The park is located 12 kms from Sukhothai town on the Tak Highway; open daily between 6am - 9 pm. Bicycles can be rented for touring the ruins . The Park's tourist service provides information and displays models of historical buildings and structures of the old Sukhothai. Lying over an extensive area, ruins of the royal palaces , Buddhist temples, city gates, walls ,moats, dams , ditches , ponds, canals and the water dyke control system are preserved with major restoration by the Fine Arts Department in cooperation with UNESCO.
A) INSIDE THE CITY WALLS
The core city was surrounded by walls and earthen ramparts ; this form the centre of the historical park . It was rectangular , measuring 1300 m by 1800 m with four gates. A stone inscription reveals that King Ramkhamhaeng the Great set up a bell at one of the gates. If his subjects needed help , they could ring the bell and the king would come out to settle disputes and dispense justice. Within the walls are the remains of 35 structures. The most notable are described as follows:
1) ROYAL PALACE AND WAT MAHATHAT
The Royal Palace lies in the centre of the city , surrounded by a moat and contains 2 main compounds - the Royal residence and the royal sanctuary. Here the famous stone inscription of King Ramkhamhaeng the Great was found by King Mongkut ( RAMA IV) in the 19th century together with part of the stone throne called Manangkhasila at King Ramkhamhaeng the Great set up a throne in the midst of a sugar palm grove where, at his request, a monk preached on Buddhist holy days and the king conducted the affairs of state on other days. This throne was later installed in Bangkok's Temple of the Emerald Buddha.
Lying west of the Royal Palace compound is Wat Mahathat, the royal sanctuary , which is Sukhothai 's largest temple with a customary main chedi in a lotus bud shape and ruined wihan . At the base of the chedi are Buddhist disciples sitting in adoration and on the pedestal are sitting Buddha images. In front of this reliquary is a large hall formerly containing a remarkable sitting bronze Buddha image of the Sukhothai style , which was cast and installed by King Lithai of Sukhothai in 1362. In the late of 18th century the image was moved to the Wihan of Wat Suthat in Bangkok under the command of King Rama I and has since been named Phra Si Sakaya Muni. In front of the large hall is another smaller one which was probably built during the Ayutthaya period. Its main Buddha image ( 8 m high) was installed a separate building. In front of the southern image, a sculpture called Khom Dam Din was found,now kept in the Mae Ya Shrine near the Sukhothai City Hall. To the South stands a pedestal of a large stepped chedi adorned with beautiful mural paintings , whose lowest platform is adorned with beautiful stucco figures of demons,elephants and lions with angels riding on their backs.
2) KING RAMKHAMHAENG THE GREAT MONUMENT
Situated to the north of Wat Mahathat, the bronze statue of King Ramkhamhaeng the Great sits on a throne with a bas relief at the base depicting the king's life.
3) WAT SI SAWAI
Situated amid magnificent scenery southwest of WAT MAHATHAT is Wat Si Sawai, with 3 prangs surrounded by a laterite wall. Inside the wall, the wihan in the west , built of laterite , is separated from the main prang ( Khmer - style pagoda) which was constructed in the Lop Buri or Hindu style. A trace of the Hindu sculpture " Sayomphu " was found here, indicating that this was originally a Hindu shrine, later converted into Buddhist Temple.
4) WAT TRAPHANG NGOEN
Situated to the west of Wat Mahathat is Wat Traphang Ngoen with its square pedestal, main sanctuary and stucco standing Buddha image measuring 4 inches. There is a wihan to the front and to the east of the pond is an island with ubosot ( assembly hall). This edifice has crumbled and only its pedestral and laterite columns remain. Many monuments and magnificent scenery are visible from this location.
5) WAT SA SI
Located to the northwest of Wat Mahathat, Wat Sa Si is a historical ancient site that is situated on an island in the middle of the pond called Traphang Trakuan. The most prominent feature of this temple is the Lankan style bell shaped chedi. Wat Sa Si regarded as one of the most scenic sites in Sukhothai.
6) WAT CHANA SONGKHRAM
Situated to the north of Wat Mahathat is Wat Chana Songkhram. Its main sanctuary is a round Singhalese --style chedi. In front of the chedi the base of a wihan and behind the chedi stands an ubosot. Bases of 12 small chedi are also visible. Near Charot Withithong Road is a strange chedi with 3 bases , one on top of the other.
