Sukhothai Historical Park

Sukhothai Historical Park ( Thai: อุทยาน ประวัติศาสตร์ สุโขทัย, IPA: [ ʡùta -ya ː n prà Wat tì - sà ː t sù ː k ʰ ŏ ː t ʰ ai ] ) covers the ruins of Sukhothai, capital of the Sukhothai kingdom in the 13th and 14th centuries, where nowadays the northern region of Thailand is located. The Sukhothai Historical Park is near the modern city of Sukhothai, which is the capital of the province Sukhothai the same time.

History

Called the Old City by the locals as " Mueang Kao " ( Thai เมือง เก่า, Old Town '), was surrounded by earthen ramparts and ditches of about 2 km x 1.6 km stretch. By the fortifications led four entrance gates into the city. Within these walls are the remains of the royal palace and to be seen by more than 20 temples, the largest of which is the Wat Mahathat. The historical park also includes areas north, east, south and west outside the walls, in which are more ruins temple.

Already in 1942 there were plans they restaurien as historical park. However, the first work on the inventory did not begin until the early 1950s. On August 2, 1961 in the Royal Gazette (Volume 92, Part 112) announced that the area under the protection of the Fine Arts Department: had been asked (about worship - ministry). On January 25, 1964, the Ramkhamhaeng Museum was opened by the King. Here, important findings were issued. 1976 established the Thai government that ruins the fields should be developed into a historical park ( " Historical Park "). The final restoration was completed in 1988, as the Sukhothai Historical Park was inaugurated by King Bhumibol Adulyadej. On 12 December 1991, the historical park was declared together with similar parks in Si Satchanalai and Kamphaeng Phet become a part of world heritage by UNESCO.

Inside and outside the old city walls today are nearly 200 temple ruins to see, the oldest dating from the 13th century. In the restored Wat Mahathat each year a spectacular celebration of Loi Krathong is celebrated on the full moon in November.

Attractions

Within the walls

• Monument to King Ramkhamhaeng - right in the center of the park, north of the palace
• The Royal Palace and Wat Mahathat ( " Temple of the Great Relic " ), the center of the plant
• On the Noen Prasat (Palace Hill ), a large terrace to the east of Wat Mahathat is said to have allegedly held King Ramkhamhaeng yard.
• The Ramkhamhaeng National Museum is located directly east of the palace ruins. It displays numerous works of art that have been donated by citizens of Sukhothai or secured here by the Fine Arts Department. Supposedly here more than 2000 artefacts have been issued, including the bell at the palace of King Ramkhamhaeng, who was allowed to each ring in order to present their problems to the king.
• Wat Traphang Ngoen ( Monastery of Silver ) - small temple on the island in an artificial lake west of Wat Mahathat
• Wat Si Sawai (also called " Wat Sri Svāya " ) - probably founded in the 12th century by the Khmers as a Shiva temple. Today, located in front of the three distinctive Prang the remains of a Wihan, a wall surrounds the entire complex. A well-preserved lintel, which shows a sleeping Vishnu, is now in the Museum.
• Wat Thong Traphang ( monastery in Goldsee ) - in a big lake there is an old Wihan and a Mondop with a footprint of the Buddha from the Sukhothai period
• Wat Sa Si (also called " Wat Sra Sri " ), Wat Chana Songkhram and Wat Tra Kuan are in close proximity to the north of Wat Mahathat. They were probably all created at the same time, and show today restored Sinhalese stupas and ruins of bots are surrounded by small ponds. Numerous foundations of smaller stupas scattered around the temple grounds.
• San Ta Pha Daeng - Hindu Shrine ( Prang ) north of Wat Mahathat.
• Northeast of San Ta Pha Daeng Wat is Sorasak, with an " elephant surrounded " restored Chedi.

Outside the walls: the north

• Wat Phra Phai Luang - about 1 km north of the city walls, this temple is surrounded by a square moat. He was probably also founded in the 12th century, when Sukhothai was still part of the empire of Angkor. Of the original three juxtaposed Prang's now only one remains. He is consuming decorated with stucco reliefs. Here, since many Buddha statues have been stolen in the 1950s, the remaining, partly heavily damaged pieces are staying in Ramkhamhaeng Museum.
• Turiang kilns ( " Turiang Kilns " ) - north of the moat are some historic kilns
• Wat Sangkhawat (also called " Wat Sanghāvāsa " ) - small temple with Wihan and Bot remnants, which are also surrounded by a small moat.
• Wat Si Chum is the most important monument northwest of the city. The big Mondop to have been built by King Maha Thammararadscha II end of the 14th century. The square building has a side length of 32 meters. In the thick walls of a narrow passage, with a staircase is the roof. On the walls of the corridor is more than 50 engraved plates were found, depicting scenes from the Jātaka. They are the oldest surviving examples of Thai art of drawing. In Mondop is the massive statue of Phra Achana that is mentioned in the inscriptions of King Ramkhamhaeng.

