Sukhothai Destination Guide

 The outstanding temples and monuments of Sukhothai have been lovingly restored in the Sukhothai Historical Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site which is a must-see for all travellers to Thailand. If you are looking for a show-stopping, fast paced night out in Thailand, then Sukhothai is not the place for it. This is not to say that you cannot have any fun in Sukhothai, it is just that compared to entertainment options in Phuket or Bangkok, Sukhothai does not have much to offer. However, it does offer an interesting insight into the history and culture of Thailand, having been the centre of the first truly independent Thai kingdom.

Sukhothai was the capital of the Sukhothai Kingdom from 1238 to 1438 and contains many fascinating ruins from that period. See the Top Five Temples of Sukhothai and find out more about its origins as 'birthplace of Thailand.'

This Sukhothai Destination Guide will tell you all you need to know about what there is to see and do in Sukhothai. Travel on one of the Sukhothai tours we offer for some great ways of seeing the ruins and learning more about the history and culture of the region. If you are looking for more information on Thailand in general, our Thailand Country Guide will give you all the information you need.

Sukhothai Historical Park: Ruins of palaces, irrigation systems and temples in the park tell you a lot about the grandeur of ancient Sukhothai. This ancient city is inside a walled enclosure measuring 1600m by 2000m.
Some of the main attractions within the park, worthy of any Sukhothai travel experience, include:

The Royal Palace & Wat Mahathat: Wat Mahathat is situated in the sprawling 160,000 sq m palace which has a moat. This is Sukhothai's biggest temple and one of the most important ones. Several columns, lovely pagodas, lotus bud towers and massive images of the Buddha in stone can be found in this temple.

Wat Si Sawai: 300 m southwest from Wat Mahathat lies the Wat Si Sawai which was initially a Hindu temple. There are three stupas here built in the Lop Buri-style.

Wat Sa Si: The Wat Sa Si is in a picturesque location, on an island right in the middle of an ornamental pond. A chedi built in Sri Lankan style and a large stone Buddha are the main features of this temple.

King Ramkhamhaeng the Great Statue: King Ramkhamhaeng, the king who in 1283 created the Thai alphabet, is honoured by the Thais. This great statue of the king is made of bronze.

Ramkhamhaeng National Museum: The Ramkhamhaeng National Museum houses several artefacts discovered in Sukhothai and other sites of historical importance. The museum remains closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. Any government holiday is a holiday for the museum too. On all other days the museum opens at 9 am and remains open till 12 noon, opening again at 1pm till it closes for the day at 4 pm.

Beyond the City Walls Wat Phra Pai Luang: The Wat Phra Pai Luang is another important temple in Sukhothai. It is located at a distance of 300 m to the north of the Sanluang Gate. This temple was originally a Khmer Hindu place of worship and a moat was added when it was later converted into a Buddhist temple.

Wat Si Chum: A huge seated Buddha who looks down benignly at you is the main attraction in the Wat Si Chum which is situated at a distance of 1,500 m to the north of Wat Mahathat. This statue of Buddha measures 11 m across the knees. This will give you an idea as to how large the statue is.

Wat Saphan Hin: This temple is situated on a hill top at a height of 200 m. Surrounded by lush forests, the hill top setting also gives a wonderful view of the Sukhothai Historical Park. The main attraction in this temple is a statue of the Buddha standing tall at 12.50 m.

Wat Chetuphon: In its full glory this temple was home to several fine statues of the Buddha in various postures - standing, reclining and sitting.

Wat Chang Lom: Wat Chang Lom is an important temple in eastern Sukhothai. The most striking feature of this place is a Sri Lankan style chedi that is held up by 36 elephantine buttresses.

Si Satchanalai, the headquarters of Sukhothai's viceroys, is situated 50 km to the north of Sukhothai. This city was considered to be Sukhothai's twin city. It is now an 800 acre complex which houses several ruins of important ancient places, listed here.

Wat Chang Lom: This structure has a Sri Lankan style chedi which is held in place by elephantine buttresses.

Wat Nang Phaya: This structure is also known as the 'Temple of the Queen' and has exquisite stucco decorations dating to the 16th century, in good condition even now.

Wat Chedi Chet Thaeo: There are seven rows of stupas in this temple that lies to the south of Wat Chang Lom. Some of these stupas have spires shaped like lotus buds. Ashes of a few deceased Sukhothai viceroys are stored in some of these stupas.

