Historical Sites in Thailand
Thailand has a very long and magnificent history. Proof of this can be seen in the countless historical sites spread throughout all regions of the kingdom. With two Unesco-listed historical World Heritage Sites and many more potential candidates, Thailand has made great contributions to the international cultural heritage.
Every region of Thailand, be it in the north, south, central or northeast, has revealed a long legacy of civilization. Evidence of this rich cultural heritage can still be seen today.
The two most prominent 'must-see' historical sites in Thailand are Sukhothai Historical Park and Ayutthaya Historical Park. Both places are designated as world heritage sites and both attract millions of admirers annually, who come to see the evidence of Siam's former glory.
Sukhothai and Ayutthaya are considered the two most significant ancient kingdoms in Thai history, since Siam was united as a nation some 750 years ago. Both kingdoms had well-structured Buddhist communities, with advanced artistic and cultural development.
In Sukhothai, visitors can see well-restored ruins of the royal palaces, Buddhist temples, the city gates, walls, moats, dams, ditches, ponds, canals and the water dyke control system, which represented the magical and spiritual center of the kingdom.
The Fine Arts Department has jointly cooperated with Unesco in a concerted effort to preserve this valuable historical site. Not only with a view to fostering Thailand's national identity, but also to safeguard this fine example of mankind's cultural heritage.
For travelers with more limited time who don't want to travel too far from Bangkok, the Ayutthaya Historical Park is a perfect choice. Just 76 km north of Bangkok, this site reveals the glory of the Ayutthaya empire, which held sway in the region for more than 400 years. The Ayutthaya historical park contains the ruins of ancient Buddhist temples and royal palaces in a well-organized city structure.
Ayutthaya was the capital of Thailand from 1350 until it was ruthlessly sacked by the Burmese in 1767. Although a shadow of its former glory, the magnificent ruins of the old city can still be admired. Attractions include the ruins of the former Royal Palace and many ancient temples, which form a complex spread over the vast area of the historical park.
Before or after touring Ayutthaya Historical Park, don't forget to visit Bangkok's own historical center. The city's Rattanakosin Island is rich in historical sites from the early Bangkok period. Here, you can get a glimpse of how Ayutthaya might have looked. At the time of constructing Bangkok, the goal of the architects was to continue the cultural heritage of Ayutthaya. The art and architecture of the temples and palaces therefore followed the style of Ayutthaya quite closely. The most obvious indications of this can be seen in the Golden Mount at Wat Saket, the Grand Place, the royal temples and Wat Arun, which imitated the artistic designs of Ayutthaya.
Today, if you look at Rattanakosin, the original island of Bangkok, you will see a city tucked into a bend in the river in the same way that Ayutthaya was. Its principal structures are also aligned in similar fashion.
Apart from the historical remains of the true Thai kingdoms, you can see the historical arts of the Khmer empire, which ruled over the region during the 10th to the 14th centuries AD.
Anyone familiar with the magnificent Angkor Wat in Cambodia's Siem Riep may be surprised to learn that the Khmer empire once embraced the area of modern-day Thailand as well. Historic artifacts of the Khmer civilization have been found mainly in the lower part of the northeastern region of Thailand.
Major Khmer complexes include the Phimai Sandstone Sanctuary in Nakhon Ratchasima, Phanom Rung and Muang Tham Sanctuary in Buriram and Khao Phra Viharn Sanctuary in Sisaket province.
Like Angkor Wat itself, these temples were all originally constructed as Hindu temples dedicated to Vishnu and Shiva. It was under Jayavaraman VI that Buddhism replaced Hinduism and thus the Hindu temples were converted to 'wat'.
Their significance to Thai Buddhists remained strong even with the decline of the Khmer empire. The Khmer style heavily influenced the styles of the later Sukhothai and Ayutthaya periods, most apparent in the architectural style of the Prang in Buddhist temples.
Phanom Rung Historical Park in Buriram province is probably the most impressive Khmer complex in Thailand. After 17 years of restoration, the temple complex is the best restored of all the Khmer monuments in Thailand. The beauty of the main prang of Phanom Rung lies not only in its plan but in the vibrant stone carvings which cover large parts of the temple. Many lintels and pediments depict episodes from Indian texts such as the Ramayana.
In Nakhon Ratchasima, Phimai sandstone sanctuary has been magnificently restored and renovated and has been preserved as a national historical park. Built in the shape of a rectangle, 665 meters wide and 1,030 meter long, it is the largest sandstone sanctuary in Thailand.
Khmer influence can be seen as far away as Lopburi and Kanchanaburi. Evidence can be seen in the Khmer-style Phra Prang Sam Yot in the central city of Lopburi and the remains of the Prasat Muang Singh in Kanchanaburi, major attractions in their respective provinces.
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