WAT TRAPHANG THONG

VIDEO DESCRIPTION

 

 

Wat Traphang Thong (วัดตระพังทอง) is a Buddhist temple in Sukhothai, located on a small island in a pond, adjacent to the Sukhothai National Museum in Old Sukhothai, and part of the Sukhothai Historical Park. It consists of a garden with a simple yet royal ubosot (prayer hall) built adjacent to a brick chedi (stupa). To the east of it is a small pavilion that houses a Buddhapada, and north of that a sala (open pavilion) with a collection of Buddha images, whilst in the southern part of the islet is a bronze statue depicting Khom Dam Din (ขอมดำดิน), the Khmer assassin who was able to travel underground by using magic powers and who was sent to kill Phra Ruang (พระร่วง), i.e. King Indraditya (อินทราทิตย์) of Sukhothai, for liberating his people from the yoke of the Khmer. However, according to legend, the assassin was turned into stone by the the king, who had fled to Wat Mahathat (วัดมหาธาตุ), a Buddhist temple in Sukhothai, where he was ordained as a monk. At present, the temple is accessible by two wooden pedestrian bridges.