Ta Pha Daeng Shrine

Situated adjacent to a reservoir named Tra Kuan in the west and the town gate in the north, this ancient monument was put on a map in the reign of King Rama V and was known as Theparak Yai Shrine and Ta Pha Daeng Shrine. The oldest surviving Khmer building at Sukhothai, this single sanctuary tower stands on an exceptionally high base adorned with lotus moulding, which gives it imposing proportions, despite not being particularly large. It was built entirely in laterite, although the superstructure has long since collapsed. There are no traces of the original stucco moulding on the building. Extended from the shrine, projecting chambers were constructed on the east and west sides, with the eastern room longer than the western one. During the excavation of the Ta Pha Daeng Shrine undertaken by the Fine Arts Department, the torsos of five life-size statues were uncovered here. They initially led Boisselier to date San Ta Pha Daeng to the Angkor Wat period during the reign of Suriyavarman II (1113 - 1150 CE). Still, the fragments and the site are generally regarded as being from the Bayon period (13th century CE). The objects are exhibited in the Ramkhamhaeng National Museum.

References:
1. Guide to Sukhothai, Si Satchanalai and Kamphaeng Phet Historical Parks – Fine Arts Department (1999).
2. Thai-Cambodian Culture: Relationship through arts - Charuwan Phungtian (2000) - Magadh University, Bodhgaya.

Ayutthaya Historical Research