Was it Queen Chama Thewi who founded Lamphun in the 8th century? Now, you’re standing before Wat Chedi Kut. It is a temple steeped in history. Wat Chedi Kut holds a special place in Lamphun’s cultural heritage. Some believe its foundation dates back to the 8th century. Others suggest it was around 1150. Monks at the temple stand by the 8th-century origin.
Wat Chedi Kut’s chedis might be some of the oldest structures in North Thailand. Road 1015 once bisected the temple. Old photos show the chedis standing alone. A major restoration took place in 1936-37. The monk Kruba Srivichai led this effort. Before this, Wat Chedi Kut was in disrepair.
The Suwannad Chang Kot Chedi is also known as the Mahabol Chedi. It is a significant structure at Wat Chedi Kut. These are Mon-style chedis. The design is pyramidical. Niches at each step hold a Buddha image. This style comes from the Mon-Dvaravati period. Similar chedis are at other temples, too.
King Adityaraja built the Suwan Chang Kot Chedi around 1150. It celebrated his victory over a Khmer army. An earthquake damaged it. King Saphsit rebuilt it. The Suwanna Chang Kot Chedi stands 21 meters tall. It allegedly contains Queen Chama Thewi’s ashes. A monk mentioned a golden lotus flower once adorned the top. Burmese forces removed it centuries ago.
Next to the assembly hall stands the Ratana Chedi. It means “gem chedi” in Thai. This chedi is much smaller. It is only 11.5 meters tall. It features standing Buddha images in niches. Seated images are also present. A relic container may have been at the top.
During 1936-37, Kruba Srivichai’s followers restored Wat Ku Kut. They built the viharn. A museum photo shows the monk with others in front of the chedi. The viharn is visible in 1930s photos. It is a Bangkok-style building. It has a Lanna-style roof. A large Buddha image sits on a pedestal inside. Murals depict scenes from Hariphunchai history. They also depict Queen Chama Thewi.
An artificial cave houses three statues of “ruesi”. Reusi are hermits who live in the forest. They hold natural laws and sciences. The ubosot is a central Thai-style building. It has a Lanna-style roof. A small, white stupa in front holds Kruba Srivichai’s ashes.
The Kruba Srivichai Museum is at the back. It honors the “monk-engineer”. His followers restored many temples in North Thailand. They built the road to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep.
Wat Ku Kut, also known as Wat Chama Thewi, is free to enter. It’s located on Chama Thewi road. That’s road number 1015. It is west of Lamphun. It is about 1.5 km from the old city wall. The temple opens from 6:00 to 18:00 daily. You can still find samlors in Lamphun. You can hire them at the Central Market. You can also find them at the hospital. The hospital is next to the temple.