{"id":14462,"date":"2011-04-08T08:00:49","date_gmt":"2011-04-08T15:00:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aswetravel.com\/?p=14462"},"modified":"2022-07-07T17:53:59","modified_gmt":"2022-07-08T00:53:59","slug":"ayutthaya-vs-sukhothai-which-ancient-thai-city-is-better","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aswetravel.com\/ayutthaya-vs-sukhothai-which-ancient-thai-city-is-better\/","title":{"rendered":"Ayutthaya vs Sukhothai &#8211; Which Ancient Thai City Is Better?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Ayutthaya vs Sukhothai &#8211; We have noticed in the online forums that many people traveling through Thailand are wondering which city offers the best overall experience: Ayutthaya or Sukhothai?<\/p>\n<p>So we thought we&#8217;d share our thoughts and experiences of the two places and which one we prefer:<\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_65 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-light-blue ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/aswetravel.com\/ayutthaya-vs-sukhothai-which-ancient-thai-city-is-better\/#Ayutthaya_or_Sukhothai_Same_Same_%E2%80%93_But_Different\" title=\"Ayutthaya or Sukhothai Same Same &#8211; But Different.\">Ayutthaya or Sukhothai Same Same &#8211; But Different.<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/aswetravel.com\/ayutthaya-vs-sukhothai-which-ancient-thai-city-is-better\/#Capital_of_Thailand\" title=\"Capital of Thailand\">Capital of Thailand<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/aswetravel.com\/ayutthaya-vs-sukhothai-which-ancient-thai-city-is-better\/#Ayutthaya_Thailand\" title=\"Ayutthaya Thailand\">Ayutthaya Thailand<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/aswetravel.com\/ayutthaya-vs-sukhothai-which-ancient-thai-city-is-better\/#Sukhothai_Thailand\" title=\"Sukhothai Thailand\">Sukhothai Thailand<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/aswetravel.com\/ayutthaya-vs-sukhothai-which-ancient-thai-city-is-better\/#Ayutthaya_VS_Sukhothai\" title=\"Ayutthaya VS Sukhothai&nbsp;\">Ayutthaya VS Sukhothai&nbsp;<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Ayutthaya_or_Sukhothai_Same_Same_%E2%80%93_But_Different\"><\/span>Ayutthaya or Sukhothai Same Same &#8211; But Different.<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>There are so many Buddha statues around Ayutthaya that after a while you really don&#8217;t appreciate them as much.<\/p>\n<p>But keep on taking photos, because once you&#8217;ve left this place, you will look back at those photos and realize how beautiful they really were&#8230;<\/p>\n<p><div class=\"mv-video-target mv-video-id-bspz3tnqjbqyaxywwl68\" data-video-id=\"bspz3tnqjbqyaxywwl68\" data-ratio=\"16:9\" data-volume=\"70\"><\/div>Buddha statues around Ayutthaya Thailand.<\/p>\n<p>There are a few things that make Ayutthaya and Sukhothai similar.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Capital_of_Thailand\"><\/span>Capital of Thailand<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Ayutthaya used to be the capital of Thailand, and so did Sukhothai; they both have hundreds of ruins, are popular for biking between temples and both have been granted <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/whc.unesco.org\/\" target=\"_blank\">UNESCO World Heritage status<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>However, this is pretty much where it ends.<\/p>\n<p>We found the two places very different from each other, and depending on what you want to experience you choose one or the other, but preferably choose both.<\/p>\n<p>I&#8217;m very glad we took the time to take the train and stop for a few days at both places, rather than taking an overnight bus or train right up to <a href=\"https:\/\/aswetravel.com\/things-to-do-in-chiang-mai-thailand\/\">Chiang Mai<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-14722 size-full aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/aswetravel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/01\/IMG_42631.jpg\" alt=\"Ayutthaya VS Sukhothai\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\"><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Ayutthaya_Thailand\"><\/span>Ayutthaya Thailand<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The Burmese invaders really demolished the empire to the ground, and all the temples and statues were completely destroyed.<\/p>\n<p>The ruins there really hold little meaning for the every day life of the people today.<\/p>\n<p>They were left for a long time, and because of the lack of workers and monks to look after them, they were very vulnerable.<\/p>\n<p>This resulted in looting and treasure hunting.<\/p>\n<p>The majority of ancient Buddha statues&#8217; heads have been chopped off and sold to rich people overseas, and there are very few stupas today without holes caused by exploitative treasure hunters.<\/p>\n<p>This makes Ayutthaya&#8217;s ruins look very &#8230; ruined.<\/p>\n<p>It&#8217;s sometimes hard to imagine what the place used to look like, but the beauty is still there.<\/p>\n<p>Ayutthaya has a rough but interesting history, and is&nbsp;definitely&nbsp;worth a day or two.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_14723\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-14723\" style=\"width: 290px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-14723 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/aswetravel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/01\/IMG_41801.jpg\" alt=\"Buddha head in Wat Mahatat, Ayutthaya\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-14723\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">A perfect example of the forces of nature. The roots of an old Fig tree has grown over and around an ancient Buddha head in Wat Mahatat, Ayutthaya.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The ruins are relatively close to each other, with a few exceptions, and &nbsp;they&#8217;re within walking distance between each other, however biking is very popular, and is an easy way of getting around the city.<\/p>\n<p>You have to pay for EVERY temple you visit, so it adds up quickly if you go to many.<\/p>\n<p>Most temples charge 50 BHT, despite what it says on pamphlets.<\/p>\n<p>Most temples are around the old part of town, which is the only interesting part of Ayutthaya.