7)SAN TA PHA DAENG OR DEITY SHRINE
Situated to the north of Wat Mahathat is San Ta Pha Daeng. This monument consists of a single laterite prang with a staircase in the front. Sandstone Hindu divine objects ( Lop- Buri style ) were found here.
8. WAT MAI
Situated to the north of Wat is Wat Mai. The main sanctuary is an Ayutthaya-style brick wihan with its columns made of laterite, A bronze image of Buddha under a Naga ( a Lop Buri- style image) was found here and is now preserved in the Ramkhamhaeng National Museum
9. WAT TRAPHANG THONG
Situated to the east of Wat Mahathat is Wat Traphang Thong, which is located on an island in the middle of the large pond. There is a ruined laterite Singhalese-style chedi and a new mondop containing the Lord Buddha's Footprint slab that was created by King Lithai in 1390. An annual fair to worship this sacred footprint takes place during the Loi Krathong Festival.
10. RAMKHAMHAENG NATIONAL MUSEUM
The museum offers an outstanding introduction to the arts and crafts of Sukhothai and its vassal cities, displaying objects unearthed or collected from Sukhothai and nearby provinces. Inside the spacious building are Khmer statues , Sukhothai style Buddha statues, Sawankhalok ceramics and other archaeological artefacts gathered from the area. Open everyday between 9 am - 4 pm.
2) KING RAMKHAMHAENG THE GREAT MONUMENT
Situated to the north of Wat Mahathat, the bronze statue of King Ramkhamhaeng the Great sits on a throne with a bas relief at the base depicting the king's life.
3) WAT SI SAWAI
Situated amid magnificent scenery southwest of WAT MAHATHAT is Wat Si Sawai, with 3 prangs surrounded by a laterite wall. Inside the wall, the wihan in the west , built of laterite , is separated from the main prang ( Khmer - style pagoda) which was constructed in the Lop Buri or Hindu style. A trace of the Hindu sculpture " Sayomphu " was found here, indicating that this was originally a Hindu shrine, later converted into Buddhist Temple.
4) WAT TRAPHANG NGOEN
Situated to the west of Wat Mahathat is Wat Traphang Ngoen with its square pedestal, main sanctuary and stucco standing Buddha image measuring 4 inches. There is a wihan to the front and to the east of the pond is an island with ubosot ( assembly hall). This edifice has crumbled and only its pedestral and laterite columns remain. Many monuments and magnificent scenery are visible from this location.
5) WAT SA SI
Located to the northwest of Wat Mahathat, Wat Sa Si is a historical ancient site that is situated on an island in the middle of the pond called Traphang Trakuan. The most prominent feature of this temple is the Lankan style bell shaped chedi. Wat Sa Si regarded as one of the most scenic sites in Sukhothai.
6) WAT CHANA SONGKHRAM
Situated to the north of Wat Mahathat is Wat Chana Songkhram. Its main sanctuary is a round Singhalese --style chedi. In front of the chedi the base of a wihan and behind the chedi stands an ubosot. Bases of 12 small chedi are also visible. Near Charot Withithong Road is a strange chedi with 3 bases , one on top of the other.
7)SAN TA PHA DAENG OR DEITY SHRINE
Situated to the north of Wat Mahathat is San Ta Pha Daeng. This monument consists of a single laterite prang with a staircase in the front. Sandstone Hindu divine objects ( Lop- Buri style ) were found here.
8. WAT MAI
Situated to the north of Wat is Wat Mai. The main sanctuary is an Ayutthaya-style brick wihan with its columns made of laterite, A bronze image of Buddha under a Naga ( a Lop Buri- style image) was found here and is now preserved in the Ramkhamhaeng National Museum
9. WAT TRAPHANG THONG
Situated to the east of Wat Mahathat is Wat Traphang Thong, which is located on an island in the middle of the large pond. There is a ruined laterite Singhalese-style chedi and a new mondop containing the Lord Buddha's Footprint slab that was created by King Lithai in 1390. An annual fair to worship this sacred footprint takes place during the Loi Krathong Festival.
10. RAMKHAMHAENG NATIONAL MUSEUM
The museum offers an outstanding introduction to the arts and crafts of Sukhothai and its vassal cities, displaying objects unearthed or collected from Sukhothai and nearby provinces. Inside the spacious building are Khmer statues , Sukhothai style Buddha statues, Sawankhalok ceramics and other archaeological artefacts gathered from the area. Open everyday between 9 am - 4 pm.
