Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Walled City
Just north of modern Kamphaeng Phet, this walled
zone
(admission 100B; 8am-4pm)
is the ori-
gin of the city's name, and was formerly inhabited by monks of the
gamavasi
('living in
the community') sect.
It's a long walk or an approximately 40B motorcycle taxi ride from the centre of town.
Wat Phra Kaew
This former temple, adjacent to what is believed to have been the royal palace (now in ru-
ins), dominates the walled city. There's an immense reclining Buddha and several smaller,
weather-corroded Buddha statues that have assumed slender, porous forms, reminding
some visitors of the sculptures of Alberto Giacometti.
HISTORICAL SITE
Wat Phra That
The ruins of this temple are distinguished by a large round-based brick and laterite
Kamphaeng Phet-style
chedi
surrounded by columns.
HISTORICAL SITE
GOOD DEAL
An admission fee of 150B allows entry to both the former walled city of Kamphaeng Phet and the larger com-
pound outside of town.
Outside of Town
The majority of Kamphaeng Phet's ruins are found in this expansive
zone
(admission 100B;
8am-6pm)
, located about 1.5km north of the city walls. The area was previously home to
monks of the
arani
('living in forests') sect, and in addition to the two temple compounds
mentioned here, contains more than 40 other former compounds, although most are not
much more than flat brick foundations with the occasional weather-worn Buddha image.
There is an excellent
visitor centre
(
8am-4.30pm)
at the entrance where
bicycle hire
(per day
30B)
can be arranged.
A motorcycle taxi from central Kamphaeng Phet to the entrance will run about 80B.
