Nakhon Chum

Nakhon Chum stands on the west bank of the Ping River, opposite Chakangrao and the later city of Kamphaeng Phet. It was an important southern centre of the Sukhothai kingdom. In 1357 King Li Thai established a reliquary shrine here and planted a bodhi tree associated with Sri Lanka. The Nakhon Chum inscription records his religious foundation and the king's vision of the Buddhist faith. Across the river, fortified Chakangrao guarded the route between the northern towns and Ayutthaya.