Sukhothai - the cradle of Thai civilization and Buddhism

Finally it happened! We were able to spend two days among a large number of ancient temples with their no less ancient energy. It so happened that we like old and dilapidated temples much more than new and glamorous gilded ones. It is especially pleasant that there are dozens of them in the Sukhothai Historical Park, which means that the entire tourist flow is evenly dispersed, and it does not reach some of the distant ones. And just such temples are conducive to gatherings in silence and tranquility, talk about life and meditation..

The content of the article

one About Sukhotai
2 The central part of the Sukhothai Historical Park
3 Northern part of Sukhothai Historical Park
4 Western part of Sukhothai Historical Park
five South part of Sukhothai Historical Park
6 The modern city of Sukhothai

About Sukhotai

Detailed information for visiting and maps of Sukhothai can be seen here: Sukhothai Historical Park - how to get there, where to stay

Sukhothai is the former capital of the influential and powerful Thai kingdom, which existed for about 120 years, and it was here that Thai civilization was born - the alphabet was introduced, Ceylon Buddhism spread, and a school of sculpture was created. On the territory of Sukhothai, there are about 200 objects of architecture, the construction of which began in the 13th century..

At first we didn't think about it, but then we realized, because this is the most real place of power. Some of the temples are 700 years old, and people for centuries have come and molded these stone structures. Therefore, it makes sense to go to Sukhothai not in order to go around all the temples in the 3 hours allotted by the excursion, but in order to take a little break from the bustle of the world.

I will not describe all the temples where we visited, but I will tell only about some of the most memorable, in which we spent some time..

The Sukhothai Historical Park is divided into three parts - central, northern and western, and is located 15 km from the modern city of Sukhothai. Entrance for 100 baht each (there is no single ticket). There is also a southern part, but it is free and the most destroyed.

The central part of the Sukhothai Historical Park

The central part is the most popular and is a nice park area with ponds, perfect for walking or reading books in the shade of tall trees. All excursions come here, so there are most people here. The central part is surrounded by an earthen rampart and moats with water.

The central part of Sukhothai Park

Wat Sa Si with a seated Buddha

Canals around the square of Sukhothai Historical Park

The most interesting temple in the central part of the Sukhothai Historical Park is Wat Mahathat, which was a temple at the king's palace. Honestly, the language does not turn to call it a temple, because there is a whole architectural complex with dozens of buildings (towers, stupas, burial mounds) and two standing Buddhas and one sitting, three in one, so to speak.

Wat Mahathat - the largest temple in Sukhothai

Wat Mahathat in Sukhothai

Wat mahathat

Wat Mahathat in Sukhothai

Wat Mahathat at sunset

Khemer temple Wat Si Sawai in the south of the central part, stands out for its three corn towers, chosen by pigeons, as a result of which the land next to them resembles a floor in a birdcage, which has not been cleaned for several months.

Wat Si Sawai in Sukhothai

Inside the kukurzka - looking up

Doves dirtied all of Wat Si Sawai

Northern part of Sukhothai Historical Park

Wat Si Chum - that's why we came to Sukhothai. Here is the famous seated statue of Buddha, showing with a gesture of his gilded hand - go, you demon Mara, you will not seduce me, the earth is my witness (or otherwise the pose is called «pacification of passions»).

We sat here for a couple of hours, a very pleasant place. But, unfortunately, highly visited, the flow of sightseers did not stop for a minute..

Wat si chum

Wat Si Chum - Big Seated Buddha

Wat Phra Phai Luang next to Wat Si Chum

Wat phra phai luang

Here you can see the structure of the stone Buddha from the inside, in section, apparently they have not yet had time to restore, or decided to leave it as it is.

Wat Phra Phai Luang - Buddha filling

Wat Phra Phai Luang in Sukhothai

Western part of Sukhothai Historical Park

There are several temples in a row, and each of them is on a hill, to which stone stairs lead. The most interesting is Wat Saphan Hin, which means Stone Bridge Temple. And indeed, a ladder, like a bridge, goes into the sky.

The sensations above are amazing - the wind blows, lifting heaps of leaves and waving hair, views of the valley where the Sukhothai Park is located, around the mountain, and a huge Buddha stands nearby with a raised hand. This gesture means «elephant stop, pacify your passion», in this way, he stopped the deranged elephant sent to him.

There are few people here, so it's time to think, enjoy nature and join the antiquities of Thailand.

Western part of Sukhkotai

Wat Saphan Hin on the mountain

A stone path leads to Wat Saphan Hin

Wat Saphan Hin in Sukhothai

Wat Saphan Hin - props to prevent Buddha from falling

Wat Saphan Hin - views from the mountain

Wat saphan hin

Towards the wind

Wat Chedi Ngam next to Wat Saphan Hin

Path to Wat Chedi Ngam

South part of Sukhothai Historical Park

This part is good there, that there are even fewer people here than in the western part. Here, too, we were stuck for several hours in the shade kindly provided by the temple. Quiet, calm, good.

Wat Chetuphon in southern Sukhothai

And how does it not fall over the years?

And how it doesn't fall for years?

The modern city of Sukhothai

In the last century, it burned down and was rebuilt. Visually the most ordinary Thai city. There is absolutely nothing to watch in it. I was a little offended by the fact that for some reason there will be more poverty here. At least near our guesthouse there were such slums that I had never seen before. Either this was the area, or the well-being of ordinary residents in this city is not very good.