Outside the walls: East

• Wat Chang Lom - similar to an eponymous temple in historical park Si Satchanalai supported the large chedi of 36 elephants
• Thraphang Wat Thong Lang ( Monastery of the Coral Tree Lake) - ruins of a large brick - Mondop and several small Chedi
• Wat Chedi Sung (Convent High Chedi ) - with a uniquely designed Chedi

Outside the walls: South

• Wat Kon Laeng - now mainly an approximately 8 meters high step pyramid of large laterite blocks, which probably had the same function to the city 's founding, as now, Lak Mueang ( " city pillar " ), namely the guardian spirit of the city, the Phi Mueang to sacrifice.
• Wat Ton Chan ( monastery on the sandalwood tree) - partially collapsed Sinhala Chedi. Here a number of highly sought-after amulets were found terracotta.
• Wat Chetuphon - surrounded by a brick wall is in the middle of a Mondop with stucco figures of Buddha in various postures on the four side walls. Remains of a moat can be identified.
• Wat Chedi Si Hong ( Monastery of the chedi with 4 rooms) - Remains of remarkable stucco ornaments in the Wihan
• Wat Si Phichit Kirati Kanlayaram (also called " Sri Bicitrakirtikanlyārāma " ) - Chedi in Sinhala style with stuckverziertem foundation
• Wat Wihan Thong, Wat Asokaram and Wat Langka Mum are three small temples, each consisting of a Chedi and a Wihan.

Outside the walls: West

• Wat Pa Mamuang (Convent of the mango grove ) - this important, from a narrow moat surrounded the temple is just a few hundred meters west of the city wall. He mentioned, among others, in the inscription VII of King Lu Thai. The king had made for the famous monk Mahāsāmī Sangharaja, who had acquired his deep knowledge of the Tipitaka in long studies in Ceylon renovate the temple and zoom.
• Wat Aranyik (also called " Wat Araññika " ) - not far from Wat Saphan Hin is this forest temple in which the foundations of many Kuti are scattered in the forest. Foundations of a small Wihan can be seen here.
• Wat Saphan Hin - west in the wooded hills of the city is the " Stone Bridge monastery". A large Buddha statue of " Phra Attharot " ( Attharasa: Pali for eighteen, and the statue is eighteen cubits high, which corresponds to 8.3 meters) looks out over the historical park. In the inscription of King Ramkhamhaeng I. is mentioned that the king came here riding on elephants, to earn " merits ( merits )" ( Thai ทำบุญ, Tam bun ).
• Wat Chang Rop ( Monastery of elephants surround ) - small temple on a hill. The name probably refers to the Chedi, from their foundation out to see the remains of 24 elephant heads.
• Wat Chedi Ngam - The "Beautiful Chedi ", the name, is a large Singhalese-style chedi, which can already be seen from afar.
• Wat Tham Hip - further south on the hillside, this small temple which was badly destroyed by treasure robbers. It has not yet been restored.
• Mangkon Wat ( Monastery of the Makara ) - this small temple is located at the foot of the hills. Local residents report that once a long Makara of glazed tiles graced the foundation of the Wihan. During excavations, the clay figure of Garuda could be discovered except the tiles. Figure and tiles are now in the Ramkhamhaeng Museum.
• Wat Phra Yuen (Convent of the standing Buddha) - small temple with a standing Buddha figure made ​​of stucco, which is severely decayed.
• Wat Tuek - here is located in a small Mondop a seated Buddha figure made ​​of bricks, whose former stucco cladding is obtained only in meager fragments. Also the Mondop itself was originally covered completely with stucco, some larger patches are still available. Before Mondop there are the remains of a Wihan, whose laterite pillars of different heights stumps are left standing and includes a also made of laterite, second seated Buddha figure.

Impressions

Fries at the central shrine of Wat Mahathat

Wat Sa Si

Phra Achana, Wat Si Chum

Wat Si Sawai

Wat Chang Lom