Favorites from Thailand

These are two lovely cards from Thailand, both from Sukhothai and both sent by Claus.

Copyright, Art Media (Thailand) Co., Ltd

Practice and means of devout Buddhists.

Located 12 km to the west of today's Sukhothai, this was the capital of the Sukhothai Kingdom from 1238 to 1438 and contains many ruins from that period. Its importance has been internationally recognised and it is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The old city is a popular tourist attraction, and the site has seen much restoration since the 1960s. It is well maintained, exceptionally clean and well furnished with vendors, though with only a minimum of touts. The heavy restoration is worth noting, since with some ruins and Buddha figures it can lead to a feeling that it is a little over-sanitised, especially in the central zone. The other zones are much less "restored" and trips down unmarked tracks can lead to ruins in their untouched state.

Photo by Sukit Tejavanija

The best way to see the ruins in the Sukhotai National Historic Park is by bicycle. These can be rented from a shop opposite from the main park entrance. It is feasible to walk around the central and northern zones in 6 hours or so. There is also a 20 baht guided tour by electric tram available.

The best time to see the ruins is mornings when it's a little cooler and before the busses arrive, at noon when they have lunch, or after 16:00.

The whole site covers an area of approximately 70 square kilometres and is divided into multiple zones, for which - of course - every zone has an entrance fee. - in: http://wikitravel.org/en/Sukhothai