Wat Rong Khun

Wat Rong Khun is located in Rong Khun village where is about 10 km south of Chiangrai city( the northern most province of Thailand and is about 180 km far away from Chiang Ma ) and only slightly off the super highway. It is designed by the national artist name Mr. Chalermchai Kositpipat. The main See more details

Buddhist novice

   In Thai, novices are known as a "samanen" or just "nen" for short. A monk is called a "bhikkhu". The main difference between a novice and a monk is that novices only have 10 precepts while monks have 227. If you are a male and are less than twenty years See more details

Elephant

There are two main species of elephant in the world. The African Elephant -- Loxodonta, which is larger with bigger ears and a less docile nature. The ears help the animal to lose heat on the sunny open country it inhabits in Africa. The Indian elephant -- Elephas, is a native of thick forest, so See more details

Doi Suthep

Wat Prathat Doi Suthep is a buddhist temple in Chiang Mai Province, Thailand. The temple is often referred to as "Doi Suthep" although this is actually the name of the mountain it is located on. The temple is located 15 km from the city of Chiang Mai and is a sacred to Thai many people See more details

Doi Inthanon National Park

    Doi Inthanon National Park covers the areas of  Sanpatong District, Chomthong District, Mae Chaem District, Mae Wang District, and Toi Lor Sub-district of Chiang Mai Province within an approximate area of 482 square kilometers or 301,500 rai. The National Park consists of high See more details

Hilltribe

  The Hilltribes of Northern Thailand, there are approximately 1 million Hill Tribes people live in small villages scattered throughout Northern and Western Thailand. Originating in China and Burma, most have migrated to Thailand in the last 150-200 years. Most people were fleeing from See more details

Rafting

Rafting is one of the most activities to do in Chiang Mai of this region. There are to two kinds of rafting, bamboo rafting and white water rafting. Over the past few years bamboo rafting and white water rafting in Chiang Mai have attracted large crowds into the city which has promoted touri See more details

Sukhothai

sukhuthai

Sukhothai is considered to be the first true Thai kingdom. Eventually, it only lasted a very short period, until the rise of Ayuthaya. An independent Thai kingdom was established in 1238 and lasted until 1376, when it was annexed by Ayuthaya. Its most well known king is King Ramkhamhaeng, who is also credited as with establishing the Thai writing system. A famous inscription reads as follows : There is fish in the water and rice in the fields, indicating a prosperous land......

Sukhothai, meaning the Dawn of Happiness, was a town founded in the 13th century on the fringe of the Khmer empire. The exact year is unknown, but according to the Fine Arts Office it was between 1238 and 1257. Founded by Phokhun Si Intharathit, it was the first truly independent Thai (Siamese) Kingdom after defeating the Khmers. Sukhothai enjoyed a golden age under their third king, King Ramkhamhaeng, who was credited with creating the Khmer-derived Thai alphabet which is essentially the same as that in use today. He also laid the foundation for politics, the monarchy and religion, as well as expanding its boundary of influence. Sukhothai was later ruled by many kings. The province is most famous for the historic city of Sukhothai, the capital of the Sukhothai kingdom. It is located about 12 km from the modern New Sukhothai city. Not far from Sukhothai are the Si Satchanalai historical park and the Kamphaeng Phet Historical Park. Both were cities within the former Sukhothai kingdom and of the same time period.The province was at first known as Sawankhalok; it was renamed to Sukhothai in 1939.

 

Sights / Attractions

Sukhothai Historical Park is located in Tambon Muang Kao, Ampher Muang Sukhothai. It is twelve kilometers away from town. It is opened daily from 8.30 a.m.-4.30 p.m. Ruins of the royal palaces, Buddhist temples, the city gates, walls, moats, dams, ditches, ponds, canals, and the water dyke control system, which were the magical and spiritual centre of the kingdom, are now preserved and have been restored by the Fine Arts Department with the cooperation of UNESCO. It’s not only with a view of fostering Thailand's national identity, but of safeguarding, a fine example of mankind's cultural heritage.

The park covers the ruins of the ancient Sukhothai Kingdom. UNESCO declared it a World Heritage Site in December 1991. During its golden age, Sukhothai was the centre for administration, religion, and economy. The original city was surrounded by walls with 4 city gates. Today the walls house a number of sites worthy of visiting. They include:

  • The Royal Palace
  • Wat Mahathat,
  • The Ramkhamhaeng National Museum
  • The Ramkhamhaeng Monument
  • Wat Si Sawai
  • Wat Traphang Ngoen
  • Wat Traphang Thong
  • Wat Chana Songkhram,
  • Wat Sa Si
  • Wat Mai
  • San Ta Pha Daeng (the Deity Shrine)

Wat Mahathat is the largest temple with a customary main Chedi in lotus-bud shape and an eight metre high Buddha image. It is located in the middle of town that reflects to prosperity of the Sukhothai architecture within the monastery are housed Phra Rattana Chedi, the pagoda of the temple, which was erected on the Charot Withithong Rd.The museum collection includes gifts from the ex-abbot of Wat Ratchathani and art objects unearthed in Sukhothai and nearby provinces, so if everyone is interested in art objects, Monument of Phor Khun Ramkamhaeng museum is a good place to visit.

Si Satchanalai historical park is registered by the UNESCO as the world’s heritage like Sukhothai historical park. It is situated at Kaeng Luang in Tambon Sri Sachanalai, Amphur Sri Sachanalai, about fifty-two kilometres away from town centre. It was formerly called "Muang Chaliang;" the name changed to "Si Satchanalai" during the reign of Phra Ruang when a new administrative centre was established to replace Chaliang. Ruins of 134 monuments have been discovered within the park.