Tourist Attractions : Inside the City Walls - Outside the City Walls

AMPHOE MUANG
       Phra Mae Ya Shrine This shrine is situated in front of the City Hall and is highly respected by Sukhothai residents. It houses an idol of Phra Mae Ya, a stone figure with a white face and long hair, and dressed as an ancient queen. The idol is about 1 metre high and is supposed to have been built during King Ramkhahaeng's reign as a dedication to his late mother Nang Suang
Inside the City Walls

       The Sukhothai Historical Park This is located 12 kms. from town on the Sukhothai-Tak Highway. It is open daily 08.30-16.30 hrs. Admission fee is 40 baht. Ruins of the royal palaces, Buddhist temples, the city gates, walls, moats, dams, ditches, ponds, canals, and the water dyke control system, which was the magical and spiritual center of the kingdom, are now preserved and have been restored by the Fine Arts Department with the cooperation of UNESCO, not only with a view of fostering Thailand's national identity but the safeguarding a fine example of mankind's cultural heritage. The tourist Service Centre is near Wat Phra Phai Luang. The centre provides information and facilitates visitors to the Sukhothai Historical Park, as well as displays models of historical buildings and structures in old Sukhothai.

       The Wall of the Old City The city wall is located in the centre of the historical park in Tambon Muang Kao and surrounded by earthen ramparts. The north and south walls are each 2,000 metres long, where as the east and the west walls are each 1,600 metres long. The walls contain four main gates: Sanluang on the north, Namo on the south, Kamphaenghak on the east, and Oar on the west. A stone inscription mentions needed help, they would ring the bell and the King would come out to settle disputes and dispense justice. Inside the town stands 35 monuments including Buddhist temples and many other structures.

       The Royal Palace and Wat Mahathat The royal palace lies in the centre of the town. This area is surrounded by a moat and contains two main compounds; the royal building and the sanctuary in the palace. In the royal compound exists the ruins of the royal building called Noen Phrasat
      Here, the famous stone inscription of King Ramkhamhaeng was found by King Mongkut (Rama IV) in the 19th century together with a piece of the stone throne called "Manangkhasila Asana" King Ramhamhaeng set up the throne in the midst of a sugarpalm grove where , at his request, a monk preached on Buddhist Sabbath days and the King conducted the affairs of state on other days This throne was later installed in Bangkok is temple of the Emerald Buddha.

         A sanctuary lying to the west behind the Royal Palace compound is Wat Mahathat. It is Sukhothai's largest temple with a customary main chedi in lotus-bud shape and a ruined viharn. At the base of the Chedi stands Buddhist disciples in adoration, and on the pedestal are seated Buddha images. In front of this reliquary is a large viharn formerly containing a remarkable seated bronze Buddha image of the Sukhothai style, which was cast and installed by King Lithai of Sukhonthai in 1362. At the end of the 18th century, the image was removed to the Viharn Luang of Wat Suthat in Bangkok by the order of King Rama I and has since been named Phra Si Sakaya Muni. In front of the large viharn is another smaller viharn which was probably buite during the Ayutthaya period. Its main Buddha image (8 metres high) was installed inside a separate building. In front of the southern image, a piece of sculpture called "Khom Dam Din" (a Khmer who come by way of walking underground) was found , and is now kept in the Mae Ya Shrine near the Sukhothai city Hall. On the South stands a pedestal of a large chedi built up in steps, the lowest platform is adorned with beautiful stucco figures of demons, elephants and lions with angles riding on their backs. Mural painting adorn this chedi.

       Wat Si-Sa Wai Situated among magnificent scenery southwest of Wat Mahathat is Wat Si-Sawai. Three prangs are surrounded by a laterite wall.

    Inside the wall, the viharn in the west, built of laterite, is separate from the main prang which was constructed beside the prangs are Buddhist viharns. The Crown Prince of that time who later become King Rama VI found a trace of the Hindu sculpture Sayomphu, the greaest Hindu God in this sanctusry, In his opinion, this ruin was once a Hindu shrine, but was later converted into a Buddhist monastery.

