Sukhothai, located in north-central Thailand, was once the capital of the first independent Thai kingdom in the 13th century. Today, it’s best known for the Sukhothai Historical Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site filled with stone temples, lotus-filled moats, and ancient Buddha statues. The park spans over 70 square kilometers and features more than 190 ruins. The best way to explore it is by bicycle, especially in the early morning when mist still hangs over the rice paddies and temple spires rise into the light.

One of the standout sites is Wat Mahathat, the spiritual center of the old city, where a seated Buddha statue looks out over lotus ponds and weathered columns. Nearby, Wat Si Chum features a 15-meter-high seated Buddha hidden inside a narrow brick hall, its fingers covered in gold leaf placed by worshippers. The statue’s serene expression and the quiet surrounding it have made it one of Thailand’s most photographed religious monuments.