Wat Tra Phang Ngoen

The Wat Tra Phang Ngoen is a small temple located in the central zone of the Sukhothai Historical Park. It is found a few hundred meters West of the Wat Mahathat along the road to the Western Or gate in the ancient city walls.

Silver lake temple

The name of the temple that was built in the 14^th century translates to “silver lake temple”. The Wat Tra Phang Ngoen consists of a Sukhothai style principal chedi, a viharn, an ubosot, a smaller chedi and an image of a Sukhothai style walking Buddha.

Lotus bud chedi

The principal chedi is similar to the main chedi of the nearby Wat Mahathat. The structure which is set on a five tiered square base is topped with a lotus bud finial, characteristic for the Sukhothai style. Just under the lotus bud finial are niches, one on each side, that contain standing and walking Sukhothai style images of the Buddha.

Viharn enshrining large seated Buddha image

In front of the main chedi stands the viharn or assembly hall of which the base and columns that once supported the roof remain. At the back of the structure seated on a pedestal is a large stuccoed image of the Buddha in the Bhumisparsha mudra, also known as “calling the Earth to witness” or “subduing Mara”.

Smaller chedi

To the right of main chedi and viharn stands a smaller chedi set on a base with indented corners. On each side is a large niche, that is now empty. The upper part of the structure consists of receding storeys. The chedi that is very similar to the smaller chedi of the nearby Wat Chana Songkhram was probably built during the Ayutthaya period.

Sukhothai style walking Buddha image

In front of it on a pedestal stands a graceful image of a walking Buddha in classic Sukhothai style. The image is in the Vitarka mudra, the gesture of teaching and discussion. The remains of the ubosot or ordination hall stand on a small island in the center of a pond that can be reached by a bridge.

• Wat Mahathat
• Wat Si Sawai
• Wat Sa Si
• Wat Sorasak
• Wat Si Chum
• Wat Chetuphon
• Wat Phra Phai Luang
• Wat Saphan Hin

• Central zone
• North zone
• East zone
• South zone
• West zone

• Temples
• History Sukhothai
• Sukhothai style Buddha images

• Kamphaeng Phet Historical Park
• Si Satchanalai Historical Park