Wat Saphan Hin

The Wat Saphan Hin is a small temple on top of a hill facing old Sukhothai town. It is known for its 12 meter tall standing Buddha image overlooking the plains. The temple is located a few hundred meters past the West zone entrance gate, just off Route 12 from Sukhothai Historical Park to Tak.

On top of a mound

Wat Saphan Hin translates to “temple of the stone bridge”. It is named after the path of slate stones that leads to the temple on top of a 200 meter high mound. Although it takes some effort to climb the way to the top, visitors will have great views of the surrounding area once arrived.

Lotus bud chedi

A little over halfway to the top standing on a base of five receding tiers is a small lotus bud chedi in the typical Sukhothai style. Just underneath the lotus bud finial are niches where images of the Buddha were enshrined.

12 Meter tall standing Buddha

The Wat Saphan Hin is known for the large standing image of the Buddha known as Phra Attharot, that can be seen from the bottom of the path. The 12 meter tall image is in the Abhaya mudra, the gesture of dispelling fear. The image stands in the remains of a viharn or assembly hall that also enshrines a much smaller seated image of the Buddha in the “Calling the Earth to witness” mudra.

The Phra Attharot is mentioned in stone inscription number 1. It is believed that King Ramkhamhaeng the Great rode his white elephant to the temple to worship the image.

• Wat Mahathat
• Wat Si Sawai
• Wat Sa Si
• Wat Sorasak
• Wat Tra Phang Ngoen
• Wat Si Chum
• Wat Chetuphon
• Wat Phra Phai Luang

• Central zone
• North zone
• East zone
• South zone
• West zone

• Temples
• History Sukhothai
• Sukhothai style Buddha images

• Kamphaeng Phet Historical Park
• Si Satchanalai Historical Park