Central Zone
The central zone of the Kamphaeng Phet Historical Park, also known as Muang Kamphaeng Phet is located a few hundred meters East of the Ping river. During the days of the Sukhothai Kingdom the area was known as Muang Cha Kang Rao.
A small area of 21 acres, the central zone contains 14 ancient structures built during the 14th and 15th centuries, aligned with the old town wall and the Ping river. It houses important temples as the Wat Phra Kaew and Wat Phra That as well as the Shiva shrine and the Kamphaeng Phet National Museum.
Virtually nothing remains of the Royal Palace named Sa Mon that was built adjacent to the Wat Phra Kaew. Likewise, the wooden houses of common people have long gone.
Town wall and fortresses
The town was protected by an enclosing laterite wall with watch towers and several forts, like the Chao In fortress and the Chao Chan fortress in the South section of the wall. Large sections of the walls are intact and remains of two of its fortresses can still be seen.
In the North West section of the walled town, opposite of the central zone across Route 101 is a very well preserved section of the old town wall with city gates and turrets built during the 14th or 15th century. Ten gates gave access to the town. Outside of the walls was a 30 meter wide moat measuring 2,400 meters North, 2,150 meters South, 540 meters East and 220 meters West.
Temples of the central zone
All structures of central zone temples are dedicated to the veneration of the Buddha, contained in an area known as Buddhavasa. Unlike temples in the Aranyik area (the North zone), there were no resident monks living at the temple. There is no Sanghavasa area where the living quarters of the monks were. The most important structures were the viharn and the principal chedi, usually a Singhalese style bell shaped chedi.
The central zone contain several examples of Sukhothai style structures including the “elephant encircled chedi” and the Phra Attharot standing Buddha image of the Wat Phra Kaew.
Important temples
The two most important temples in the walled town were located near the King’s Palace, the Sa Mon. The Wat Phra Kaew once housed two of Thailand’s most venerated images of the Buddha. The King used the temple to worship the Buddha. The Wat Phra That was one of the most important temples in ancient Kamphaeng Phet, since its chedi enshrined Buddha relics.
Other temples and shrines
The central zone contains several smaller temples and shrines.
Wat E-Keng
The Wat E-Keng is a small temple comprising of a viharn on a high brick base. Seated on a pedestal are the remains of the brick principal Buddha image facing East.
Wat Pasak
The Wat Pasak is a small temple near the Wat E-Keng. Set on a high brick base is the viharn or assembly hall, of which nothing remains but some of the pillars that supported the roof. To the back is a pedestal that supported the principal Buddha image, which is no longer there.
Shiva shrine
The Shiva Shrine (San Phra Isuan) contained an early 16th century bronze statue of Shiva measuring 2.10 meters tall. The image was molded in 1510 to protect the inhabitants of ancient Kamphaeng Phet town. The original image was moved to the nearby Kamphaeng Phet National Museum, the one in the shrine is a copy.
Temples in the Central Zone
Some of the temples in this zone are: