Sukhothai

Sukhothai, a small city in Northern Thailand, was the Thai capital during the 13th century and the capital of Siam. It was the cradle of Thai civilization, meaning the birthplace of Thai art, architecture and language. The temples and monuments from the period 1238 to 1438 have been restored and the Sukhothai Historical Park has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage site. Sukhothai means “Dawn of Happiness.” It was ruled by many kings over time. The best way to see the ruins on a Thailand vacation is by bicycle. These can be rented at the main park entrance. It can be a little tiring if walking through the whole park. The site covers 70 square kilometres/27 square miles and is divided into 5 zones where 21 historical sites and 4 large ponds can be found within a 5-kilometre/3-mile radius.

The Central Zone, the principal one, contains 11 ruins interspersed with moats, lakes and bridges. The most spectacular temple is Wat Mahathat which was the spiritual centre of the Sukhothai Kingdom, with its large seated Buddha flanked by two standing Buddhas. On Saturday night much of the zone is illuminated. The North Zone contains a number of buildings, the most impressive being Wat Sri Chum which has a huge seated Buddha 15 metres/48 feet tall and 11 metres/37 feet wide. The walls of the temple feature the country’s oldest murals, drawn on slate although most of them are no longer visible.

Other interesting places to visit on Thailand tours include the Ramkhamhaeng National Museum with its archaeological finds from the Sukhothai Historical Park and the Si Satchanalai Historical Park where the original city was founded in 1250 as the second centre of the Sukhothai Kingdom and as residence of the crown prince in the 13th and 14th Centuries. It contains ancient Buddha figures, palace buildings and ruined temples.

Not far from Sukhothai is the Ramkhamhaeng National Park which lies in a mountain range with 4 main peaks. Most of the park is a forest in pristine condition. There are a number of wild animals and birds in the park such as barking deer, Asiatic black bears, wild pigs, monkeys, gibbons and squirrels. There are also various kinds of birds, both resident and migratory.