North Zone

The North zone of the Sukhothai Historical Park is located near the Sanluang gate in the North city wall just outside of the walled town. The zone contains about a dozen ancient monuments, the Sukhothai Historical Park information center and a number of excavated kilns, where the Sangkhalok ceramic wares were produced.

Important temples North zone

The Wat Si Chum is a small temple known for its mandapa enshrining a very large image of the Buddha party visible from outside.

One of the oldest temples of Sukhothai, the Wat Phra Phai Luang predates the Sukhothai Kingdom. It was built by the Khmer during the late 12^th or early 13^th century as a Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva. The temple was the center of the pre Sukhothai town and its most important temple.

Other temples

The North zone contains a number of smaller, little visited temples in various states of preservation.

Wat Mae Chon

The Wat Mae Chon is a small temple found near the Sanluang gate in the old city walls, just outside of the walled town. The temple consists of a viharn and three chedis. The viharn contains an image of the Buddha seated on a pedestal. The brick stuccoed image in the “calling the Earth to witness” mudra has been restored.

Wat Nong Prue

The Wat Nong Prue is found West of the Wat Mae Chon, just North of the city wall. The small temple consists of a laterite and brick viharn.

Wat Rong Khwang Tawan

The Wat Rong Khwang Tawan is found West of the moat surrounding the Wat Phra Phai Luang. The temple consists of a viharn and two chedis.

Wat Om Rop

The Wat Om Rop located North West of the Wat Si Chum temple consists of a viharn, a principal chedi and a number of smaller chedis. Its principal chedi is a well preserved example of a lotus bud chedi set on a multi tiered square base in classic Sukhothai style.

Wat Sangkhawat

The Wat Sangkhawat is found North of the Wat Phra Phai Luang. The temple’s principal chedi is in Singhalese style; its top has collapsed. In front of is the viharn or assembly hall, of which the base and a few pillars remain. To the back of the viharn is a large seated stuccoed image of the Buddha, the head missing. Holes in the pillars show the location where the beams were fitted that supported the wooden roof. The ubosot or ordination hall is surrounded by sema stones.

The Sangkhalok kilns

Several kilns across a few sites North of the city walls have been excavated by the Thai Fine Arts Department. The kilns were used to produce the Sangkhalok wares, earthenware products in a wide range of colors and often glazed, with painted decorations like fish, flowers or birds.

The Sangkhalok wares were produced in both Sukhothai and Si Satchanalai from the 14^th century onwards. From founds made on sunken vessels it has been determined that the Sangkhalok wares were exported to Ayutthaya and countries as far away as Japan and the Philippines. Two kinds of brick kilns were used in Sukhothai; updraft kilns (Tra Grab) with holes at the bottom to ventilate heat vertically and cross draft kilns (Pra Tun) with holes for ventilation horizontally.

Temples in the North Zone

Some of the temples in this zone are:

• Wat Si Chum
• Wat Phra Phai Luang

Other Zones in the park

• Central zone
• East zone
• South zone
• West zone