<\/p>\n<p>The city center is pretty dull, there are very few shops and no restaurants at all.<\/p>\n<p>The only reason to go there would be to check out the small market area and buy some food from the food stalls.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-14728 size-full aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/aswetravel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/01\/IMG_47841.jpg\" alt=\"Ayutthaya VS Sukhothai\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\"><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Sukhothai_Thailand\"><\/span>Sukhothai Thailand<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Sukhothai is also divided in a new part and an old part, and just like in Ayutthaya the ruins are all in the old part of town.<\/p>\n<p>The only difference is that the old Sukhothai is 14 km away from the new one, while in Ayutthaya the new and old part are next to each other.<\/p>\n<p>This could be seen as a problem, but in the long run I think this is what has saved the ruins here and what makes it in many aspects &#8220;much better&#8221; than Ayutthaya.<\/p>\n<p>The most impressive ruins are all gathered in a large park called Sukhothai Historical park, which covers about 70 square km (27 sq miles)!<\/p>\n<p>Sukhothai Historical Park was full of Buddha statues in all shapes and sizes, and I loved how each Buddha looked different from the other, even in facial structure.<\/p>\n<p>This one is a little&#8230;chubby ;)<\/p>\n<p>Sukhothai Historical Park<\/p>\n<p>The park is divided into 5 zones, each zone costing 100 baht (extra 10 if you have a bike), and you pay when you enter each zone, so you can choose yourself how many you want to visit.<\/p>\n<p>All tickets are&nbsp;valid&nbsp;for one full day pass so you can go out of the park and grab something to eat and the return again.<\/p>\n<p>The Buddha statue was so big that only the hand could fit into the camera lens &#8211; but it&#8217;s nevertheless a beautiful hand.<\/p>\n<p>Buddha statue big hand<\/p>\n<p>What I loved about the park was that not only was it incredibly peaceful and quiet, but it was so green and lush.<\/p>\n<p>The nature around the ruins in Ayutthaya was pretty dry and hot, while in Sukhothai you could relax in the shade under a tree by one of the many lakes and buy some snacks from one of the few who walked around the park.<\/p>\n<p>You could easily spend a whole day in one zone, while in Ayutthaya you couldn&#8217;t spend a whole day in just one temple area.<\/p>\n<p>The Buddha statues were mostly complete and the ruins in general weren&#8217;t as demolished as in Ayutthaya.<\/p>\n<p>There were a few great restaurants outside the park with the thickest menus (in English) I&#8217;ve ever seen, and one or two good cheap guest houses with wi-fi etc.<\/p>\n<p>Some of the <a href=\"https:\/\/aswetravel.com\/5-things-ive-learned-about-thai-people-while-in-thailand\/\" rel=\"noopener\">things we learned while traveling to Thailand<\/a> is most people stay in the new city, where they have many great guesthouses, awesome street vendors and a few&nbsp;excellent&nbsp;cafes and restaurants.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Ayutthaya_VS_Sukhothai\"><\/span>Ayutthaya VS Sukhothai&nbsp;<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The dragon is an important part of Thai culture and beliefs.<\/p>\n<p>There is always at least one dragon outside the temples guarding it and protecting it from dangers.<\/p>\n<p>Dragons are associated with wisdom and longevity, and apart from protecting temples they also bring water.<\/p>\n<p>Dragon is an important part of Thai culture<\/p>\n<p>If you have time, I would recommend you take the time and visit both, but if you are looking to visit only one ancient city, then the winner is Sukhothai.<\/p>\n<p>Really it is hard to describe the beauty&nbsp;experienced&nbsp;at these ruins &#8211; relaxed, green,&nbsp;peaceful, picturesque&nbsp;&#8211; they really showcased the&nbsp;magnificence&nbsp;of what it might have looked like many many years ago.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/aswetravel.com\/sukhothai-thailand\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Sukhothai Thailand Overrun by Crazy Monkeys<\/a><br \/>\n<a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/aswetravel.com\/things-to-do-in-thailand\/\" target=\"_blank\">Things to do in Thailand<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/aswetravel.com\/things-to-do-in-bangkok-thailand\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Things To Do In Bangkok<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/aswetravel.com\/5-things-ive-learned-about-thai-people-while-in-thailand\/\" rel=\"noopener\">5 Things I&#8217;ve Learnt About Thai People While In Thailand<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/aswetravel.com\/ayutthaya-vs-sukhothai-which-ancient-thai-city-is-better\/\">Bangkok to Ayutthaya, Thailand Travel Video<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>We have noticed in the online forums that many people traveling through Thailand are wondering which city offers the best overall experience: Ayutthaya or Sukhothai? &#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":14729,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[83],"tags":[],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/aswetravel.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14462"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/aswetravel.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/aswetravel.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aswetravel.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aswetravel.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14462"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/aswetravel.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14462\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aswetravel.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/14729"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/aswetravel.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14462"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aswetravel.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14462"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aswetravel.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14462"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}