Wat Phra Kaeo (Kamphaeng Phet)
The Wat Phra Kaeo ( Thai : วัด พระ แก้ว , German: "Temple of the Emerald Buddha") is a Buddhist temple ( wat ) in Kamphaeng Phet , Northern Thailand and is the largest shrine of the city, at the same time it is part of the World Heritage Site of UNESCO. The name was given to the complex by King Mongkut (Rama IV) on the occasion of his visit in the middle of the 19th century.
Wat Phra Kaeo is part of the Kamphaeng Phet Historical Park .
location
Wat Phra Kaeo is located near the National Museum in the district of the old town of Kamphaeng Phet on the east bank of the Mae Nam Ping (Ping River) . The complex was laid out in the center of the old city of Kamphaeng Phet, similar to Wat Mahathat in Sukhothai and Wat Phra Sri Sanphet in Ayutthaya . Next to it is the temple complex Wat Phra That .
Building history
Wat Phra Kaeo was built as a rectangular complex without an enclosed area for monks. Important structures were erected along a west-east axis parallel to the city wall. A wall made of sandstone slabs served as an enclosure . The foundation with the laterite core of the most important Buddha statue stands in front of the temple . All other structures of Wat Phra Kaeo are made of sandstone and are surmounted by a large chedi in Ceylonese style.
There are 35 foundations of stupas of different architectural styles near the monastery .
According to legend, the Emerald Buddha , which is now located in Wat Phra Kaeo in Bangkok, was once kept here together with the Phra Phuttha Sihing statue , then probably in this temple.
Attractions
In addition to the ruins, there are eight Wihan and three Ubosot on the temple grounds. In the center of the rectangular wall is a chedi , the base of which was surrounded by lion figures in niches.
Individual evidence
- ↑ Kamphaeng Phet Historical Park - Kamphaeng Province . Bangkok: Phachachon Co. circa 2009.
literature
- Clarence Aasen: Architecture of Siam: A Cultural History and Interpretation . Oxford: Oxford University Press 1998. ISBN 9835600279 .
Web links
Coordinates: 16 ° 29 ′ 17 ″ N , 99 ° 31 ′ 3 ″ E