Sukhothai Attractions & Major Tourist Places
Sukhothai National Historical Park
It is in a countryside suburb 12 kms. Outside the present city of Sukhothai, a medium sized quiet province today, some 700 years after its days of glory.
There are reasonably comfortable accommodations for foreign visitors in town and near the park. Leisurely tour of the park, which covers an area of some 2,000 acres, can be made on rented bikes, park trams, or personal vehicles. Comfort stations are located unobtrusively at various spots for the convenience of visitors. Other attraction in the Sukhothai area is Sri Satchanalai town, a sister town of Sukhothai with equally interesting ancient ruins, 65 kms. further north. There are also ancient ceramic kilns of Sankhaloke, Thailand's first ceramic factory, 38 kms. north on the road to Sri Satchanalai.
There are over 30 ancient temple ruins in the area of the historical park, as shown on the map, which has a good road system leading pass all major sites.
Clockwise from the main ticket collection gate, the first site is in itself the main attraction the restored ruin of the principal monastery of the old capital, Wat Mahathat.
From the road can be seen the striking view of the stately ruins just beyond a lily covered pond. Exposed courtyard flanked by rows of brick columns lead to huge seated Buddha images with the ever present Buddhist devouts paying homage, with flower, candles and joss sticks. Around the chapel are attendant spires and blocks of ancient masonriex. Each structure had been meticulously repieced together from original bricks by the Thai fine Arts Department with UNESCO support Wat mahathat was the first principal; monastery of a capital city, a prototype which all later capitals and Main cities copied. Basing on the ancient belief, the principal temple is the spiritual edifice closes to haven, a place of worship, where divine blessing flows down to the city and its inhabitants.
Visitors are advised to take special notice of the base of the Wat Mahathat chedi where well-preserved frieze of Buddhist disciples vividly show the artistry of Sukhothai artisan.
Nearby the royal palace ground was discovered King Ram Kamhaeng's famous stone inscription, chronicling the story of Sukhothai with its celebrated line :
It was also here that a stone throne was set up outside the palace for King Ram Kamhaeng to hold court of justice alfresco for his subjects. Those with grievances could just strike a petition gong installed for the expressed purpose on the palace gate.
Wat Srisawai
Further down on the park road is a typical Khmer style Buddhist temple in contrast to Wat Mahathat. Here can be seen the striking Khmer's original three-prang stupas.
Wat Srasri
It is a wat with Ceylonese style chedi standing on an island in the lagoon. It is here that the traditional Loy Krathong festival was originated. The festival's highlight is the floating of intricately designed miniature banana leaf boat, bearing lighted candle and offerings to the goddess of the river. Every year, the festival is reenacted at Wat Sasri's lagoon on the full moon night of November with grand pageantry.
Tapha Daeng Shrine
It is the oldest structure in the historical park. It is a small Hindu shrine in the form of Angkorian monument which suggests that Sukhothai may have been a khmer city around early 12th century A.D.
Wat Phra Pai Luang
It is another unique Khmertemple built with surrounding moats, with three well preserved prangs facing the east. From here, visitors can commute on ox-drawn carts for half a kilometer to Wat Srichum, another famous attraction.
Wat Srichum
Contains one of the most impressive Buddha images in the country. A huge, moss-covered sitting stucco over brick image, measured over 13 meters across the lap, and over 12 meters high. The figure, in the position of Subduing Mara (Temptations), sits in an old roof-less chapel. The west wall of the chapel is hollow, with secret passageway leading to a concealed opening near the image's head, where a hidden person can speak out as the voice of the image. According to an old legend, King Naresuan the Great of Ayutthaya, while leading an army to fight Burmese invakers assembled his battle commanders in the chapel to hear "inspiring message from above" to boost their morals.
Wat Trapang Thong Lang
Just before the entry into the park proper, contains the most beautiful of Sukhothai's stucco images, a graceful Buddha figure attended by the Hindu gods, Indra and Brahma.
