The Sukhothai Historical Park ruins are one of Thailand's most impressive World Heritage Sites. The park includes the remains of 21 historical sites and four large ponds within the old walls, with an additional 70 sites within a 5km radius.
The four outer zones - north, east, west and south - are less crowded and touristy than the central zone. Protected by a square moat, the central zone contains 21 temples among lotus-covered pools, canals, trees and other greenery.
The park is quite expansive, and some of the most impressive ruins are outside the city walls, so renting a bicycle or motorcycle is quite important in order to see all the highlights.
Highlights
- This park is located in the northern part of Thailand.
- Sukhothai Historical Park is located opposite the Ramkhamhaeng National Museum. There are a lot of interesting places inside this area.
- The architecture of Sukhothai temples is most typified by the classic lotus-bud chedi, featuring a conical spire topping a square-sided structure on a three-tiered base.
- The Sukhothai city wall is a two-layer wall that was built to defend the city. The inner layer is built on upper ground with laterite. The outer layer is a canal switch with a slit wall.
- Wat Maha That is the temple at the center of the historical park. Inside the temple is the grand pagoda that is surrounded by another eight pagodas, making it the shape of a lotus flower.
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My husband and I are planning a 3 week…
Alisa was a great listener to all the things we wanted to incorporate into our trip. We discussed everything throughly, and when I had questions, she had answers the next day. I really appreciate her responsiveness and detail with me. I feel like we are in the best hands with Alisa and Asia Highlights. More
, Mar 2024
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Very great experience our driver D was…
Very great experience our driver D was never late and always had waters and a cold towel for us and our tour guide Som was very informative and had amazing English I recommend them both highly for anyone else traveling More
Rylan Coache, Feb 2024
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Excellent guide in Siem Reap
Our recent time spent in Siem Reap was made even more memorable by our expert guide, Som Piseth. Som was knowledgeable, attentive, flexible and super helpful - we learnt so much about Siem Reap and Cambodia in our 3 days with him. His English was excellent and his knowledge of, and pride in, his country was outstanding. We would highly recommend Som for anyone wanting an excellent guide in Siem Reap! More
Sharon Townshend, Feb 2024
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Asia Highlights trip to Thailand
Our first tour guide in Bangkok, Marie, was great to tour around with. She was extremely friendly and knowledgeable and spoke wonderful English. Our next stop in Chang Mai we were greeted by our new tour guide, Rafael. He too was extremely friendly and knowledgeable and spoke wonderful English. He made it feel as if we were traveling around with a long time friend. Every time we arrived at a new destination, we were greeted at the airport by someone with a sign with our name making our travels easy. I would definitely recommend Asia Highlights to anyone looking for a well planned trip of a lifetime! More
Tricia, Feb 2024
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Amazing Thailand experience
The tour guides were all knowledgeable and accommodating, especially Mayuree in Bangkok- absolutely wonderful. We felt taken care of and every step of the way was catered to our needs. More
Ashley White, Feb 2024
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Private tour perfect for our times
Asia highlights organized a private tour with our requests. Everything was perfect ?? the driver Tom and the guide Ying were always on time with a smile in their face. Always willing to help and make our trip perfect. Bangkok is a very hot city so we minimized the time outside. The driver always had cold towels for us in the van and cold beverages. More
Virginia, Feb 2024
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Thailand
We loved Chiang Mai and Susie did a great job showing us several temples, taking many pictures of us with the elephants at the sanctuary (a definite highlight of the entire trip!), and making sure we were well fed, which became a running joke between us.We had a very relaxing few days in Phuket enjoying the beautiful beaches. Kai was great, answering all of our questions and giving us a nice tour of the old town. The all-day speedboat tour of the Phi Phi islands started off a little shaky as the sea was quite rough so if you’re at all uncomfortable bouncing around in a speedboat, you might want to skip that tour. Things did calm down as the day went on and some of the areas they took us to for swimming, snorkeling, etc were really beautiful. A couple of the islands were too crowded with people. More
Andrea Roberts, Feb 2024
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What a Wonderful Trip
What a Wonderful Trip! We booked with Sharon and our trip was great - guides were waiting for us at each stop, and they were all very nice and helpful. I cannot stress how amazing the guides were - they made the trip. More
Rachel, Feb 2024
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Ask for Victor!
