattana Mahathat Chaliang.

The temple’s laterite structures are enclosed by a boundary wall. Aligned on an East West axis are the principal chedi, a mondop and a viharn. North of the main chedi are the remains of a subsidiary chedi and a building that was probably an ubosot.

The temple was built in the 14^th century during the Sukhothai era, possibly on the site of an earlier structure.

Museum built over ancient burial site

The area was inhabited much earlier. During excavations human skeletons from the 3^rd to 4^th centuries were discovered buried several meters deep and traces of 11^th century brick structures were found. A museum has been built over the excavation site where visitors can see a number of skeletons and several artifacts and tools unearthed at the site. Admission to the museum is included in the Si Satchanalai Historical Park ticket.

Principal chedi

The most important structure of the Wat Chom Chuen is the principal chedi, which stands next to the mondop. The laterite Singhalese style chedi is believed to have been built over an earlier structure from the Khmer era.

The chedi’s base consists of a number of square receding tiers and one octagonal tier. Around the base are shrines protruding out of the structure. Now empty, they once contained images of the Buddha. The laterite bell was covered with plaster, some of which still remains. Around its base are small carved petals of lotus flowers. The top of the chedi, once fitted with a tall tapering finial, has collapsed.

Mondop

Between the principal chedi and the viharn stands a small mondop opening to the East. Facing the viharn is an arched entrance portal flanked by two arched niches, now empty. The well preserved laterite structure was covered with plaster, much of which still remains. The mondop enshrines a seated image of the Buddha.

Viharn

In front of the mondop are the ruins of a viharn or assembly hall with a front portal on its East end. The base, lower part of the walls and pillars that supported the roof remain. Square holes in the stuccoed pillars mark the spot where wooden beams were once fitted.

• Wat Chang Lom
• Wat Phra Si Rattana Mahathat
• Wat Chedi Chet Thaeo
• Wat Nang Phaya
• Wat Khao Phanom Phloeng
• Wat Chao Chan

• Central zone
• Chaliang
• North & South zone

• Temples

• Kamphaeng Phet Historical Park
• Sukhothai Historical Park