World Heritage
Sites In Thailand (Part II)
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Discovering the Magnitude of Ancient Ruins
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Many historical attractions are proof of Thailand's prosperity since ancient times, about 3-4 thousand years ago. Besides bearing aesthetic value, the beautiful architecture and artistic decorations also convey customs and beliefs of the ancient civilisation.
UNESCO has recognised the outstanding value of Thailand's historical and natural conservation sites and has bestowed eight destinations with the title of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. They are:
1. Sukhothai Historical Park
2. Si Satchanalai Historical Park
3. Kamphaeng Phet Historical Park
4. Thung Yai Naresuan & Huai Kha Khaeng
Wildlife Sanctuaries
5. Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Historical Park
6. Khao Yai National Park
7. Ban Chiang Archaeological Site
8. Ramkhamhaeng Stone Inscription
You are lucky to come to Thailand where such world heritage sites are located and you are recommended to visit at least one of them to make the most of your stay. Thaiways presented to you brief information about no.1-4 in the previous issue and in this issue, no. 5-8 will be dealt with.
Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Historical Park
Ayutthaya (Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya in full) is Thailand's second capital after Sukhothai. Even though now it is in ruins, its magnificence still shines. When exploring these majestic monuments, you can't help feeling amazed by their grandeur and the endeavour of their creators. The pagodas, Buddha statues and scattered red brick temples stand overwhelmingly on a vast picturesque landscape.
This historical park is located in Ayutthaya provincial town. Ayutthaya is located just 85 km. north of Bangkok in the central plain. It is where three rivers converge. Several man-made canals were also dug to facilitate transportation. The city which was full of criss-crossing canals was known as "Venice of the East". Nowadays, tourists can absorb many riverside ruins by chartering a long-tail boat for a trip around the canal moat.
Wat Mahathat |
At its zenith during the 17th century, Ayutthaya was one of the largest municipalities in the world, contemporary of London. Numerous foreign merchants were attracted to do trading in the city and many of them including the Japanese, Dutch and Portuguese settled in small communities within Ayutthaya City. Traces of them can still be seen today and they are included in some tour programmes. The Japanese village was turned into part of the Ayutthaya Historical Study Centre. Locations of the Portuguese and Dutch villages are frequently visited.
Monumental ruins in Ayutthaya Historical Park totally number 211 and are grouped into ruins inside and outside the City Isle.
Wat Phra Ram |
Ruins inside the City Isle are such as Wat Phra Si Sanphet, Wihan Phra Mongkhon Bophit, Wat Mahathat, Wat Ratchaburana, Wat Phra Ram and Wat Lokkaya Suttharam.
Wat Phra Si Sanphet |
Wat Phra Si Sanphet was once a royal chapel. It features the three famous Sri Lankan-style chedis which have become the landmark of Ayutthaya. When looking up at sky-scraping pagodas, you may feel as if you were an ant.
Wat Phra Mongkhon Bophit |
Wihan Phra Mongkhon Bophit After Ayutthaya's fall, the holy Phra Mongkhon Bophit Buddha image was left to sit outdoors for about two centuries. A new wihan (assembly hall) was built in 1956, according to the original design, to shelter the statue.
Wat Chai Wattanaram |
Outside the City Isle, there are interesting attractions such as Wat Phutthai Sawan, Wat Chai Wattanaram, Wat Na Phra Men and Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon.
Wat Na Phra Men |
You have plenty of choices to explore the ruins bicycling, chartering a long-tail boat and riding on elephant back which is very popular with tourists. Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya World Heritage Site opens from 08.00 to 18.00 hrs. For more information, please call TAT, Ayutthaya Office, on tel: 0 3524 6076 to 7.
Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon |
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Views of Khao Yai |
Khao Yai National Park
When talking about national parks of Thailand, one will always think of Khao Yai first because it is not only the earliest national park ever established in this country, but it is also among the largest and most frequently visited.
A vantage point for
panoramic view of Khao Yai |
Khao Yai meaning big mountain is a branch of the Dongrak Range which forms part of the border between Thailand and Cambodia. It covers an area of 2,168 sq.km. straddling parts of four provinces Nakhon Ratchasima, Prachin Buri, Nakhon Nayok and Saraburi, and is only 200 km. northeast of Bangkok.
