Travel Sukhothai

Located roughly 449 kilometers (279 mi) north of Bangkok and 292 kilometers (181 mi) south of Chiang Mai City, Sukhothai Province is named after the former Kingdom of Sukhothai; the country’s first capital which existed from 1238 until 1583 AD. It is fair to say that Thailand’s modern history began in Sukhothai. King Ramkhamhaeng, who ruled from 1279–1298, is considered to be Thailand’s first great king. He is credited with the invention of the Thai alphabet and is pictured prominently on the back of Thai banknotes. 
traveltoasiaandback.com - Wat Mahathat, Sukhothai Historical Park, Sukhothai Province, Thailand
traveltoasiaandback.com - Wat Mahathat, Sukhothai Historical Park, Sukhothai Province, Thailand

Sukhothai Historical Park

Today Sukhothai is best known for the Sukhothai Historical Park a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The 27 square mile (70 km²) park contains the ruins of a number of Buddhist temples and other monuments which have been painstakingly restored to prevent further deterioration. The moats and grounds around the ruins are clean and well maintained; overall the park is quite lovely. The best way to tour the park is by bicycle which can be rented at the park’s entrance.  Located opposite of the park is the Ramkhamhaeng National Museum. A visit to the museum is a great way to learn about the history of Sukhothai and one of modern Thailand’s greatest leaders.
The park is located in an area known as old Sukhothai which is dotted with hotels, guest houses and restaurants. In New Sukhothai, 7.5 miles (12km) east of the historic park, there are a number of budget guest houses which are conveniently located near the bus station. Traveler’s staying in New Sukhothai can easily catch a ride in an inexpensive songthaew to the park or restaurants in Old Sukhothai.
traveltoasiaandback.com - Simple Krathongs, ready for floating, Chiang Mai Province, Thailand
traveltoasiaandback.com - Simple Krathongs, ready for floating, Chiang Mai Province, Thailand

Loi Krathong

Sukhothai is a particularly popular place to visit during Thailand’s annual Loi Krathong festival. In English Loy Krathong roughly translates into “float a basket”. During this hugely popular festival, Thai people construct ornately decorated baskets from banana leaves and fill them with flowers, candles and incense (joss) sticks. Festival-goers light the candles and incense, say prayers to the water goddess and float their krathongs on lakes, rivers and streams. As the krathong floats away, so does bad luck, worry, anger or any misfortune from the previous year. Loi Krathong is traditionally celebrated sometime in November; the exact date is determined by the Thai lunar calendar.
traveltoasiaandback.com - Wat Chang Lom, Si Satchanalai Historical Park, Sukhothai Province, Thailand
traveltoasiaandback.com - Wat Chang Lom, Si Satchanalai Historical Park, Sukhothai Province, Thailand

Si Satchanalai Historical Park

​Located 55 kilometers (34 mi) north of Sukhothai lies the ruins of the former Kingdom’s most important satellite town known as Si Satchanalai. The partially restored ruins of this ancient city can be visited in the Si Satchanalai Historical Park, another fantastic UNESCO World Heritage Site. Situated along the bank of the scenic Yom River, Si Satchanalai is in a relatively remote rural area and sees far fewer foreign tourists than Sukhothai. 

Wat Phra Si Rattana Mahathat

Situated near the bank of the Yom River, three kilometers (1.8 mi) from Si Satchanalai Historical Park, are the ruins of a fantastic ancient temple known as Wat Phra Si Rattana Mahathat. Founded in 1237, when the area was under the control of the Khmer empire, it is the oldest temple in the area. Having been restored and expanded during the subsequent Sukhothai and Ayutthaya eras visitors will clearly see structures and art-work from all three periods. Interestingly enough, it is still a working monastery and an important place of worship for the locals who live in the surrounding villages.  
traveltoasiaandback.com - Buddha Image, Sukhothai Historical Park, Sukhothai Province, Thailandtraveltoasiaandback.com - Buddha Image, Sukhothai Historical Park, Sukhothai Province, Thailand

Travel to Sukhothai

Sukhothai is a popular stop on a well-worn traveler’s path which includes Bangkok, Ayutthaya, Lopburi, Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai in the far north. From Bangkok buses regularly depart the northern bus terminal which is also known as Mo Chit; the trip takes approximately seven to eight hours and costs around 350 Thai Baht. 
Another inexpensive option is to take a train from Bangkok’s Hua Lamphong railway station to Phitsanulok and then take a bus or mini-bus (van) the remaining 37 miles (60 km) to complete the journey. Ten trains depart the station daily; travel times and fares vary depending on which train number and seat class is chosen. It is advisable to consult the timetable and fares page of the State Railway of Thailand website before arriving at the station. 
Travelers continuing north to Chiang Mai can do so easily and inexpensively by either bus or train. Six trains depart daily from the Phitsanulok Railway Station. The trip takes seven to eight hours and third -class tickets on an “ordinary’ train cost a mere 65 Thai Baht or less than $2 USD. Numerous buses depart Sukhothai for Chiang Mai each day. The trip takes around five hours and costs approximately 350 Thai Baht.