 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.
Back to Top
|
