As the sun dips behind the
horizon, the skyline of stupas
forms the perfect silhouette –
and photographers know ittowering trees such as the Chan,
a species of dragon tree (Dracaena
kaweesakii), the landscaping feels
reminiscent of a setting in a
Hans Christian Andersen story –
mythical, even eerie at times in its
quiet, making it a haven for culottes-
donning meditators.
Wat Mahathat is the iconic
viewpoint from which to watch the
sunset. As the sun dips behind
the horizon, the skyline of stupas
forms the perfect silhouette – and
photographers know it. While this is
the most visited temple in the complex,
it’s blissfully peaceful compared to
Cambodia’s Angkor Wat, which
is consistently populated with hordes
of visitors sporting selfie sticks.
In comparison, the gardens
surrounding Wat Mahathat allow
visitors to claim a grassy spot and sit in
relative solitude as the crickets sound
out the end of the day, and the heat
sinks into balmy evening.
For visitors looking to see out
the end of the day in an even quieter
location – without forfeiting a view
of historical grandeur – the lesser
known Sri Satchanalai (which
translates to “city of good people”) –
the second centre of the Sukhothai
kingdom, and the former residence
of the crown prince – is a magnificent
alternative. Several temples, such as
Wat Chang Lom, Wat Chedi Chet Thaiw
and Wat Phra Sri Rattana Mahathat,
have been painstakingly restored,
allowing visitors a window to their
glorious past.The sheer immensity of this area’s
history is something of a rabbit hole,
and if you feel like taking a tumble
down it, the best place to do so is at
the Ramkhamhaeng National Museum
just outside the Sukhothai Historical
Park. This carefully curated collection
houses Khmer statues and Sukhothai
Buddhas, Sawankholok ceramics and
artefacts collected from the tributary
cities of Sri Satchanalai, Kampaeng
Petch, Petchaboon and Pijit.
All the cycling and walking is
bound to work up an appetite, and
Thailand is quite adept at living up to
its reputation for phenomenal food.
But forget your stock standard orders
of Thai green curry and pad Thai of
the mainstream Khaosan variety – the
cuisine of the north has stashed some
other ingredients in its pantry.
IMAGE © SHUTTERSTOCKIMAGE © SHUTTERSTOCK