Sukhothai Historical Park
- Wat Phra Phai Luang |
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(30) วัดพระพายหลวง |
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Description: |
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Located close to the northern gate and outer rampart of
Sukhothai, Wat Phra Phai Luang is considered a group of ancient
edifices of great significance because its buildings,
constructed in different phases, have left impressive evidence
of the evolution of Sukhothai art and architecture. This group
of ancient monuments was built in the middle of an area, which
was enclosed with a moat of 600 metres long for each side. The
oldest ancient monuments in this temple are 3 buildings
constructed in prasad form (imitated Hindu Shikhara Vimanas). At
present, two of them are still in existence with only their
bases remaining to be seen. The remaining one in the north is
adorned with stuccoes relief depicting the story of Buddha, like
those at a prasad of Wat Mahathat in Lop Buri Province and at
Palilai Prasad in Angkor, the capital of the Ancient Khmer
Kingdom. These stuccoes relief help to confirm the supposition
that around the 13th century AD communities in Sukhothai had
cultural contact with the Khmer in the reign of Jayavarman VII
and were also associated with Lavo (Lop Buri), a Khmer town of
importance in the central plain.
To the east of the
prasad are located a vihara and a chedi in pyramid shape with
every sloping side decorated with superimposed receding porches,
which are similar to those of Ku Kut chedi in Lamphun, for
enshrining Buddha Images. Moreover, Buddha images in Wat Tra
Kuan art style enshrined in closed porches were found underneath
those in Sukhothai style. Such a discovery points to the fact
that new chedis were rebuilt in different periods to replace the
old ones. Located at the eastern extremity of this temple, a
mandapa was built to enshrine Buddha Images in four postures,
namely sitting, reclining, standing and walking. This mandapa is
likely to belong to the late Sukhothai period. |
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Province |
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Sukhothai |
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District |
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Mueang |
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City |
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Mueang Kao |
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Genre |
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Historic |
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Best exposure |
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Opening time |
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N/A |
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Entry fee |
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Park
fee |
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GPS : |
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17.02946 N |
99.699458 E |
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