Kamphaeng Phet Province Guide: History, Towns and Local Products
Kamphaeng Phet means 'diamond wall', and its old town on the Ping River was a fortified outpost of the Sukhothai kingdom. Its walls, moats and laterite temples, many of them now in shaded forest, are part of a UNESCO World Heritage site.
This guide explains why this frontier town mattered, visits its eleven districts from the river to the western forests and lists the kluai khai bananas the province is famous for. For local producers, there is also a word on finding customers outside Kamphaeng Phet.
Kamphaeng Phet
Diamond Walls and Egg Bananas
A fortress town of the Sukhothai kingdom whose laterite temples now stand among the trees, and whose small sweet bananas are celebrated every September.
By the SnapSellGo Thailand Desk · Updated September 2026 · 8 min read
Made in Kamphaeng Phet
Specialities of Kamphaeng Phet. Makers from the province are setting up shop.
"Known for" cards are editorial, not listings. Live products from Kamphaeng Phet replace them automatically.
Why Kamphaeng Phet had walls of diamond
In the 14th century Kamphaeng Phet guarded the south-western approach to the Sukhothai kingdom along the Ping River. Its builders gave it strong laterite walls and moats, and inside and outside them a series of temples with large Buddha images, some of which still sit among the ruins.
In 1991 the old town was listed by UNESCO together with Sukhothai and Si Satchanalai as the Historic Town of Sukhothai and Associated Historic Towns. Its forest temples, such as Wat Phra Non and Wat Chang Rob with its elephant-lined base, are among the most atmospheric ruins in Thailand. To the west, the national parks of Khlong Lan and Mae Wong rise into the mountains.
Diamond walls
Laterite walls and moats of a Sukhothai frontier town.
Forest temples
Ruins such as Wat Chang Rob among the trees.
World Heritage
Listed by UNESCO with Sukhothai in 1991.
Kluai khai
Small, sweet egg bananas.
Kamphaeng Phet: a timeline
Kamphaeng Phet's history is written in laterite, from a Sukhothai outpost to a World Heritage site.
- 14th centuryKamphaeng Phet is fortified as a frontier town of the Sukhothai kingdom.
- 15th centuryThe town passes under the control of Ayutthaya.
- 1991UNESCO lists it with Sukhothai and Si Satchanalai.
- TodayThe Kluai Khai Festival celebrates the province's famous banana each September.
Eleven districts between the Ping and the western hills
Kamphaeng Phet has 11 districts and about 720,000 residents. These are the ones most visitors meet.
| District | What you find there |
|---|---|
| Mueang Kamphaeng Phet | The historical park, the walls and the Ping River. |
| Khlong Lan | Khlong Lan National Park and its waterfall. |
| Pang Sila Thong | Forested hills in the west. |
| Khanu Woralaksaburi | Rice fields and sugar cane in the south. |
| Phran Kratai | Caves and farmland in the north. |
When to go: festivals and seasons
Kamphaeng Phet's biggest event celebrates its banana. Here are the dates to note.
Made in Kamphaeng Phet: OTOP and local specialities
The OTOP scheme gives every product a home sub-district, and Kamphaeng Phet is famous for kluai khai, the small 'egg banana', sweet and fragrant, sold fresh and turned into dried and fried snacks.
The plains along the Ping grow rice and sugar cane, and the town's markets sell banana sweets and local snacks to visitors of the historical park.
Real products from Kamphaeng Phet makers appear in the carousel at the top of this page as soon as they are listed. Sellers pay no commission on SnapSellGo, only a yearly shop fee.
Short on time? The forest temples of the historical park by bicycle. Visiting in September? The Kluai Khai Festival. Love waterfalls? Khlong Lan after the rains. Buying local? A bunch of kluai khai.
Questions people ask about Kamphaeng Phet
What does Kamphaeng Phet mean?
It means 'diamond wall', a reference to the strong walls of the old town.
Is Kamphaeng Phet a World Heritage site?
Yes. Its historical park was listed by UNESCO in 1991, together with Sukhothai and Si Satchanalai.
What is kluai khai?
A small, sweet banana, often called the egg banana, for which Kamphaeng Phet is famous. It is celebrated every September at the Kluai Khai Festival.
What is Wat Chang Rob?
A temple ruin in the forest area of the historical park, known for the elephant sculptures around its base.
Sources: Wikipedia entries for Kamphaeng Phet province, Kamphaeng Phet Historical Park, the Historic Town of Sukhothai and Associated Historic Towns, and Khlong Lan National Park. Most festivals follow the moon, so their dates change from one year to the next. Cover photo: Kamphaeng Phet Historical Park by Chainfoto, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0.