      Wat Traphang-Ngoen Situated to the west of Wat Mahathat is Wat Traphang-Ngoen with its square pedestal, main sanctuary, and stucco standing Buddha image in four inches. There is a viharn in front, and in the east of the pond, there is an island with an ubosot. This edifice has already crumbled and only its pedestal and laterite columns still remain. Many monuments and magnificent scenery are visible from this location.

       Wat Chana-Songkhram Situated to the north of Wat Mahathat is Wat Chana-Songkhram. It main sanctuary is around Singhalese-style chedi. In front of the chedi exists the best of a viharn and behind the farmer stands an ubosot. Bases of twelve small chedis are also visible. Near Charot Withi Thong Road is a strange chedi having three bases, one on top of the other.

      Wat Sa-Si Situated near Wat Chanasongkhram is Wat Sa-Si. Around a Singgalese-style chedi is the main sanctuary on and island in the middle of Traphang Trakuan Pond. A large viharn contains a stucco Buddha image. To the south stands nine chedis of differente sizes.

       San-Ta-Pha-Saeng OR Deity Shrine Situated to the north of Wat Mahathat is San-Ta-Pha-Dang. This monument consists of only one laterite prang with a staircase in the front. Sandstone Hindu divine object ( Lop Buri-style ) were discovered here.

       King Ramkhamhaeng Monument Situated to the north of Wat Mahathat is the King Ramkhamhaeng Monument. The bronze statue of King Ramkhamhaeng sits on a throne named Phra-Thaen-Manangkhasila-Asana with a base relief recording his life.

       Wat Mai Situated to the north of Wat Mahathat is Wat Mai. Wat Mai, having a brick viharn as the main sanctuary, is in Ayutthaya style. The columns of the viharn are made of laterite. A bronze image of the Buddha under a naga, ( Lop Buri-style ) was found here and is now preserved in the Ramkhamhaeng National Museum.

      The Ramkhamhaeng National Museum The Ramkhamhaeng National Museum was built in 1960 and opened on 25 January, 1964. The museum collection includes gifts from the ex-abbot of Wat Ratchathani and art objects unearthed in Sukhothai and near by provinces. It is open daily from 09.00-16.00 hrs. Admission fee 30 baht. Tel. (005) 612167

       Wat Traphang-Tong Situated to the east of Wat Mahathat is Wat Traphang-Tong. The monastery is located on an island in the middle of a large pond. A ruined laterite Singhalese-style chedi is on the island. In front of it, a new mondop contains the Lord Buddha's Footprint slab that was created by King Lithai in 1390 on Samanakut or Phra Bat Yai Hill. This footprint was remove to the new mondop some year ago. An annual fair to worship this sacred Lord Buddha's Footprint takes place at the same time as the Loi Krathong Festival.

     THE SITES IN THE NORTH
      Wat Phra-Phai-Luang This temple lies about 500 metres north of San Luang Gate. This sanctuary, formerly a Khmer-Hindu shrine but later converted into a Buddhist monastery, is surrounded by a moat. It is second in importance to Wat Mahathat. Inside, there are three prangs like Wat Si-Sawai, but the southern and the central ones have crumbled leaving only the northern one decorated with stucco figures. In front of these prangs are a viharn and a crumbled chedi; the later has a pedestal decorated with stucco seated Buddha images. A mondop contains Buddha images in four postures; sitting, reclining, standing, and walking. They are now all on ruins. A Sivalinga ( Phallic emblem of Hindu gods ) was unearthed in the compound of this sanctuary

      Ruins of the Old Celadon Factory (Thuriang Klin) Thuriang Kiln is a site where Sukhothai celadons were made. Kilns exist in an area measuring 100 by 700 metres. Each kiln is divided into three sections; the fire area, the pottery baking oven, and the flue. The pottery found here is usually decorated by three different painted designs on their bottom: a disc, a fish, and a flower. Forty-nine kilns and small edifices are visible. To the north' a pond has been dug into the stone

      Wat Si Chum This lies about 1,500 mitres north of Wat Mahathat and was originally surrounded by a moat. A square mondop which is the main sanctuary, contains a monumental stucco-over-brick Buddha image in the attitude of Subduing Mara called "Phra Achana.". This Buddha measures 11.30 metres from knee to knee.
    The mondop is a passageway in the left inner wall itself which leads to the above crossbeam. On the ceiling of the passageway are more than fifty engraved slate slabs illstrating Jataka scenes.Other sites are Wat Sangkhawat, Wat Hin Tang, and Wat Khung Wai.

