The Sukhothai Historical Park covers an area of the former capital of the Sukhothai Kingdom, an ancient city that thrived between the 13th and 14th centuries.

Founded in 1238 AD, Sukhothai is considered the first capital of Thailand. The kingdom had prospered for 200 years until it was takend over by Ayutthaya. Sukhothai Historical Park is the main attraction in Sukhothai province.

Located 12 km from Sukhothai town, the park, which is surrounded by a city gate and a moat, is not only a place of temple ruins but a quintessence of a pinnacle of Thailand’s architectural marvel. Many buidlings and religious artefacts created during its era are uniquely beautiful and elegant.

Registered as a World Heritage site under the auspices of UNESCO, the shady park features a number of Buddhist shrines, Buddha statues, former palaces and temples. Among ancient monuments within the city wall, the largest and most impressive is Wat Mahathat. It is the place where the first stone inscription was discovered. The square rock contains Thai letters that are believed to be invented by King Ramkamheang, who is one of the greatest kings in Thailand. Main chedi (stupa), vihara (assembly hall), mandapa, ordination hall (uposatha), approximately 200 subordinate chedis and some fine Buddha images can be found in the same area. These stupas represent various architectural influences from different kingdoms such as Hariphunchai, Lanna and Sri Langka. Two impressive statues of the 12-meter tall standing Buddha, Phra Attharot, enshrines the mandapa on both sides of the principle chedi.

Situated about 427 kilometers north of Bangkok, the park sees thousands of visitor each year, who admire at the ancient Buddha figures, palace buildings and ruins temples. The park is easily toured by bicycle or even of foot. It is also famous for the site of the Loi Krathong celebration which is held every year in October or November.

Phuket FantaSea is arguably the biggest entertainment complex in Phuket. Aimed to highlight Thailand’s history and culture, it conjures up spectacular shows that reflect many aspects of both modern and ancient Thailand.

Phuket FantaSea offers nighttime entertainment on the tropical resort island of Phuket. Built at the cost of over 3,500 million baht (approx 78 million USD), it adds a new dimension to a theme park entertainment in Thailand, presenting the charms of the kingdom and its exotic culture and traditions, legends and myths with the magic of cutting-edge technology and special effects. It consists of the magnificent Palace of the Elephants, a state-of-the-art theatre constructed in the Sukhothai architectural style.

Its “Fantasy of a Kingdom” Culture-illusion Show consists of 9 themed shows, which are Thai culture, magical illusions, 4-dimensional effects, aerial performance, acrobatics, indoor pyrotechnics, special effects, elephant circus and stunts. Many of the technologies used in the shows are obtained from hotels and casinos in Las Vegas which are known for their excellent and innovative shows. The Thai creators however were able to use these technologies and expertise and mixed this with their Thai sense of showmanship. Other attractions include games, plays and exciting surprises for kids as well as traditional carnivals and live music, handicraft demonstrations, and cultural parades and street shows.

Phuket FantaSea is located at Kamala Beach, about 9 km from Patong Beach. This carnival village offers carnivals, games and handicrafts shops. The shows start at 9 pm and lasts about 1 hour and 15 minutes.

Thailand’s national museum is originally built on royal collections from the 19th century to cover many aspects of the country’s historical and cultural heritage. The museum stores gold treasure, mother-of-pearl inlay, musical instruments, wood carving, entertainment articles, textiles, ceramics, royal regalia, palanquins, old weapons and stone inscriptions.

The largest museum in Southeast Asia, it is an excellent place to learn something about Thai arts. The Museum was converted from a royal residence of a crown prince of King Rama V (1853 – 1910 AD) to display the private collection of antiquities of the king. In 1926, it was subsequently developed into the National Museum Bangkok when it came under the administration of the Department of Fine Arts in 1934.

