A walking Buddha from Wat Kiu Si Hong in Kamphaeng Phet, showing the Sukhothai style from the 15th century.

Kamphaeng Phet National Museum

As one of the best exhibitions in the region, the Kamphaeng Phet National Museum provides an excellent overview of the city's history.

The Kamphaeng Phet National Museum has an excellent collection of displays explaining the region's heritage. – © Michael Turtle

Headless Buddha statues in the subduing Mara pose from the 14th - 15th century found in the Kamphaeng Phet old town. – © Michael Turtle

The Kamphaeng Phet National Museum is located next to the main temples of the Historical Park's Inner Zone. – © Michael Turtle

The Kamphaeng Phet National Museum has an excellent collection of displays explaining the region's heritage. – © Michael Turtle

Walking amongst the temples of Kamphaeng Phet, visitors will be able to have a look at the large statues that have remained in situ. But to see some of the smaller items that would once have decorated the city, it's necessary to visit the Kamphaeng Phet National Museum. The collection here is an excellent journey through time from the prehistoric era to modern day.

There are good exhibitions about Dvaravati art, and different examples of Buddha images presented next to each other so you can compare them. The information panels are well researched and easy to read and explain aspects like the trading history and military tensions of the times.

A collection of stucco sculptures found in Kamphaeng Phet that would once have decorated important buildings in the city. – © Michael Turtle

One of the most significant items on display is a bronze statue of the Hindu god Shiva which was originally in a shrine on the east of the historical park. It's a beautifully ornate piece that is not just an impressive artwork, but evidence of the exchange of cultures in Kamphaeng Phet. An inscription on the base of the statue gives some contemporary information that has been useful for historians.

The bronze statue of the Hindu god Shiva was found in a shrine in the east of the Historical Park and is one of the museum's most important pieces. – © Michael Turtle

Towards the end of the museum tour, you'll also find some items related to more recent folk history in the region, completing the story of more than two millennia of the region's history.