The Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaeo (The Temple of the Emerald Buddha) Home to many ornate temples and buildings with a variety of architectural styles. The magnificent Wat Phra Kaeo, a treasure trove of Thai arts and home to the Emerald Buddha, Thailand’s most revered Buddha image, is at the heart of the complex, but there is much else of interest to be seen in the Grand Palace compound, such as the Royal Thai Decorations and Coin Pavilion, where a permanent exhibition of royal regalia, decorations, medals and coins dating back to the early 11th century is on display.
Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Even if you are unfamiliar with the significance and history of Ayutthaya, pilgrims to Thailand’s second capital are utterly awestruck by the incredible beauty and magnificence of this city. Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya has many remnants of temples which are spread across a tranquil, pretty garden landscape. Canals were also constructed as busy watery avenues, with ornate palaces and sacred temples standing stately along the riverbanks. As its pinnacle during the 17th century, the glittering medieval kingdom was one of the largest municipalities in the world, eclipsing cities like London. Supplanting and incorporating the ageing Sukhothai into its stretching umbrella of power, the Ayutthayan Empire reached as far west as Pegu in Myanmar, and eastward to Angkor in Cambodia.
Chiang Mai Known as “The Rose of the North” and with an enchanting location on the banks of the Ping River, the city and its surroundings are blessed with stunning natural beauty and a uniquely indigenous cultural identity. Founded in 1296, Chiang Mai has had a long and mostly independent history which has to a large extent preserved a distinct culture. Locals here, maintain their own dialect, customs and cuisine and fascinating Northern Thai architectural styles rich in decorative details. Chiang Mai also continues its renowned its renowned tradition as a handicraft center, producing item in silk, wood, silver, ceramics and more, which make the city the country’s top shopping destination for arts and crafts.
Sukothai No trip to Thailand would be complete without a visit to the birthplace of the Thai nation and the country’s first capital, the ancient North Central Plains kingdom of Sukhothai. Meaning ‘dawn of happiness’, this pastoral located stretch of ruins and boasts 100 historical sites, including royal palaces, Buddhist temples, the city gates, walls, moats, dams, ditches, ponds, and canals. The art and architecture that blossomed under the Sukhothai School is among Thailand’s most attractive and finest. The architectural style of the period began as a fusion of Asian influences, from Khmer to Sri Lanka, though gradually unique elements emerged to define Sukhothai’s individual stamp of creativity. Artisans excelled particularly in the stucco work and sculpture that adorned temple structures, especially the fluid bronze casts that are best seen in the sensual flowing ‘walking’ Buddha style.
Prasat Hin Phanom Rung Located south of the town of Buri Ram, Prasat Hin Phanom occupies the summit of a 1,250 feet-high extinct volcano, these ruins command breathtaking views of the Khorat Plateau and the Dong Rak Mountains that form the border with Cambodia. In a design that takes full advantage of its natural site, Prasat Hin Phanom Rung is laid out along an axis running several hundred meters east to west, with a causeway and a series of stairs and terraces leading up to the hilltop sanctuary. The latter, set within the walled compound, comprises a chambered gateway, and a square-based sanctuary tower with entrances and antechambers at the four cardinal points. Also noteworthy are the pediments and carved lintels or interior and exterior doorways, and the decorative friezes on walls and pillars. The lintels in particular display exquisite workmanship.
Hua Hin One of Thailand’s most popular seaside resorts among overseas visitors as well as Thais, it is located on the west side of the Gulf of Thailand, Hua Hin is a three-hour drive southwest of Bangkok. Renowned as Thailand’s most traditional beach resort, it became the it destination in the 1920s when King Rama VII built his summer palace there. Today the Royal Family continues to reside at Hua Hin for part of the year. Hua Hin is noted for its traditional fishing port with many seafood restaurants, and a splendid sandy beach which starts from a rocky headland next to the port and curves gently for almost two miles to its southern point where Buddhist temples surmount hilltops. Hua Hin is a well-established beach destination, with full facilities and also provides a quiet, relaxed retreat amid surroundings which preserve a typical Thai ambience.