Heo Narok Waterfall at Khao Yai |
Normally, the park will become more beautiful after the rainy season because its waterfalls will be full of water. More than 800 species of plants and several kinds of wildlife find their habitat here. Monkeys, gibbons, deer and langurs are regularly seen. Bears, gaurs, serows and clouded leopard are occasionally spotted. Among the park well-known waterfalls, Heo Suwat and Heo Narok waterfalls in the embrace of the green surroundings are recommended to travellers.
Khao Yai has over 50 km. of hiking trails, many of which have been formed by wildlife movement. It is easy to lose your way in this massive forest, so hire a guide to go with you. Besides trekking, visitors can also go out on a night safari and ride through the jungle on an ATV.
In addition, around the Khao Yai's perimeter, there are other activities to do such as golfing, receiving a spa treatment at one of several resorts and tasting wine at vineyards. For more information, please contact Khao Yai National Park on tel: 0 3735 6033.
Ban Chiang Archaeological Site
Ban Chiang is a small village in Nong Han County, 55 km. from the provincial town of Udon Thani Province (564 km. northeast of Bangkok). This once sleepy town became well known among archaeologists from over the world in 1966 after an American anthropology student accidentally tripped on the ground only to find the rim of a partially buried clay pot bearing the creative designs and outstanding earth-red colour. He was more excited when noticing shards of pottery scattered in the fields all around him. That discovery led to excavations by Thai and international archaeologists to unearth evidence of a lost civilisation dating back some 5,000 years.
Earthenware objects
of Ban Chiang |
Excavations at Ban Chiang archaeological site reveal that Thailand was one of the earliest centres of bronze and iron production in the world.
The site features artefacts dating from around 3600 BC to 200 AD. Dug up objects show various periods of settlement, indicating the evolution of small agro-communities possessing sophisticated tools and customs for the time.
Significant uncovered items include bronze bracelets, bangles, anklets, metal spearheads and axe-heads. These metal objects point out that bronze technology probably was passed from Thailand to China, and not vice versa as originally believed.
Actually, visitors to Ban Chiang usually go to Ban Chiang National Museum where all accounts of the discovery of the earthenware including outdoor section demonstrating the real dug up pit are exhibited. Here, besides many creatively designed pottery, you will see how the archaeologists work at the site. On displays are excellent collections of earthenware ceramics, bronze jewellery and tools, stone objects, shells, as well as glass beads. It opens daily, 09.00-16.00 hrs. For more information, please contact Ban Chiang National Museum on tel: 0 4220 8340.
Ramkhamhaeng Stone Inscription |
Ramkhamhaeng Stone Inscription
You may wonder how the Thai alphabet originated. Pho Khun (king) Ramkhamhaeng was credited as its creator as his biography and several accounts of the Sukhothai Period were inscribed with the first Thai alphabet on a cubic-shaped stone known as Ramkhamhaeng Stone Inscription (the first stone inscription) which was declared a UNESCO World Heritage in 2003.
The Ramkhamhaeng Stone Inscription, or sometimes called the "first inscription" (there were discoveries of other stone inscription later) recorded many important events in the reign of King Ramkhamhaeng and was regarded as the earliest written literature of Thailand. The Thai language used in the inscription was the basic spoken language but also contained the uses of alliteration and rhyming vowels.
This inscription is divided into 3 parts. The first one is about the biography of King Ramkhamhaeng from his birth to his accession to the throne believed to be directly inscribed according to the king's dictation. The second part mentions the customs and traditions of the Sukhothai Kingdom, some special events and the invention of the Thai alphabet. The third section was written to glorify King Ramkhamhaeng for his dedication and sacrifice to the Sukhothai Kingdom. These two latter parts assumed to be inscribed after his reign.
The value of the inscription covers several aspects. In the historical aspect, the inscription contains information about King Ramkhamhaeng's biography as well as the society of Sukhothai. The readers will learn about the kingdom's history and prosperity. In the social aspect, the inscription gives knowledge about law and the administrative system. In the cultural aspect, the inscription shows the origin of the Thai language, alphabet and literature.
At present, this stone inscription is kept at the National Museum, Bangkok. For more information, please contact the National Museum on tel: 0 2224 7493.
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