Wat Phra Kaeo

Wat Phra Kaeo was a temple of great significance, attached to the royal palace, similar to Wat Phra Si Sanphet in Ayutthaya and Wat Maha That in Sukhothai. Wat Phra Kaeo comprises a principal chedi on a base surrounded by elephants, vihara, mondop, ubosot, and satellite chedis, all enclosed by a laterite wall.

Situated in the heart of the town, this large temple was laid out in a rectangular shape. Important buildings were built on an east-west axis and parallel to the town wall in the south. Considering different forms and sizes in some parts of a laterite wall marking the temple boundary, the buildings within the temple were presumably constructed and renovated in different periods. At the front of the temple, there is a highly elevated laterite base of vast size on which a laterite structure core of the main Buddha image surrounded by sima stones remains. Behind the foundations of the ordination hall, a square base of 3 receding tiers of large size is situated, presumably the foundations of a chedi.

Next is a stupa base with beautiful indented corners, believed to be a busabok (puspaka or throne) on which the Emerald Buddha image was placed. However, considering its architectural form, especially its ornamental mouldings, this stupa base looks similar to a lower base of a Prang of the Ayutthaya period. To the west of the foundations of the ordination hall stands prominently a circular or bell-shaped chedi of large size believed to be the principal chedi of this temple.

The decoration of 32 lions (Singha) sculptures, each placed in a niche around the lowermost base of the main chedi, was styled on the bell-shaped chedi surrounded with elephant figures of the Sukhothai period. Above the lion sculptures are 16 niches, each enshrining a Buddha image. However, all of the Buddha images are almost in ruins. The bell-shaped body of the chedi rests on three receding tiers in the form of a lotus. Above the stupa body decorated with lotus mouldings is a base of receding levels in the form of a lotus with niches on four sides. On top of the stupa, there are layers of decreasing circular mouldings and a tapering finial.

Behind the principal chedi is a square base, presumably belonging to a mandapa. On the base there is a laterite structure core of sitting Buddha image in the attitude of subduing Mara. Next to the mandapa base is located an elevated base of a vihara. Inside the vihara, there are three Buddha images of considerable size, two in the attitude of subduing Mara and the other in a reclining posture. Their square faces, joined eyebrows and almond eyes are different from those of Buddha images in the Sukhothai style found in Kamphaeng Phet, suggesting that these three Buddha images belong to the U-Thong style of the early Ayutthaya period. Stuccoed reliefs found around the base of this vihara depict scenes from the Ramayana. At present pieces of this broken ornamental plaster are on display at Kamphaeng Phet National Museum.

At the end of the temple site, there is a bell-shaped chedi on a rectangular base enclosed by an L-shaped gallery. Formerly, thirty-two elephant sculptures projecting half bodies from the surface were carved around the base. There were also corner chedis constructed at four corners of the base. This type of chedi surrounded by elephant figures is very typical for the Sukhothai era.

To the east of the chedi, traces of a standing Buddha image of vast size enshrined in a niche specially built for the statue were found. However, only the feet of the Buddha image remain. In the Sukhothai period, this standing Buddha statue was called "Phra Attharot". Considering the architectural elements in Wat Phra Kaeo, it can be said that the group of ancient monuments at the back of the temple is considered to be the oldest of all and belong to the Sukhothai period. This group includes the five chedis with elephant figures carved around its base, the standing Buddha image named Attharot, a vihara in front of Phra Attharot and part of the temple wall made of huge pieces of laterite around this area.

Other ancient monuments situated towards the front (or to the east) might have been built later in the Ayutthaya period under the influence of the Sukhothai art.

The Buddha image called Phra Buddha Sihing (according to the legend of Phra Buddha Sihing), and the Emerald Buddha (according to the legend of the Emerald Buddha based on the book entitled Chinnakan Malipakon), were brought to Kamphaeng Phet and presumably enshrined in Wat Phra Kaeo. When King Rama VI of the Rattanakosin period came to visit ancient Kamphaeng Phet, he called a large group of ancient monuments in the middle of the town "Wat Phra Kaeo" and the site has been known by this name since. [Source: Guide to Sukhothai, Si Satchanalai and Kamphaeng Phet Historical Parks (2542 BE)]

Ayutthaya Historical Research