      THE SITES IN THE WEST
     Wat Saphan-Hin This is situated on a hill 200 meters high. A pathway of slate slabs leads to the sanctuary yard.

     Wat Aranyik Wat Aranyik is located near Wat Saphan-Hin. In the Aranyik area, dwelling places for monks (kuti), caves, and the bases of ubosots and viharns line the pathway to the sanctuary

     Wat Chang-Rom This is situated in the Aranyik area. A chedi is decorated with an elephant emerging from the base. A viharn base and laterite columns are in front of the Chedi.

     Phra-Ruang Dam This earthwork dam was formed to hold back water between Phra Bat Yai and Kiew-Ay-Ma Hills an drestored by Thailand's Irrigation Department. Water from the dam will be used as a reserve whenever the water level in other reservoirs goes down. This dam is referred to in the Sukhothai inscription.

     Wat Mongkhon A large viharn and a round Singhalese style chedi are visible. Sangkhalok architectural decorations were found here.

     Wat Phra-Yun This lies some 2,500 meters west of Wat Mahathat. The viharn enshrines a standing Buddha image.

     Ho-Thewalai-Kasetra-Phiman The palace of the god in the field nearby Wat Pa-Ma-Muang issquare laterite tripletiered pedestal. Its form resembles that of a mondop and was probably used to install Hindu images

     Wat Pa-Ma-Muang The sanctuary of the Mango Grover is an important one referred to in Sukhothai inscriptions. The base of the Singhalese-style chedi and the ubosot still exist.

     Wat Tuk This lies about 110 meters from Ho-Thewalai. A square window less mondop is the main sanctuary : a viharn and chedis are in front. Other sites are Wat Chedi Ngam and Wat Tham Hip

     THE SITES IN THE SOUTH
      Wat Ton-Chan This is situated outside the southern city wall 1,150 meters away from Wat Mahathat. A brick Singhalese-style chedi enshrines Buddha images in inches. The brick viharn contains a handless stucco Buddha image. Fine votive tablets called Sanaechan are found here.

      Wat Chetuphon A mondop enshrines four Buddha images in different postures : sitting, standing, walking, and reclining. The outer walls of the mondop still retains a section in the form of a slate pillar-balustraded window. There is an dentrance to the mondop to the north. Just behind the mondop is a small sanctuary which contains a Buddha images known locally as Phra Si Ariya (Maitreya), the Lord Buddha of the Future.

      Wat-Phichit-Kirati-Kanlayaram Wat Si-Phichit-Kirati-Kanlayaram with a round Singhalese-style chedi on a square pedestal and a viharn in front, is surrounded by moats. A broken stone inscription in Pali and Thai was found and might have been inscirbed between 1400-1404 Other sites are Wat Ton Chan, Wat Wihan Thong or Wat Thaksinarram, Wat Asokaram or Wat Salatdai, and Wat Munlangka.

     THE SITES IN THE WEST
     Wat Chang Lom is located to the north of Chotwithithong Road with a bell-shaped chedi of Ceylonese influence standing as the center. The chedi is situated on a 3-tiered square base with a platform decorated with a row of elephants seen by their front halves supporting the round chedi. This type of elephant-decorated chedi is to be seen in many ancient towns of the Sukhothai period for example, Kanphaeng Phet and Si Satchanalai.

     Wat Traphang-Thong-Lang A square mondop is the main sanctuary. In front of the mondop to the east, is the viharn and beyond the viharn stands an ubosot. The southern side portrays the Lord Buddha flanked by angles decending from Tavatimsa Heaven. To the west portrays the Lord Buddha preaching to his father and relatives. The northern side depicts the episode when the Lord Buddha returned to preach to his wife. These stucco figures, especially those on the south side, are masterpieces of Sukhothai art.

     Wat Chedi-Sung This is situated near Wat Traphang Thong Lang. The upper part of the chedi is round. The base is constructed in three tiered stages. This interesting Sukhothai type of chedi is of Sivijaya and Singhalese-styles. In front of the chedi stands a small viharn. Other sites are Wat Hot Phayom and Wat Ko Mai Daeng