Ko Noi Thuriang Kilns: There are around 500 kilns in an area measuring 1 sq km in the place referred to as Ko Noi Thuriang Kilns. These are the kilns where most of Sukhothai's Sangkhalok pottery, dating back to the 14th and 15th century were made. Pottery was exported to Philippines and Indonesia from Sukhothai.

Wat Phra Si Rattana Mahathat: Just outside Si Satchanalai's city wall is a charming temple - the Wat Phra Si Rattana Mahathat. It lies at a distance of 3 km to the south of the city. The main feature of this temple is a laterite stupa and a square base that measures 22 m on all sides.

The Si Satchanalai National Park head office is 47km from the town hall at Amphoe Si Satchanalai at Ban Pa Ka. The park teems with wildlife, ensconced in lush greenery and surrounded by lots of caves and waterfalls.

Boon Lott's Elephant Sanctuary (BLES) is a small, family run, home for elephants and all other animals in need. Established in 2006, BLES focuses on saving land from deforestation and helping elephants recover from their traumatic pasts.

Elephant Sanctuary (BLES) is passionately devoted to creating a safe and natural environment for Thai elephants. They care for rescued and retired elephants, allowing them to interact freely within 200 acres of forested land.

The Phra Mae Ya Shrine is right opposite the City Hall and is an important shrine for Sukhothai residents. The most interesting feature of this temple is a 1m high stone figure with long hair and a white face, dressed as an ancient queen. This is the statue of Phra Mae Ya. This idol was built during the reign of King Ramkhamhaeng as a tribute to the memory of his late mother Nang Sueang.

The ceramic ware made by the residents of the old city of Sukhothai in the Lanna Kingdom 700 years ago is called ‘sangkhalok' and is exhibited in the Sangkhalok Museum. The northern region of present day Thailand used to be the old city of Sukhothai. Travel along the road to Phitsanulok, and you will reach the museum which is just a kilometre away from town. The timings of the museum are 8 am-5 pm. You will need to buy tickets for entering the museum. They charge 20 baht for children and 100 baht for adults.

You can relax over your favourite drink at a bar in any of the upmarket Sukhothai hotels. But do be prepared to shell out a hefty price for it. If you are watching your budget and still want to have a drink, head for new Sukhothai where local beer will help you quench your thirst.

Sounds of rippling laughter and strains of live music will reach your ears as you stroll down Thanon Pravetnakorn. These sounds would most probably be emanating from the trendy Chopper Bar. Both locals and tourists throng to the Chopper Bar for drinks and for swapping tales with one another. A rooftop restaurant here serves both Western and Thai food. If you are a real music buff, you can even take up the band's offer to join them on stage and sing along. If you do karaoke you'll enjoy this experience immensely.

Kitsch admirers are sure to be keen on the Kitty House, which takes its name from the Japanese cartoon character Kitty. You will find cute and cuddly images everywhere - on walls, tables, and any surface, in short! There is also a large screen here, which brings in football lovers eager to watch the game on big screen. The Thais are very passionate about football. New Sukhothai has a few restaurants with bars that are all the rage. On Thanon Jarot Withithong you will find the Poo Restaurant that is open till midnight. You can also try the Khun Tanode restaurant near the bridge which also stays open till late so that patrons can relax with a drink alongside the river. A Sukhothai hotel that is little out of town is the Tharaburi Resort Hotel, a good place to have a drink.

It is advisable to take a taxi rather than a tuk-tuk if you are travelling at night and are not very sober. Women travellers especially should be careful. Any Sukhothai hotel or guesthouse will help you call a taxi, so ask for their help instead of taking a risk.

The Fish Museum is situated in the Rama IV Park on the Phitsanulok - Sukhothai travel route. This museum can be easily reached by bus from the town. There is a large variety of fresh water fish on display here. All these fishes have the honour of being talked about in Thai literature. The museum is open on all days except Tuesdays and the timings are from 9 am to 5 pm. No admission fee is charged here.

The open air disco aerobics events in Sukhothai are a refreshing way to enjoy some dancing. Head straight for the park next to Wat Rachathani and join the assembled group, follow the instructors' lead and burn a few calories that you would have put on gorging on sumptuous Thai food. Afterwards, head back to your Sukhothai resort for some rest and relaxation.

The Ramkhamhaeng National Park's headquarters is situated 16 km from the town hall at Amphoe Khiri Mat. The highest peak at this park is 1,200 m above sea level. People flock to the park for camping and sightseeing. There are high cliffs, caves, waterfalls and sprawling plains in the park, enabling many wild creatures to thrive here.