City Pillar Shrine

The City Pillar Shrine is an ancient monument of more than 700 years. It is believed that it was built by King Woraman (Me) during the Sukhothai period. The post was made of round laterite with 2 meters long and 1 meter high in width. There is a guardian god’s head on the top of the post.

In the reign of King Rama V, the shrine roof was broken and overlaid both the post and the guardian god's head. Later, the shrine had been neglected for a long time. In 1929 CE, a Kamphaeng Phet prosecutor by Luang Montri Rai (Wan) renovated the shrine in a pavilion. In 1941 CE, the guardian god's head was stolen. Luang Prariwat Woravijitra (Jantara Jareonchai), Kamphaeng Phet governor, assigned Mr Chakai Kulsu to mould 11 new guardian god's heads with a variety of clays, all of which were from the top of Khao Luang (Luang mountain), the centre of the ubosot, and the centre of the ancient pagoda of Kamphaeng Phet, Sukhothai, Sri Satchanalai, Phitsanulok and Tak.

In 1983 CE, the City Pillar was renovated by Mr Chaowawat Sudlapha, the Kamphaeng Phet governor. The latter later assigned Mr Pramaun Rujimethi, the vice-governor, to repair the square building and its compound with reinforced concrete from donations of the Kamphaeng Phet locals. On 16 April 1984 CE, His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn anointed the City Pillar during a visit to the shrine on behalf of His Majesty the King. On 5 May of that year, a ceremony raised the City Pillar and guardian god's head to the shrine. On Songkran Day Festival, every year draws crowds of people to gather at the shrine to worship and cover the pillar with a gold leaf, which causes the City Pillar to decline sharply.

In 2007 CE, the Kamphaeng Phet Mayor, Mr Kriatchai Tironnusakkul, stood as a manager of the City Pillar, coordinated the Fine Arts Department to renovate the old City Pillar and created a new one. At present, the old City Pillar is kept inside the shrine. The post and its surrounding area were renovated in harmony with the old city and Wat Phra Kaeo in 2007 CE. The old City Pillar and the statue of Meun Khun Sri Worajakra (Chao Pho Lak Mueang) are kept inside the shrine. Still, they do not allow anyone to either sprinkle water or cover the gold leaf onto the pillar during Songkran Day Festival.

The expert from the office of the Ten Crafts Fine Arts Department, Culture Ministry, surveyed the damage of the old post, restoring it and also created a replica City Pillar made of golden teak with 2.29 meters high and 64 centimetres wide. On 26 March 2008 CE, the post replica, which passed the sacred ceremony from the Fine Arts Department, was established in the shrine. The City Pillar was registered as a shrine on 29 May 1985 CE under the shrine rule 2463 BE (1920 CE). [Source: Information board in situ]

Ayutthaya Historical Research