Sukhothai Historical Park

Infobox World Heritage Site
WHS = Historic Town of Sukhothai and Associated Historic Towns


State Party = THA
Type = Cultural
Criteria = i, iii
ID = 574
Region = Asia-Pacific
Year = 1991
Session = 15th
Link = http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/574The Sukhothai Historical Park covers the ruins of Sukhothai, capital of the Sukhothai kingdom in the 13th and 14th centuries, in what is now the north of Thailand. It is located near the modern city of Sukhothai, capital of the province with the same name.

The city walls form a rectangle about 2 km east-west by 1.6 km north-south. There is a gate in the centre of each wall. Inside are the remains of the royal palace and twenty-six temples, the largest being Wat Mahathat. The park is maintained by the Fine Arts Department of Thailand with help from UNESCO, which has declared it a World Heritage Site. The park sees thousands of visitors each year, who marvel at the ancient Buddha figures, palace buildings and ruined temples. The park is easily toured by bicycle or even on foot.

The protection of the area was first announced in Volume 92, Part 112 of the Royal Gazette on August 2, 1961. In 1976 the restoration project was approved, and in July 1988 the park was officially opened. On December 12, 1991, it was declared a World Heritage site, together with the associated historic parks in Kamphaeng Phet and Si Satchanalai.

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External links

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* [http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/7153/sth_his.htm Si Satchanalai Historical Park]
* [http://www.guidetothai.com/historical-park/kampaengphet-park.html Kampaengphet Historical Park]