A trip to Sukhothai, the ancient capital of Thailand’s first dynasty (Part 2) Fireworks add color to the ruins of the 13th century!Sukhothai Historical Park Walk – Travel Observation

This is the second time that the Tourism Authority of Thailand has visited Sukhothai, a land that the Japanese are not familiar with. This time I will mainly introduce “Sukhothai Historical Park”.

As I mentioned last time, Sukhothai is where the Thai people first established an independent dynasty. Speaking of the old dynasty of Thailand, “Ayutthaya” is famous for its convenient transportation with Bangkok, but the Ayutthaya Dynasty was opened after the demise of the Sukhothai Dynasty.

Sukhothai Historical Park is the gathering place of Sukhothai dynasty heritage. Among the “Historic Towns of Sukhothai and Related Historic Towns” designated as a World Heritage Site, it can be said that this is the most important part of the collection of Sukhothai capital ruins. There are many ruins inside and outside the city walls, with temple ruins and a Buddha statue called “Wat Something” (meaning temple in Thai) among many highlights.

By the way, the area around this historical park is called “Old Sukhothai” because it is the old town. This expression is often used in guides and catalogs, so it’s best to visualize it.

The park is divided into five areas, and for foreigners, each area charges 100 baht (about 310 yen, 1 baht = 3.1 yen). I wrote “for foreigners” because Thai nationals can get in at a lower price, but I recognize the need to confirm the correct price for the price listed. Let’s keep it also, the system is a bit confusing as you need to pay for each zone, so we recommend buying a free pass for 350 baht (less than 1100 yen) so you can use it across zones.

The park is spacious enough to explore on foot, but if you want to see as much of the ruins as possible, you can rent a bicycle (30 baht, just over 90 yen) or take the park tram (40 baht, about 125 yen). think about it.

The park is spacious, and it is convenient to take the park tram.

Take the tram to Sukhothai Historical Park

Renting a bike is also handy if you have a specific destination in mind or want to save money.

There are QR codes in front of important sites, and you can see instructions on your smartphone.There is also a Japanese version of the help site

When you actually visit the Sukhothai Historical Park, you will be amazed at how beautifully preserved the buildings and Buddha statues are at that time. Sure, it was crumbling in places, but that’s surprising considering the prosperity of the Sukhothai dynasty in the 13th century (1200s). In Japan, it is equivalent to the Kamakura period, but despite the impact of the Pacific War, there are nearly 200 ruins left in the Sukhothai Historical Park alone. I think this is a veritable “world heritage” place.

By the way, Sukhothai’s architecture is a unique design influenced by Khmer culture represented by Angkor Wat, and is called “Sukhothai style”. It is characterized by the roof of the temple shaped like a tapered triangular pyramid, and the Buddha statue incorporates the curves of a woman. Therefore, many sites in Sukhothai and Ayutthaya have similar designs, but the original one is here, Sukhothai. I think more people go to Ayutthaya than to Sukhothai, partly due to the ease of transportation from Bangkok, but by comparing the two places, I get a sense of the change and evolution through the dynasties and it might be interesting to try it out.

Buddha statues at Wat Mahathat

Wat Mahathat

Statue of Ramkhamhaeng King of the Sukhothai Dynasty

Si Chum Temple outside the castle

Xichun Temple. The Buddha image inside is called Phra Achana, which means “one who is not afraid”. There is a tunnel next to it that can emit “the sound of the Buddha”, but it is forbidden to enter.

“Sass Temple” floating on the island

Hosting a concert at a World Heritage Site? fireworks? Conley? – amazing entertainment

Well, while it has its own charms, the Sukhothai Historical Park I’ve covered so far is pretty orthodox. But there is also a hidden interest.

In this Sukhothai historical park, at night, the heritage is illuminated, showing a different appearance from the day. It’s also mysterious, and has an eerie air to it, if not fear of being misunderstood. Uneasy people can watch directly from the taxi, so please take a look at Night Face.

Once a year, the “Sukhothai World Heritage Live Orchestra” concert is held against the backdrop of this World Heritage Site. In 2016, it will be held from February 20th to 21st, and reporters can enjoy the performance on February 21st.

“Sukhothai World Heritage Live Orchestra”

A real orchestra plays live in front of you and singers sing. The ruins of the World Heritage Site change colors with the music and become part of the stage, making the concert lively.

Even more amazing are the fireworks that go off at the end of the concert. Apparently from near the ruins of the Sukhothai Historical Park. I was worried if I should do something like this, or if it’s sacrilege to Buddha, but according to the local guide, “It’s for Sukhothai (attracting tourists), so Buddha will forgive me. It seems that the idea is to give . I think it’s a different way of thinking.

I thought the concert was a bit long, a little over 2 hours, but after it was over, I started to feel like I wasted my time in front of the extravagant stage.

A singer who appeared said: “Frank Sinatra’s ‘Fly with Me’, sung in Peru and Acapulco, in a beautiful and historic place in Thailand today. I hope you can Come.” It does make me want to watch it again, and at the same time, it’s a comment I can sympathize with, and I want to convey that there are such incidents. If you are interested, please look forward to the announcement of the performance date next year.

In addition to the orchestra formed for the day, singers and pianists also took part. Although there is a puppet show in the middle, the songs are one after another.

The ruins of Sukhothai Historical Park are lit up in different colors during the performance

Although it is in Thai, there is a puppet show on the way

The finale is fireworks. In the middle of the ruins of the world heritage!

Another activity in Sukhothai Historical Park is Mini Light Sound. This is a play performed in front of the floating “Sas Temple” on the island, and is staged on the first Friday of every month from February to September. In 2016, the remaining dates are June 3, July 1, August 5 and September 2.

After all, in addition to utilizing the lights of the ruins, the highlight is the gorgeous production, such as launching a lantern named Khom Loi (also known as Loy Krathong in Thailand) like a hot air balloon, and setting off fireworks here.

Admission is free, but the show will be in Thai. You can ask a local travel agency and do it in Japanese. During this expedition, I was able to enjoy works in Japanese. The content shows the Sukhothai Dynasty from the beginning to the end, and you can understand the life of the royal family.

“Xichun Temple”

He welcomed the Japanese delegation with a dance performance.

Beautiful female dancer dancing

When it comes to Khom Loi, Chiang Mai near Sukhothai is a well-known place, but I also get entertained here.

play ending

The performance came to an abrupt end, and the fireworks were set off grandly.

You can also take pictures with the performers.

Sukhothai Historical Park is where you can see the history and culture of Sukhothai. Even if you visit purely as a World Heritage-certified historical park, you can feel the value of the site, and it is also an interesting spot where you can see different faces at night. In particular, although the date and time are limited, the concert and mini light sound are still unforgettable memories of my Sukhothai trip. A piece of advice to prospective readers. Concerts and mini lights will be outdoors for a long time at night, so be prepared with bug spray.

By the way, on this expedition, we only saw the main ruins, not all of them. If you want to see all the archaeological sites, even if you use the park’s tram or rent a bicycle, it will take at least a full day, or even two or three days.

People who have Chiang Mai as their main destination often visit Sukhothai by bus. This time, not only the Sukhothai Historical Park is introduced, but the towns of Si Satchanalai and Kamphaeng Phet are also included in the World Heritage “Sukhothai Historic Towns and Related Historic Towns”. Of course, you’ll need more time if you want to see them. If you’re going to visit, it’s a good idea to plan your itinerary so that you have plenty of time during your stay.

Such a relaxing stay is recommended because the visit to Si Satchanalai included in the study tour was also very enjoyable. I want to introduce it next time.