For anyone who wants to comprehend the history of Southeast Asia and learn about the birth of Thailand, a visit to Sukhothai is a must. The literal meaning of the word Sukhothai is ‘Dawn of Happiness', appropriate as it was the very first Thai state to be formed. The new town of Sukhothai, a few kilometers away from the old one, is where good value Sukhothai hotels, restaurants and other tourist infastructure are located today.
The superb temples and monuments of this once-great city have been lovingly restored into the Sukhothai Historical Park, rightly designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a must-see for all travellers.
There is a lot to see and do in Sukhothai as there are three historical parks with many tales to tell. Relics of twenty temples, known as wats, and other monuments can be found. Wat Mahathat, a royal chapel in the olden days, is the largest and most exotic temple of the Sukhothai period, and it's most well known. All the wats had water bodies like pools with lotuses blooming in them. These ponds were the source of water for the town in ancient times and were believed to enhance the purity of the wats. There are also several ruins under restoration in the Old Sukhothai Historical Park. Taking one of the many Sukhothai tours that encompass the historic wats of Sukhothai is sure to impress.
Architectural monuments in Sukhothai seem to speak volumes about the greatness of this place. There are ruins everywhere, and whilst taking a tour in Sukhothai you can distinguish between Buddhist temples, royal palaces, moats, walls, the city gates and sites of water bodies like canals, ponds and ditches. The existence of a water dyke control system and dams points towards the resourcefulness of the inhabitants. This excellent system of water management helped strengthen the kingdom's economic base. Thailand's Fine Arts Department has, with the help of the UNESCO, restored much of the water dyke control system.
Sukhothai is split in two - New Sukhothai and Old Sukhothai. While New Sukhothai epitomises modern Thailand, Old Sukhothai represents the city's rich past. Old Sukhothai lies 12km to the west of New Sukhothai, and in a striking contrast to Ayuthaya, where ancient ruins can be found all over town, Old Sukhothai has a distinct area which has only ruins. New Sukhothai is where you find a place to stay, as it is the base for exploring the ruins and has good value Sukhothai hotels, restaurants and transport. You can even use our interactive Sukhothai map to choose your hotel in Sukhothai based on its location.
Sukhothai came into being in 1238, and was the capital of the Thai stronghold which was much larger than today's Thailand for 150 years. In present times Sukhothai is the capital of the Sukhothai Province and covers an area of 2,546 sq miles. This region is situated around 267 miles northwards from Bangkok. The main regions of the Sukhothai Kingdom were Kamphaeng Phet, Si Satchanalai and Sukhothai.
Though the Sukhothai Kingdom was at its peak for only a relatively short period, Thailand thrived under its rule. Culture and art blossomed in this period, leading Thais to compare Sukhothai to Athens. The depiction of Buddha with a slight feminine or unisex touch is what makes Sukhothai art stand out. It is this feature that has brought Sukhothai a place of pride in the World Heritage List. This representation presents a unique spiritual truth promising nirvana, the goal of every Buddhist, to both genders.
The Thai alphabet and language are believed to have originated in Sukhothai. Several forms of Khmer alphabets were systematically arranged into order to make it suitable for Thai words, by the illustrious King Ramkhamhaeng in 1283.
King Ramkhamhaeng is also credited with having made Sukhothai a power to reckon with by adding many adjoining regions to the kingdom. Several ancient cities would routinely pay tribute acknowledging him as their superior. He also had political dealings with China and even travelled twice to China, with his first visit taking place in 1282 when Emperor Kublai Khan was in power.
When in Sukhothai be careful not to touch the top of a Buddha statue or anyone's head. If it does happen by mistake do apologise. Pointing to anything with your feet is also not acceptable. Remove footwear before entering a temple and also when visiting someone's home. Dress conservatively when visiting temples and palaces. Don't go around clicking photographs with your camera - ask for permission politely and it will be given. Public displays of affection, between men and women, are frowned upon. The Thais have great respect for their King, Queen and the royal family, so never make disparaging remarks about them.
Visitors and those taking a tour in Sukhothai will get to experience good hospitality in the many Sukhothai hotels, extraordinary festival parades, lively arts, lip smacking cuisine and a peep into ancient and historic culture. Visitors will also enjoy meeting the friendly Thais with their great sense of humour.
If you are looking for accommodation and tours in other destinations within Thailand check out our Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Koh Samui and Phuket.
