2B. Sukhothai Local Bicycle Tour

Sukhothai Historical Park Sukhothai is a city with great importance in Thai history, having once been the capital city for those Thai people who settled this inter-montane valley, fed by the Ping, Yom and Nan rivers, from the mid-thirteenth century to the mid-fifteenth century. Over these 200 years, Sukhothai saw the birth of true Siamese identity and style in architecture, the applied arts and many other areas including the formalisation of the Khmer-derived Siamese script. Today a wealth of ruins may be observed in the Historical Park, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The rectangular plan of the city with the most important religious building in the middle suggests the influence in the city planning of the Khmer, who always placed the principal shrine in the centre surrounded by ponds and canals. Although most of the buildings are post-Khmer, evidence of Khmer influences remains. A Khmer style sandstone deity from the mid-12th century has been found close to San Ta Pha Daeng. At the same time, the architecture of Wat Phra Pai Luang is similar to the Khmer architecture of the Bayon period and was probably constructed at the very beginning of the 13th century.

Sukhothai was the first kingdom of Thailand established some 700 years ago. Established around 1237-1257 CE, Sukhothai means “Dawn of Happiness.” Pho Khun Si Intharathit was the founder of the Phra Ruang Dynasty, Sukhothai’s First Dynasty. For 120 years as the capital of Thailand, Sukhothai was ruled by many kings. In this connection, the most dynamic monarch being King Ramkhamhaeng the Great, who created the Thai alphabet, laid the foundation for politics, monarchy, and religion, as well as expanded its boundary of influence.

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