Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
(admission 150B; 9am-4pm)
A good starting point for exploring the historical park ruins is
this museum. A replica of the famous Ramkham-haeng inscription, said to be the earliest
example of Thai writing, is kept here among an impressive collection of Sukhothai arte-
facts. Admission to the museum is not included in the ticket to the central zone.
Wat Si Sawai
HISTORICAL SITE
Just south of Wat Mahathat, this Buddhist shrine (dating from the 12th and 13th centuries)
features three Khmer-style towers and a picturesque moat. It was originally built by the
Khmers as a Hindu temple.
Wat Sa Si
HISTORICAL SITE
Also known as 'Sacred Pond Monastery', Wat Sa Si sits on an island west of the bronze
monument of King Ramkhamhaeng (the third Sukhothai king). It's a simple, classic
Sukhothai-style wát containing a large Buddha, one
chedi
and the columns of the ruined
wí·hăhn
.
Wat Trapang Thong buddhist
Next to the museum, this small, still-inhabited wát with its fine stucco reliefs is reached
by a footbridge across the large lotus-filled pond that surrounds it. This reservoir, the ori-
ginal site of Thailand's Loi Krathong festival, supplies the Sukhothai community with
most of its water.
TEMPLE
Northern Zone
This
zone
(admission 100B, plus per bicycle/motorcycle/car 10/30/50B;
7.30am-5.30pm)
, 500m north of
the old city walls, is easily reached by bicycle.
Wat Si Chum
This wát is northwest of the old city and contains an impressive
mon·dòp
with a 15m,
brick-and-stucco seated Buddha. This Buddha's elegant, tapered fingers are much photo-
graphed. Archaeologists theorise that this image is the 'Phra Atchana' mentioned in the
HISTORICAL SITE
