Last week I was in northern Thailand, exploring the fabulous Sukhothai Historical Park which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Thailand’s finest cultural treasures

Sukhothai is located 427 kilometres north of Bangkok and 300 kilometres south of Chiang Mai. Home to magnificent temples ruins and monuments, the park draws thousands of visitors every year. The park is divided into five zones that can be explored by bicycle.

One of the most impressive temples is Wat Sri Chum with its monumental seated Buddha image. The temples is located just outside boundary wall of the main site at the northwest corner.

The image, which is 15 metres high and 32 metres wide at the base, sits within a square mondop, and when first approaching it along the pathway is glimpsed through an opening in the front wall.

The enormous right hand of the Buddha has been covered by gold leaf by worshipers.

Sukhothai and the surrounding area  has so much to offer visitors and is a great place for a weekend of culture, beautiful countryside, and delicious regional food. Bangkok Airways have one flight a day. I’ll post more images from Sukhothai over the next couple of weeks.