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When good looks and charm were handed out to Thai cities, new Sukhothai was probably near the back of the queue. Yet the reputation of this town 400 kms from the bright lights of Bangkok is saved by its illustrious ancestor, which lies in magnificent ruined splendour just 12 kms from the concrete of the new town. [more]
Experience Sukhothai's favorite sights as others see them. Let our visual picture tour of Sukhothai help you choose the best places to visit in Sukhothai:
During the 13th and 14th centuries, Siam was a force to be reckoned with, able to both dispel fierce Mongol invaders and create exquisite art with ease. At the heart of this golden age of Thai culture lay the kingdom of Sukhothai, and its beautiful capital city. The site of the old city is so massive you'll need a bicycle to see the best bits in a day, but many also love to just wander in a city where kings and heroic deeds helped shaped modern Thailand. Towering Buddhas gaze magnanimously over the old walled city, with distinctive lotus-bud topped temples at every turn and street corner. With over one hundred individual sites at old Sukhothai, no wonder it's been preserved as a single (and massive) Historical Park, and enjoys UNESCO World Heritage status.
Not that it feels in any way like a museum, thanks to the flocks of devoted Buddists who flock here daily to pray at the temples, their supplications supplemented with garlands of flowers and reverent chants.
Of course, being big and famous ensures that ancient Sukhothai is on every Thailand coach tour itinerary - for one day only. The coaches arrive in their dozens, disgorge their contents, cameras snap, guides chatter, and the sheep-like masses move on to the next 'must-see'. Indeed, some hotels specialise in overnight stays, and you'll find the same snap-happy bunch returning to their coach and the next dose of culture along your hotel corridor at 6am the next morning...
Better, then, to take your time in both old and new Sukhothai. Let the mad dogs and Englishmen rush out in the midday sun, and take your time at the Historical Park. See how the city changes from morning glow to midday radiance, to long-shadowed serenity in the evening. Enjoy this atmospheric place at your own pace, then chill out in your Sukhothai hotel over a great Thai dinner. Explore the night market in the new town, try that local restaurant where the locals sit and chat over a meal and a beer, or simply stroll in the warm evening air by the river. Wave the coach parties goodbye and welcome the smiles of the locals instead. Hire a motorcycle and explore the countryside with the wind on your face, or just laze by the pool at one of Sukhothai's resort hotels. At Sukhothai, you can enjoy Thailand at its cultural and laid-back best.
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