The first kingdom's capital
UNESCO since 1991.
Vyacheslav Argenberg — CC BY 4.0 · Gary Todd — Public domain · Gary Todd — Public domain · Gary Todd from Xinzheng, China — Public domain
One of the most beautiful archaeological sites in South-East Asia: the ruins of an entire royal city within walls and moats, with some two hundred temples and stupas spread among lakes, lotus ponds and broad gardens. Sukhothai was the capital of the first Thai kingdom in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, where the Thai alphabet took shape and a distinctive style of Buddha images flourished, with flowing bodies and serene smiles; its ruins are today part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site listed in 1991. The park is divided into zones: most important is the central zone within the walls, holding Wat Mahathat, Wat Sa Si, Wat Si Sawai and the national museum; then the northern zone with the giant Buddha of Wat Si Chum, and the western zone with Wat Saphan Hin on its hill. The best way around is by bicycle, hired near the entrance, or by electric cart or tram. Each zone has a ticket of about one hundred baht for foreigners; the central zone opens from half past six in the morning until half past seven in the evening, and some temples are lit after dark. In November the park hosts one of Thailand's loveliest Loy Krathong festivals, with lanterns and floating candles. The midday heat is fierce from March to May, so come early in the morning or late afternoon, with a hat and water. Allow a full day or two mornings; better still, stay in Old Sukhothai near the park to catch sunrise among the temples before the crowds and heat.
UNESCO since 1991.
Some two hundred sites.
The lantern festival in November.
Mueang Kao, about 12 km west of New Sukhothai
Wat Sa SiOne of Sukhothai's most poetic sights: a small temple on an island in the middle3 minutes walk
Wat Mahathat, SukhothaiSukhothai's most important and largest temple, the spiritual heart of the royal 6 minutes walk
Ramkhamhaeng National MuseumThe main museum of the Sukhothai kingdom's history, at the entrance to the centr8 minutes walk
Wat Si SawaiA striking temple of three adjoining Khmer-style towers, called prang, with stuc10 minutes walk
Wat Phra Phai LuangSukhothai's second most important temple after Wat Mahathat, and older, in the n12 minutes walkAyutthaya is closer to Bangkok and bigger; Sukhothai is older, calmer and more beautifully laid out with gardens and lakes. See both if you can; Sukhothai needs an overnight stay.