1 Chatuchak Weekend Market
2 Doi Inthanon
3 Grand Palace
4 Khao Sok National Park
5 Mekong River
6 Phang-nga Bay
7 Prasat Phanom Rung
8 Similan Islands
9 Sukhothai Historical Park
10 Wat Phra That Lampang Luang
The remains of 21 structures lie within the old walls of the capital of the first Thai kingdom, once fortified by three ramparts and two moats.
Ramkhamhaeng National Museum provides a good starting point for an exploration of the ruins. A replica of the famous Ramkhamhaeng inscription - the earliest known example of Thai script, dating from the reign of King Ramkhamhaeng of Sukhothai (1279-98) - is on show, together with a fine collection of Sukhothai artefacts.
Sukhothai temple architecture is typified by the classic lotus-bud stupa, which features a conical spire topping a square-sided structure on a three-tiered base. Some sites also exhibit other rich architectural forms introduced and modified during the period (1240-96), such as bell-shaped Sinhalese and double-tiered Srivijaya stupas. The spiritual and administrative centre of the old capital, Wat Mahathat is the largest temple in the city and dates from the 13th century. Surrounded by brick walls and a moat, the stupa exhibits the lotus-bud motif while almost 200 original Buddha images survive among the ruined columns. Just to the south, the 12th-century Wat Si Sawai, originally a Hindu temple, features three Khmer-style prangs (spires) and a picturesque moat. Next to the museum, Wat Trapang Thong is a small, still functioning temple with fine stucco reliefs. It is reached by a footbridge across the large lotus-filled pond surrounding it. This tank, which still supplies the Sukhothai community with most of its water, is supposedly the original site of Thailand's Loy Krathong Festival (when lighted candles are set adrift on rivers and canals in honour of Mae Kongka, goddess of the waterways). The elephant, an animal traditionally held in great esteem by the Thais, features prominently at Sukhothai. Wat Chang Lom (Elephant Circled Monastery) is about a kilometre east of the main park entrance. A large bell-shaped chedi (pagoda) is supported by 36 elephants sculpted into its base. On another hill west of the city, just south of Wat Saphaan Hin, Wat Chang Rop also features an elephant-base stupa.Address: Old Sukhothai, 12km from New Sukhothai; 400km north of Bangkok
Hours: Daily 6-6
Restaurant: Food stalls within the park
Bus: Regular songthaews (pick-up vans converted to buses) from New Sukhothai
Air: Sukhothai Airport
Accessible: Few
Admission: Moderate
Practical: Loy Krathong Festival, Nov
Info: Sukhothai Travel Service PHONE: (055) 613075
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