The area known as Sukhothai was the capital city of the Sukhothai Kingdom during the 13th-15th centuries. The city center, as well as nearby Si Satchanalai, all in ruins, have been designated as UNESCO World Heritage Historical Parks.
We spent a recent weekend in the sublime of the ancient, bicycling in and around some of the 193 Buddhist temples around us. It was absolutely beautiful in so may ways.
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| "Planes, Buses and Tuk-Tuks" |
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| Bus station in Sukhothai |
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| Not sure what the regs manual says, but I've seen almost no monks smoking |
This first set of pics is from the Si Satchanalai Historical Park, site of Buddhist temple ("Wat") ruins
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The remains of a typical temple "stupa", built to house sacred objects
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| Local theme for Buddha images: eyes downward, faint smile, contented |
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| The largeness of everything was just so impressive |
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| I like how Asian families visit tourist sites to show respect and pray at them |
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| The architecture here, as well as the Theravada school of Buddhism, were imported from Sri Lanka |
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| Wat Chang Lom is lined with dozens of life-size elephant sculptures in varying stages of decay |
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| I could have (not so) easily taken bricks from the 1300s back to Michigan |
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| "Lotus-bud Chedi" of Wat Jet Thaew ("Temple of Seven Benches"), believed to hold royal remains |
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| The years have been very kind to this very well protected Buddha image |
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| The wooden roofs are all long gone, but much of the clay brick & stucco remains |
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| Flat pavement and quiet roads made this a perfect way to tour |
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| Little Bo Peep pedals into the 14th century... |
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| Stupas of this style are part of the "Sukhothai Architecture" prevalent here |
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| A very different style here, this Hindu temple was built by the Khmer Empire in the 1100s. The Khmers ruled this area for about 200 years before the Buddhists of the Sukhothai Kingdom took over |
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| Climbing to a great view of the temple grounds |
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| This was a gorgeous place to bike around, but one scary-ass bridge I won't forget |
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| Chok-dee, Si Satchanalai! |
This next group of photos was taken in Sukhothai Historical Park, the actual former Kingdom's capital:
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| Thai tourists chant and make spirit offering to Ram Khamhaeng |
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| The 13th century Sukhothai king created the Thai alphabet |
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| It really felt like being among greatness |
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| The whole complex was very quiet, even with people milling about in the distance |
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| The Bodhi Tree (Sacred Fig/Ficus tree), the same type under which Gautama Buddha sat and achieved enlightenment, according to legend |
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| One wet leaf of pure enlightenment |
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| An older, Khmer-era Hindu temple |
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| Wat Mamuang Khao ("Temple Mango Park"), named for its gigantic mango trees |
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| I will someday frame this photo - it may be my favorite of the lot |
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| It rained all weekend, and we were pleasantly soaked |
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| An unusually effeminate and standing Buddha image |
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| A few of these stupas were completely protected by stucco elephants |
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| Feel the power of the mighty 'chang' |
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| Well, that's why they call it 'ruins', right? |
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| Striking in its enormity |
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At the Sukhothai Airport, there is a scaled 3-D model of Angkor Wat, the collossal Hindu temple complex in Cambodia. We hope to see it in person with our kids when they arrive in July!
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