A presentation of Thai history begins with Sukhothai (widely believed in Thailand as the first Thai kingdom), Ayutthaya, Thonburi to Rattanakosin period. A collection of pre-Thailand, Thai sculpture, as well as pieces from elsewhere in Asia is featured in two large modern buildings. The history of Thai art is displayed in the north wings of the Sivamokhapiman Hall. This houses the museum’s most famous exhibit, the Inscription No.1 from the Sukhothai era (between 1238 and 1438). This stone inscription is believed to be the first evidence of Thai letters supposedly invented by the great King Ramkhamhaeng of Sukhothai kingdom.
The museum’s southern wing features one of the earliest images of the Buddha from Gandhara in India, which is influenced by classical Greek sculpture. Other artifacts including Royal Cremation Chariots and Ceremonial Objects are exhibited in other buildings within the palace compound. Another historic item displayed in the museum is Phra Buddha Sihing, which is one of the most revered Buddha statues in Thailand. The 15th century bronze statue is enshrined in Buddhaisawan Chapel (known as Wat Buddhaisawan).

Other highlights of the museum are recovered jewelry and traditional costumes, ancient currency, religious sculpture, giant shadow puppets, weapons, ivory, royal possessions, musical instruments, Asian arts and antiques. The museum is open everyday from 9 am to 4 pm. Guided tours by volunteers in English, German, French and Japanese are available upon reservation.

Ancient City is touted as the largest open-air museum in the world. More than 100 of Thailand’s most impressive monuments are erected across 80-hectare (200-acre) of flat land.

Known among Thais as Muang Boran, this is a good place to learn about Thai history in one day. There are numerous reproductions of palace halls, temples, stupas, stone sanctuaries and traditional houses. You can also visit several reconstructed historical buildings, authenticated communities with their inhabitants doing their daily chores and sample villages from all regions of the country. Even though all the buildings and shrines are scaled down, they are proportional and full of details just like the original ones. Indeed the Ancient City is architecturally sophisticated and a preservation site for classical buildings and art forms. It is a place worth your visit if you do not have time to travel to the real place.
The entire grounds are shaped to follow a geographical appearance of Thailand and the monuments are placed accordingly. Below is the highlight of the buildings of each region.

Southern Region: The Land of Buddhism
The southern part of the country has a shape of a small peninsula along the coast. The Stupa of Phra Maha That Nakhon Si Thammarat and Phra Maha That Chaiya are located in this region.

Central Region: The Center of Siamese Local Administration
The Central Region covers the largest river basins where locates Ayutthaya City, Thon Buri and Rattanakosin Cities. This part of the country shows prosperities and Siamese civilization of the country.

Northern Region: The Heart of Lanna Territory
Ancient City of Sukhothai is located in this region. All visitors will have a chance to see fascinating characteristics of Sukhothai arts as well as to sense the unity of Lanna civilization in particular.

Northern Eastern Region: The Source of I-Sarn Civilization
In this region, you can trace the cultures and the civilizations of pre-historic ages as well as of the lively folk arts on this vast plateau of Siam.
Eastern Region: An Outstanding Treasure of Siam
The eastern coast was a significant trade center and a crucial buffer zone for Thai kingdom for many centuries. The towns located on this coast play important parts to the politic and economic of the nation.

Re-Creation Area – The Reflection of Thai talent
This is an additional part of the Ancient City. The architectures in this part reflect the thoughts and the beliefs existing in Thai society. Interesting structures here consists of Buddha statues in the pond, ornately decorated pavilions and decorative pagodas.

A visit to the Ancient City makes an excellent and exhilarating full day outing outside Bangkok. It is recommended to arrive early to be able to explore the place thoroughly.

Travellers are required to hold a passport valid for not less than 6 months after entry into Thailand. For travellers aged 50 years or above wishing to take retreat in Thailand at least for a period of one year, their passports should be valid not less than 18 months. Before traveling, check that your embassy can replace your passport if it is misplaced. Make copies of the identification of yourself and of your family in case of emergency. If you lose your passport, contact the police and your embassy/consulate immediately.

