Thread: A Journey to Sukhothai

Replica of King Ramkamhaeng's Inscription which was inscribed by the King in the 13th century and marks the earliest known written Thai. (Maybe.)


Third king of the Sukhothai kingdom. Credited with creating the Thai writing system and of firmly establishing Buddhism among his people.


Wat Chanasongkham. The mountain in the background is said to resemble a reclining Buddha.

Net up: Wat Sorasak

Wat Sorasak


Elephants support the bell-shaped chedi. Built during the period when Ayutthaya controlled Sukhothai.


Wat Mae Chon


Wat Mae Chon


Wat Mae Chon - Remains of reclining Buddha


Wat Mae Chon

Wat Phra Phai Luang - Located outside the city walls. May have been the center of Sukhothai during the Khmer Angkor period (prior to the 13th century).


Hot Chinese chick peddling around Wat Phra Phai Luang


Wat Si Chum - The Buddha Image is called Phra Ajana. The image is housed in a Mandapa that includes a tunnel leading to the upper part of the roof.


Wat Si Chum


Wat Chetuphon - Classic Sukhothai style walking Buddha. Note the graceful pose.


Wat Chetuphon


Remains of stuccoed Buddha Image at Wat Chetuphon


Wat Chetuphon - These unusual slate walls are carved as if they were wood.

Next up: Wat Ton Chan

Originally Posted by Anonymous Coward

The drivers of the lower North are more "me only". They drive as if theirs was the only vehicle on the road. Motorcyclists center themselves in the middle of the lane and will not budge for any other vehicle; not matter how large, loud or dangerous. All the farmers seem to have 1.5 liter Izusu pickup trucks that have been specially modified to have a top speed of about 60 KPH.

You should have called in while you were in the area, the bike was probably me, sorry about that.

Si Satchanalai Historical Park is just an hour's drive north of Old Sukhothai and well worth the trip. While Old Sukhothai is full of and surrounded by commercial enterprise Si Satchanalai is an enormously pleasant park containing numerous historical structures and almost nothing else. On the morning we visited, we were the only ones there.

As we approached the park we noticed a huge stupa in the jungle. As we rounded a curve we saw a sign, but no place to park. I pulled the car as far off the road as possible and in we hiked to


Wat Sa Kaeo


There is this crumbling chedi with a lotus bud tower.


A little further on is wat Khao Yai.


Wat Khao Yai

Inside the park proper the first wat you see is


Wat Chang Lom. This means "wat encircled by elephants".


There are some real elephants to be fed as well. I note that they do not peel the bananas before eating.


Wat Chang Lom was built by King RamKhamhaeng in the late 13th century.


It is better preserved than the wat of the same name in Old Sukhothai.


The wat has many Buddha images in niches like this.


View of the remains of the wat's vihan from the chedi. Looking southwest.


It appears that the elephant figures were made from laterite blocks covered with stucco.

Next up: Wat Chedi Jet Thaew

Wat Chedi Jet Thaew - This wat has seven chedi one of which includes this beautiful image of Buddha seated on a coiled cobra.


Wat Chedi Jet Thaew


Wat Chedi Jet Thaew


Wat Kuti Rai - This monastery wat is located just outside the city wall at the north gate.


The city wall is in very good shape.


Fishermen at the Khaeng Luang Rapids.


- A monastery outside the city walls.

Just southeast of Si Satchanalai is the ancient area of Chailiang.


Wat Chao Chan - Ancient Khmer architectural style wat.


Remains of a standing Buddha at Wat Chao Chan


Wat Chom Chuen - Contains a Ceylonese chedi and mondop and now-roofless wihan (sanctuary).


Wat Mahathat - The full name is Wat Phra Si Ratana Mahathat. Contains a large laterite chedi between two wihan.


Small chedi at Wat Mahathat with Buddha image seated on a cobra.


Wat Mahathat - Seated Sukhothai-style Buddha image.


Graceful walking Buddha at Wat Mahathat.