Sukhothai Old City

Sukhothai Old City

Following about 25 years of archaeological works, supported by UNESCO, King Bhumibol opened up the ruined city of Sukhothai to the public; 193 temples were excavated and partly reconstructed. Because many antiquities plundered from Sukhothai were finding their way to art collectors all over the world UNESCO stepped in to support the work in 1978. Nowadays the ruined city is closely guarded.

There is an information center plus an information board in English in front of every building.

The old city center was surrounded by three earth walls and two moats that formed a precinct of 1810 3 1400 m (5938 3 4593 ft). Of the four entrance gates ("pratu"; Kamphaeng Hak in the east, Na Mok in the south, Oa in the west and San Luang in the north) three were secured by forts, the remains of which can still be seen. Apart from 21 wats four ponds have been uncovered: Thapang Thong, Thapang Ngoen, Thapang Trakuan and Thapang So. Temple sites were not only inside the walls but dispersed throughout the surrounding area.