If you are traveling to Bangkhok you need to request Victor. He made our trip amazing! My family completed bucket list items with his guidance. He knew exactly how to get us places, kept us on time, made us feel safe, educated us on history, spoke excellent English and was genuinely a nice man! Everyone we encountered was awesome- but Victor is the reason for my 5 star review! More
Sandy, Jan 2024
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Thank you Alisa for helping us plan a…
Thank you Alisa for helping us plan a wonderful trip to Thailand. We had a great time. The tour guides were wonderful as were the hotels you booked for us. We will definitely contact you to plan our next trip More
Carol Yeung, Jan 2024
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Ying was the best
Ying was the best. She was really knowledgeable and kind. Thank you Ying for wonderful experience in Thailand! More
Sylvester Yeung, Jan 2024
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Very well organized
Very well organized. Our tour guide, Ying, was amazing! She had full knowledge of every location we visited and made sure our itinerary was fulfilled as expected. She was extremely helpful for our airport experiences, and made sure we arrived at an appropriate time. More
David M. Kang, Jan 2024
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Family trip to Thailand
We were lucky to be greeted by Marie and her driver.In Marie, we have made a friend for life. She is incredibly smart and knowledgeable about her home country. From the vast number of temples to safely traversing Chinatown.She helped give us tips on our free days, locate left behind lost clothing and arrange for pickup. She even helped check us in for our flight to Chiang Mai.She prepared us ahead of time for every event we had scheduled and bonded with our kids, 3x 13 year olds. More
Justin Levenbrook, Jan 2024
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Thailand with and amazing tour guide Ying
I highly recommend Ying as a tour guide in Thailand. Her expertise in Thai culture, combined with her passion for food and genuine love for her country, made the tour an exceptional experience. If you're looking for a guide who will not only show you the sights but also immerse you in the local culture and help you discover delicious Thai cuisine, Ying is the perfect choice. More
Diana Irizarry, Jan 2024
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Asia Highlights Thailand trip
Asia Highlights provided us with a great travel trip. They made it very easy to navigate through Thailand with everything going very smoothly. From the easy transportation to the great day itinerary everything was awesome. Will definitely look to use this agency again in the future. More
Taylor Jones, Jan 2024
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Perfect 2 WK Thailand Trip for a Solo Female Traveler
Bank was our guide in Bangkok and he showed us around the city with ease and we were able to see and try things I never would have planned on my own. After Bangkok, our small group flew to Chiang Mai for Yi Peng lantern festival and that was a breathtaking experience that I will never forget! Pop was our guide in this city and she was knowledgeable, kind and caring which made our experience even more memorable. More
Tia, Dec 2023
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We recently have just returned from Thailand
We recently have just returned one from a 5 week trip to Thailand through Asia Highlights. We had a wonderful time and Asia Highlights went beyond our expectations. They truly tried their best to make sure everything went smoothly and we were taken care of! Everyone was amazing and we would definitely use them in the future!! Many thanks to everyone that helped to make this an incredible once in a lifetime experience!! More
Karen Rocque, Dec 2023
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Indochina Experience
On our 5th day of our trip with Asiahighlights. We felt well taken care of before and it hasn’t changed since we started from Bangkok to Hanoi (guide Kim was verrry knowledgeable!) to Halong Bay (spectacular scenery) to Hoi An (guide Nhieu Tran, giving great local (shopping) tips and insights). More
Stefan Eisenhut, Dec 2023
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Sukhothai Historical Park
Located in a beautiful setting of lawns, lakes and trees in north-central Thailand, Old Sukhothai, where the Historical Park is now, was the capital of the Sukhothai Kingdom which began in 1238. The central area is enclosed by a moat and contains 21 temples, the greatest of which has 200 pagodas.
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Sukhothai was the capital of the first Kingdom of Siam in the 13th and 14th centuries. It has a number of fine monuments, illustrating the beginnings of Thai architecture. The great civilization which evolved in the Kingdom of Sukhothai absorbed numerous influences and ancient local traditions; the rapid assimilation of all these elements forged what is known as the 'Sukhothai style'.
History
Founded in 1238, Sukhothai was the first unified Kingdom of Siam. Prior to this, modern-day Thailand was governed by local rulers loyal to the Khmer empire of Angkor. As the power of the Khmer began to wane, two Thai generals banded together to expel the Khmer from the central plains, founding the new kingdom of Sukhothai with one of the generals, Intradit, as the first ruler.
