At the 1991 session in Carthage, Tunisia, Sukhothai, Si Satchanalai and Kamphaeng Phet Historical Parks were recorded on the World Heritage List by the World Heritage Committee of the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, because of the abundant evidence of the sublimity and magnificence of architecture in the Sukhothai Kingdom.

As Thailand’s first capital, Sukhothai flourished from the mid-13^th century to the late 14^th century. The Sukhothai kingdom is viewed as the “golden age” of Thai civilization – the religious art and architecture of the Sukhothai era are considered to be the most classic of Thai style. During this period the Sukhothai kingdom received Theravada Buddhism from Sri Lanka; Singhalese artistic influence appeared in Sukhothai art, more prominent in architecture than in sculpture.

Sukhothai Historical Park:  The original capital of the first kingdom was surrounded by three concentric ramparts and two moats bridged by four gateways. Today the remains of over 20 historical sites and four large ponds can be seen within the old walls, with an additional 70 sites within a 5 km radius. The Sukhothai ruins have been declared a historical park and ranked as one of Thailand’s World Heritage Sites.

Si Satchanalai – Chaliang Historical Park: The Sukhothai period ruins in the old cities of Si Satchanalai and Chaliang, about 50 km north of Sukhothai. Architectural and archaeological remains found in this historic town clearly indicated that it was not only a politically important town, but also an important religious centre. The importance of the town was apparent long before the town was included in the Sukhothai kingdom. The ruins of Si Satchanalai are set among hills and are very attractive in the sense that they are not having been visited as much as the Sukhothai ruins. During the time of King Li Thai, who ruled Si Satchanalai before ascending the throne at Sukhothai, many temples were built and restored at Si Satchanalai. Later, when Sukhothai fell under the power of the Ayutthaya Kingdom, Si Satchanalai still maintained its status as an important town, governed only by a member of the Sukhothai royal family, and later the status of Si Satchanalai changed to that of a secondary outpost, with a ruler appointed by Ayuttaya. A large number of religious buildings and temples in Si Satchanalai were constructed from laterite, which is found locally. These religious structures were normally coated and decorated which stucco and were considered highly artistic achievements. The most important historic monuments are inside the city walls.

Tao Thu Rieng Ban Ko Noi: There are a group of glazed ceramic kilns located on the west bank of the Yom River about 1-5 kilometres from the historic Si Satchanalai town. Two groups of kilns have been excavated and developed into the site museums.

Kamphaeng Phet Historical Park: Ancient monuments in Kamphaeng Phet and Nakhon Chum was officially opened as Kamphaeng Phet Historical Park in 1991. The historical park is on the east bank of the Ping River, covering an area of about 3.4 square kilometres and divided into 2 zones:

• • A zone within the town wall covering an area of 503 Rais, including Wat Phra Kaeo, Wat Phra That, the ancient Palace area, Siva Shrine, the town wall and fortifications.

• • A zone outside the town wall, known as the Aranyik area, covering an area of about 1,611 rai on a mound or small hill. The group of ancient monuments in this area consists of 40 temples, both large and small. About 10 temples in the Aranyik area is a unique feature of Kamphaeng Phet.
    Densely located on a single piece of land on a mound, these ancient monuments were artistically constructed. Amidst the well-preserved forest and retains the atmosphere of forest temples in the olden days

In former days, Kamphaeng Phet (Diamond Wall) was known as Cha Kangrao or Nakhon Chum. Kamphaeng Phet province is in the lower part of the northern region, about 374 kilometres from Bangkok, the most convenient means of transportation is by road. There are neither railways nor an airport in this province.

Under the leadership of Khun Euayporn, The Siam Society is arranging a study trip for members to visit or revisit the historic monuments and museums in Sukhothai, Si Satchanalai and Kamphaeng Phet Historical Parks.