Wat Phra Kaew

Terrain

General Condition

Wat Phra Kaew is an abandoned temple. It is the largest measure Located in the middle of the ancient city of Kamphaeng Phet. Currently, it is within Mueang Kamphaeng Phet District and Mueang Kamphaeng Phet Municipality.

Height above mean sea level

Waterway

Ping River

Geological conditions

The soil is sandy and has a layer of river sediment sand. Because this area was originally a plain on the banks of the Ping River. Later, the Ping River became shallow due to the deposition of sand sediments and sandy soil, thus forming a plain around this Kamphaeng Phet town.

Archaeological Era

era/culture

Archaeological age

Types of archaeological sites

archaeological essence

Wat Phra Kaew is the largest temple in Kamphaeng Phet. Located in the middle of Kamphaeng Phet city. The measurement plan is rectangular. The temple's buildings are arranged in a long line in the east-west axis. parallel to the city wall There is laterite wall showing the boundary of the temple. The nature and size of the temple walls will be different at certain intervals. It is important evidence that Wat Phra Kaew has been built or renovated many times. At the very front of the temple is a high base made of laterite. On the base of Phaiti is the base of the chapel. Continuing from the base of the chapel is the construction of the base in front of the large rectangular boards stacked together. and next to it is a recessed base similar to the lower base of the Ayutthaya-era pagoda Next to the large Phaiti base to the west is a bell-shaped chedi, the main chedi of the temple. The base of the lower chedi has 32 arches, inside decorated with stucco lions. Next up will be an arch enshrining 16 stucco Buddha images. The throne of the chedi is made into arches in all four directions.

To the west of the Singha Pagoda is surrounded by a low platform. Inside is enshrined a large stucco Buddha image consisting of 2 Phra Pang Mara Wichai and 1 reclining Buddha image. The faces of the three Buddha images are quite At the end of the temple there is a bell-shaped chedi on a square base. in the crooked balcony called this chedi White Elephant Pagoda This is because the original base used to be decorated with stucco elephants, 32 ropes, around the base of the chedi, there are also chedi at all 4 corners. On the east side of the bell-shaped chedi surrounded by elephants, there are traces of a large standing Buddha image. But the Buddha image and the facade were completely destroyed, leaving only the two feet of the Buddha image. This large standing Buddha image is called Phra Attharot (Department of Fine Arts 2009 :61 - 66).