The kingdom flourished for 200 years, during which its capital at Old Sukothai was a highly influential political and religious center. Eight kings would rule from the royal capital, the most important of whom was King Ramkhamhaeng (1278–99), the youngest son of the founding king.
Among other accomplishments, he established Theravada Buddhism as the national religion (replacing Khmer Hinduism) and introduced an early form of the Thai alphabet.
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Loy Krathong at Sukhothai
Loi Krathong is a Thai Festival, celebrated on a full moon of the twelfth month in the Thai lunar calendar (which is usually November), when the rivers reach their highest point. In the evening, people release little floats in the water. This can be done to make a wish, to let go of negative thoughts, to honor Buddha or to thank the Water Goddess.
The town Sukhothai, which means "Dawn of Happiness", dates back to the 13th century and has a lot to offer, not only historically. Since 1939 the province it belongs to, is also called Sukhothai. It is probably most famous for the historic city of Sukhothai (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), which lies about 12km away from the 'new' town of Sukhothai. And it is these grounds where the Loi Krathong Festival takes place.
Exploring Sukhothai Historical Park
Sukhothai is the very first capital city of Thailand. In the golden time of this city, it was a center of everything in Southeast Asia. Nowadays, the ruins from that glorious time are left behind for people of this generation to see. The ancient city was accepted by UNESCO to be World Heritage. Here is a list of the major attractions of the area.
The Royal City
At the heart of the park, the royal city, surrounded by triple concentric walls, is home to the major monuments, such as the Wat Maha That, placed in the center of the city in accordance with Brahminic cosmogony. Picturesquely surrounded by a lotus pond, Wat Maha That now consists of ten viharns, one large chedi and 200 small chedis.
The city was much more crowded in the 13th century than it looks today - the houses and other secular buildings, packed between the temples, were made of perishable wood. The vestiges of the city are reflected in the many lakes, carpeted in lotus flowers, endowing the site with a romantic charm.
Wat Maha That
Wat Maha That was one of the most important monasteries of the Ayutthaya kingdom, not only because it was the religious center and enshrined relics of Buddha, but also because of its proximity to the Grand Palace. In the past, this place was the venue for important royal ceremonies and celebrations.
The temple is situated on the corner of the present Chikun Road and Naresuan Road. In ancient times the temple was likely to be fully surrounded by canals and moats. The structure has been registered as a national historic site by the Fine Arts Department on 8 March 1935.
Wat Si Sawai
The main highlights of the historic site of Wat Si Sawai are the tree prangs (pagodas) that feature the Lopburi architectural style with an influence from Hindu belief, adjacent to an ordination hall made of laterite.
Historians found numerous archaeological evidence in the area, such as Chinese porcelain and statues of Hindu gods. They hence suggested it was first built as a Hindu religious structure which was later turned into a Buddhist temple.
Wat Phra Phai Luang
The Wat Phra Phai Luang is located near the Sanluang gate in the north city wall, just outside of the old walled town. The temple dates from the end of the 12th century or early 13th century, before the founding of the Sukhothai Kingdom, which makes it one of the oldest monuments in Sukhothai. The temple was dedicated to Vishnu. Later in the Sukhothai era it was converted into a Theravada Buddhist temple.
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Wat Sa Si
The Wat Sa Si temple is found a few hundred meters northwest of the Wat Maha That in the central zone, inside the old walled town. Its location, on a small island in the middle of the lotus flower filled Tra Phang Tra Kuan pond, makes it one of the most attractive monuments of the Sukhothai Historical Park.
Wat Tra Kuan
Wat Tra Kuan consists of a Ceylonese bell-shaped chedi and the remains of the ordination hall. It is the first temple one comes across when entering the old city from the northern entrance gate. The temple was supposedly built before A.D. 1317.
Wat Chang Lom
The Wat Chang Lom is a large Buddhist temple in the central zone of Si Satchanalai Historical Park. The Wat Chang Lom consists of a large Singhalese style principal bell shaped chedi, two viharns and a subsidiary chedi. The square temple area is surrounded by a laterite wall.
