Birthplace of the Thai kingdom
Sukhothai was the capital of the first Thai kingdom in the 13th and 14th centuries, and its historical park is one of the most peaceful ancient sites in Southeast Asia. Temples, moats and lotus ponds are spread across a green landscape best explored by bicycle. Wat Mahathat, with its lotus-bud chedi and rows of columns, is the centrepiece, while the huge seated Buddha of Wat Si Chum peers out through a narrow opening in its walls. The whole area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.