Wat Phra Non
“Temple of the reclining Buddha”
The Wat Phra Non is an ancient temple located in the forested area known as Aranyik, the North zone of the Kamphaeng Phet Historical Park. Its name translates to “temple of the reclining Buddha”.
The temple comprises of a Buddhavasa area where all structure are dedicated to the veneration of the Buddha and a Sanghavasa area where the resident monks lived.
Founded in the 15th or 16th century, the temple’s main structures are the principal chedi, a viharn, an ubosot and a mondop. The rectangular grounds are enclosed by a wall of laterite blocks, its structures oriented towards the East.
In front of the temple are a wash room and a square well dug out from the laterite as well as a sala, an open structure without walls to provide shelter. A laterite walkway from the East entrance gate leads towards the temple. The Buddhavasa area is surrounded by a boundary wall. The Sanghavasa area that contained the residences of the temple’s monks was outside of the walled temple area.
Ubosot
The elevated base and a number of columns remain of a large ubosot or ordination hall. The laterite structure was covered with stucco. Some of it remains on the octagonal laterite columns that once supported the wooden roof. The building is surrounded by eight sema stones, boundary stones that mark the sacred are of the ubosot.
Viharn of the reclining Buddha image
Standing on a rectangular base is the Wat Phra Non’s large roofless viharn, its walls largely intact. The viharn enshrined a large reclining Buddha image, of which virtually nothing remains today but the pedestal. The enormous columns that once supported the wooden roof are still standing. The six meter high columns were made out of a single block of laterite. Rectangular holes in the columns and walls mark the spot where wooden beams were fitted that supported the roof. Rows of balusters are fitted in the viharn’s walls, allowing daylight into the building.
Large Singhalese style chedi
Dominating the grounds is the principal chedi that stands behind the viharn of the reclining Buddha. The large bell shaped chedi in Singhalese style has recently been restored. Resting on a square base and a number of receding octagonal tiers is a relatively small bell topped with a finial. The chedi was surrounded by smaller subsidiary chedis, of which little remains.
Mondop
Behind the chedi is a fairly well preserved mondop, the back wall and one of its side walls still standing. Seated on a pedestal to the back was a seated Buddha image, that has disintegrated.