Wat Si Chum
Wat Si Chum is a temple in which Phra Atchana, a gigantic Buddha image of the attitude of subduing Mara sits in the main hall. This Buddha image is known as the 'Speaking Buddha'. The temple was assumingly built in the era of King Ramkhamhaeng the Great, then became abandoned in the late Ayutthaya era. The temple was renovated by an order from King Bhumibol Adulyadej in 1952.
Wat Chetuphon
Wat Chetuphon is the largest temple in the south zone. It is located about 2 kilometers south of the Namo Gate in the south city wall. Wat Chetuphon is believed to have been an important temple in the late Sukhothai period. The temple consists of a large viharn, a main mandapa, a smaller mandapa and a number of small chedis.
Wat Tuek
This active temple is located on U-Thong Road in the northwest corner of the island. There are two sermon halls in situ at Wat Tuek. One of the most interesting sights at Wat Tuek is a preserved buffalo Cyclops. The one-eyed calf's body floats in a fish aquarium next to a sermon hall.
Wat Sorasak
Wat Sorasak is a small temple located in the central zone inside the old walled town. It is found in a spacious area with lots of trees and a few little visited temples along the road to the Sanluang gate in the north city wall. The temple consists of a chedi and a viharn.
Guided Tour of Sukhothai Historical Park
Sukhothai Historical Park is over 70 square kilometers big, with temples and statues spread out into different sections throughout. There are several ways to explore the area: rent a motorbike (which are banned in the inner park), rent a bicycle (can go everywhere), or you can go everywhere by walking, but it's really too big an area to cover on foot.
The best option is to use a guided tour, not only will you be accompanied by a professional tour guide that knows the area well, but also the tour will organize the transport so that you can see all the highlights in the area.
Explore Sukhothai Historical Park with Asia Highlights
Travel with Asia Highlights and create unforgettable moments with your loved ones in this park. You will be guaranteed to get the best out of Sukhothai ̶ hassle-free! Please contact us if you have any queries.
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Our guide lele is a wealth of information, Lele is very professional and very attentive to our needs. Lele is amazing. Lele got everything spot on. It probably helps that Guilin is a brilliant place to visit so Lele has great material to work with but that doesn't take anything away from how much Lele helped make it a great trip.
moreOur guide for Beijing was super knowledgeable and experienced and able to help us to achieve as much as we wanted within the time given. We had a fun time guided by him as he is also super humorous and you can see how he interacts with the vendors and people whom he comes by. Thank you for a very enjoyable time in Beijing and accommodating to all our needs!
moreOur China Highlight guide. Michael, was attentive, thoughtful and knowledgeable. He narrated many interesting historical events about Chengdu while touring around the city and having afternoon tea with us. He was thoughtful to provide us with snacks during long hikes at Leshan or walks around the city.
moreShe was very flexible and added extra time when we needed it and we felt extremely well taken care of. She also chose the best restaurants for us,
moreOur tour guide Helen, was excellent, she was very kind, professional and passionate for her work and she also loves Pandas! She will take you to take the best panda photos and to know more about Chengdu city. Our tour was great, she took us to all our destinations always with the best spots: Temples, pagodas, famous streets, theaters, pandas...you name it! Everything was great.
moreHe picked up our pre-booked boat/other excursions tickets so we were able to avoid all the long lines and chaos. He is knowledgeable of the places we visited, courteous, fun to travel with and well-versed in Chinese classics.
moreTom is the guide that will take you to where no other guide will. We pushed for the experience and Tom and the team delivered more than what we could have ever asked for. His English speaking ability and his Chinese history knowledge is second to none.
moreTom is the guide that will take you to where no other guide will. We pushed for the experience and Tom and the team delivered more than what we could have ever asked for. His English speaking ability and his Chinese history knowledge is second to none.
moreOur day trip to Hangzhou was phenomenal. Derek, our guide, was impeccable. By far the best guide we have had so far. He is extremely knowledgeable about the country’s history and geography and was always excited to share his insights.
moreXian es encantadora, el hotel Eastern house boutique muy buena elección por parte de la agencia, los desayunos muy completos para complacer todo tipo de gusto, lo recomiendo 100%, el itinerario fue muy acertado fueron 2 días en la ciudad xian, compartimos con la guía Susana, la atención, la amabilidad y sobre todo su profesionalismo fue lo que marcó la diferencia, sus detalles, estaba siempre en el lugar y momento correcto para hacer de xian un lugar inolvidable.
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