Sukhothai

Elect's take

"Sukhothai is the Thai historical destination that moved me most. The combination of the historical park landscape, the extraordinary Buddha statues and the sense of being at the very origins of Thai civilisation creates an experience of genuine profundity."

The Sukhothai Historical Park is one of Southeast Asia's great archaeological sites, a beautifully maintained landscape of ancient ruins where the graceful standing Buddhas and elaborate temple towers create a remarkably atmospheric environment particularly beautiful in the early morning and at sunset. Wat Mahathat at the centre of the park is the most significant monument with a large mondop and beautiful lotus bud chedis. The famous Sukhothai walking Buddha, a style pioneered here, represents a distinctive and highly influential development in Buddhist art. The Ramkhamhaeng National Museum provides excellent context. The Loi Krathong festival of floating lanterns, believed to have originated in Sukhothai, is celebrated here with particular beauty in November.