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 The
Wall Of The Old City
The city wall is located in the center of the historical park in Tambon
Muang Kao and surrounded by earthen ramparts. The north and the south
walls are each 2,000 meters long, where as the east and the west walls
are each 1,600 meters long. The walls contain four main gates: Sanluang
on the north, Namo on the south, Kamphaenghak on the east, and Oar on
the west. A stone inscription mentions that King Ramkhamhaeng set up a
bell at one of the gates. If his subjects needed help, they would ring
the bell and the King would come out to settle disputes and dispense
justice. Inside the town stands 35 monuments including Buddhist temples
and many other structures.
The
Royal Palace And Wat Mahathat
The royal palace lies in the center of the town and covers an area of
160,000 square meters. This area is surrounded by
 a moat and contains
two main compounds; the royal building and the sanctuary in the palace.
In the royal compound exists the ruins of the royal building called Noen
Phrasal
Here, the famous stone inscription of King Ramkhamhaeng was found by
King Mongkut (Rama IV) in the 19th century together with a piece of the
stone throne called "Manangkhasila Asana" King Ramhamhaeng set up the
throne in the midst of a sugar palm grove where, at his request, a monk
preached on Buddhist Sabbath days and the King conducted the affairs of
state on other days This throne was later installed in Bangkok's Temple
of the Emerald Buddha.
A sanctuary lying to the west behind the Royal Palace compound is Wat
Mahathat. It is Sukhothai's largest temple with a customary main Chedi
in lotus-bud shape and a ruined viharn. At the base of the Chedi stands
Buddhist disciples in adoration, and on the pedestal are seated Buddha
images. In front of this reliquary is a large viham formerly containing
a remarkable seated bronze Buddha image of the Sukhothai style, which
was cast and installed by King Lithai of Sukhothai in 1362. At the end
of the 18th century, the
 image was removed to the Viham Luang of Wat
Suthat in Bangkok by the order of King Rama I and has since been named
Phra Si Sakaya Muni. In front of the large viharn is another smaller
viham which was probably built during the Ayutthaya period. Its main
Buddha image (8 meters high) was installed inside a separate building.
In front of the southern image, a piece of sculpture called, "Khom Dam
Din" (a Khmer who come by way of walking underground) was found, and is
now kept in the Mae Ya Shrine near the Sukhothai City Hall. On the South
stands a pedestal of a large Chedi built up in steps, the lowest
platform is adorned with beautiful stucco figures of demons, elephants
and lions with angles riding on their backs. Mural painting adorn this
Chedi.
Wat
Si-Sawai
Situated among magnificent scenery southwest of Wat Mahathat is Wat
Si-Sawai. Three prangs are surrounded by a laterite wall. Inside the
wall, the viham in the west, built of laterite, is separate from the
main prang which was constructed in the Lop Buri or Hindu-style, but the
other also constructed beside the prangs are Buddhist vihams. The Crown
Prince of that time who later become King Rama VI found a trace of the
Hindu sculpture Sayomphu, the greatest Hindu God in this sanctuary, In
his opinion, this ruin was once a Hindu shrine, but was later converted
into a Buddhist monastery.
Wat
Traphang-Ngoen
Situated to the west of Wat Mahathat is Wat Traphang-Ngoen with its
square pedestal, main sanctuary, and stucco standing Buddha image in
four niches. There is a viharn in front, and in the east of the pond,
there is an island with an ubosot. This edifice has already crumbled and
only its pedestal and laterite columns still remain. Many monuments and
magnificent scenery are visible from this location.
Wat
Chana-Songkhram
Situated to the north of Wat Mahathat is Wat Chana-Songkhram. Its main
sanctuary is a round Singhalese-style chedi. In front of the chedi
exists the base of a viharn and behind the former stands an ubosot.
Bases of twelve small chedis are also visible. Near Charot Withi Thong
Road is a strange chedi having three bases, one on top of the other.
Wat
Sa-Si
Situated near Wat Chanasongkhram is Wat Sa-Si. Around a Singhalese-style
chedi is the main sanctuary on an island in the middle of Traphang
Trakuan Pond. A large viharn contains a stucco Buddha image. To the
south stands nine chedis of different sizes.
San-Ta-Pha-Daeng
or Deity Shrine
Situated to the north of Wat Mahathat is San-Ta-Pha-Daeng. This monument
consists of only one laterite prang with a staircase in the front.
Sandstone Hindu divine object (Lop Bun-style) were discovered here.
King
Ramkhamhaeng Monument
Situated to the north of Wat Mahathat is the King Ramkhamhaeng Monument.
The bronze statue of King Ramkhamhaeng sits on a throne named
Phra-Thaen-Manangkhasila-Asana with a base relief recording his life.
Wat
Mai
Situated to the north of Wat Mahathat is Wat Mai. Wat Mai, having a
brick viham as the main sanctuary, is in Ayutthaya style. The columns of
the viharn are made of laterite. A bronze image of the Buddha under a
Naga, (Lop Bun-style) was found here and is now preserved in the
Ramkhamhaeng National Museum.
The
Ramkhamhaeng National Museum
The Ramkhamhaeng National Museum was built in I960 and opened on 25
January, 1964. The museum collection includes gifts from the ex-abbot of
Wat Ratchathani and art objects unearthed in Sukhothai and nearby
provinces.
It is open daily from 09.00-l6.00 hrs. Admission fee 30 Baht. Tel. (055)
612167
Wat
Traphang Thong
Situated to the east of Wat Mahathat is Wat Traphang-Thong. The
monastery is located on an island in the middle of a large pond. A
ruined laterite Singhalese-style chedi is on the island. In front of it,
a new mondop contains the Lord Buddha's Footprint slab that was created
by King Lithaiin 1390 on Samanakutor Phra Bat Yai Hill. This footprint
was removed to the new mondop some years ago. An annual fair to worship
this sacred Lord Buddha's Footprint takes place at the same time as the
Loi Krathong Festival. |
and is supposed to have been built
during King Ramkhamhaeng's reign as a dedication to his late mother Nang
Suang.
