Kamphaeng Phet Historical Park

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About Kamphaeng Phet Historical Park

The Khamphaeng Phet Historical Park is an outstanding destination for those seeking a serene and reverent experience. Post CV19, the park has seen fewer tourists, making it an absolutely wonderful way to spend the day, wandering on foot and by car. The sites are well-explained on placards, making it easy for visitors to understand the historical significance of each location.

The park is divided into two main areas to visit. The first is the more obvious ruins with the triple Buddha images, which is good for a short visit of about 30 minutes. However, it is recommended to drive up to the main park to see a whole range of ruins. This area is a great spot for exercise, but it is advised to have a car or a bike for this.

The historical park is considered by many to be as good if not better than the much more visited Sukhothai Historical Park. The advantage in Khamphaeng Phet is the complete absence of hordes of other people, so visitors can really enjoy the atmosphere. There are basically three sections: the closest to town which you can walk around, the old walls and fort which you can drive around, and an additional park with many ruins of wats that you can drive around. This should be a must-see site which appears to be missed by most people.

The park is a fascinating window on Thai history. It is not as well known as Ayutthaya or Sukhothai historical parks but it holds as much interest as either of them - perhaps more. It shares UNESCO World Heritage status with the Sukhothai park, as part of an area known officially as the Historic Town of Sukhothai and Associated Historic Towns. Kamphaeng Phet's historical park is on the edge of the city. It contains more than 50 ancient temples in two areas: the old walled city and the nearby forest areas. The temples date from 700-to-500 years ago and have been ravaged by war, looting, weather and time. Today, only ruins remain. But with a little imagination, and the help of architectural drawings posted near many of the sites, it is easy to see how substantial and beautiful they once were.

The park is not very popular among tourists, making it a peaceful detour from the tourist trail. The three Buddhas are the highlight of this site. They are really beautiful and impressively well preserved. It is highly recommended for those seeking a peaceful journey into Old Thailand.

The park is located on busy main roads but once you get out and start walking the paths the sounds of the city seem to drift away and you are brought back hundreds of years into Thailand's storied past. It is a beautiful place for photography with the green grass, mortar walls, ancient wats, dilapidated buddha's and etc. Truly a dream place for video or stills.

Kamphaeng Phet forms a triangle of heritage sites with the better known Sukhothai and Sisatchanalai ruins. However, it gets very few tourists and that makes for a far more peaceful experience. The ruins are partly in the small town and partly in the forest beyond the town. The atmosphere here is very different to its ruined sister cities as most buildings, images and stupas have lost the outer brick and stucco layers and feel more raw and mysterious, so you won't get that temple fatigue feeling here. In fact, the temples among the trees have more of a lost city feel to them and as you'll very likely be the only people around you'll be able to enjoy that sense of discovery.

In conclusion, the Khamphaeng Phet Historical Park is a hidden gem that offers a unique and peaceful experience. It is well worth a visit for those interested in Thai history, early Thai architecture or Thai Buddhism. It is a place that truly captures the essence of Thailand's past and its religious history.