Passport holders of 39 countries (see list below), including the USA, the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and most European and Southeast Asian countries are automatically permitted to stay in Thailand for 30 days on a tourist visa status (no visa application needed). This 30-day tourist visa can be extended for before exceeding the permitted period at the Office of Immigration Bureau at Soi Suan Plu.
Ordinary and national passport holders of three countries—Peru, Brazil and Korea– that have concluded agreement on the visa exemption with Thailand are permitted to stay up to 90 days.

Passport holders from other 14 countries (see list below) get 15-day temporary tourist visa or visa on arrival. The visa on arrival will be provided at 23 designated international checkpoints (see list below). Applicants are required to attach their 2.5-inches photograph with their application form. The application fee is BHT300. Visitors who enter the kingdom with visa on arrival generally cannot file an application for extension of stay except in special cases such as illness which prevents them from traveling, etc. They can submit an application at the Office of Immigration Bureau at Soi Suan Plu, South Sathorn Road.

Alternatively, you can apply for visa at a Thai embassy/consulate in your country for a 30-day transit visa or a 60-day tourist visa with the fee of THB200 and THB300, respectively. Both visa types are extendable within the permitted period of stay. However, it is obligatory that passport holders of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Syria, Iraq, Iran, Lebanon, Sudan, Algeria, Libya, Yemen, Egypt and Palestinian States are required to file an application at the Thai Embassy/Consulate-General where they have their permanent residence.
Visa extensions are available at the Office of Immigration Bureau, Immigration Division 1, Soi Suan Plu, South Sathorn Road, Bangkok 10120. Tel. (662) 287-3127 or 287-3101-10 ext. 2264-5. Whatever your nationality and travel plans, confirm entry conditions.

Official agencies in charge of issuing visas are:
1. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs
2. The Royal Thai Embassies and Consulates abroad
3. The Office of Immigration Bureau
NB.
- From August 26, 2003, the Office of Immigration Bureau will require the application fees for the transit and tourist visas to be THB800 and THB1,000, respectively.

- Overstaying your visas for more than 24 hours will be fined for THB200 a day upon leaving Thailand from airports. However, if exiting the country through immigration checkpoints, overstaying visitors will be fined THB200 a day even if the overstaying time does not exceed 24 hours.
More information about applying for a Thai Visa Ministry of Foreign Affairs or Royal Thai Embassy.

List of 39 countries eligible for a 30-day tourist visa
1. Australia : Commonwealth of Australia
2. Austria : Republic of Austria
3. Belgium : Kingdom of Belgium
4. Brazil : Federative Republic of Brazil
5. Bahrain : State of Bahrain
6. Brunei Darussalam : Negara Brunei Darussalam
7. Canada
8. Denmark : Kingdom of Denmark
9. Finland : Republic of Finland
10. France : French Republic
11. Germany : Federal Republic of Germany
12. Greece : Hellenic Republic
13. Hong Kong : Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
14. Indonesia : Republic of Indonesia
15. Ireland : Republic of Ireland
16. Israel : State of Israel
17. Italy : Republic of Italy
18. Japan
19. Korea : Republic of Korea
20. Kuwait : State of Kuwait
21. Luxembourg : Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
22. Malaysia
23. Netherlands : Kingdom of the Netherlands
24. New Zealand
25. Norway : Kingdom of Norway
26. Peru : Republic of Peru
27. Philippines : Republic of the Philippines
28. Portugal : Republic of Portugal
29. Qatar : State of Qatar
30. Singapore : Republic of Singapore
31. Spain : Kingdom of Spain
32. South Africa : Republic of South Africa
33. Sweden : Kingdom of Sweden
34. Switzerland : Swiss Confederation
35. Turkey : Republic of Turkey
36. United Arab Emirates
37. United Kingdom : United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
38. United States of America
39. Vietnam : Socialist Republic of Vietnam

List of 14 countries eligible for a 15-Day visa on arrival

1. Bhutan : Kingdom of Bhutan
2. China : People’s Republic of China (including Taiwan)
3. Cyprus : Republic of Cyprus
4. Czech : Czech Republic
5. Hungary : Republic of Hungary
6. India : Republic of India
7. Kazakhstan : Republic of Kazakhstan
8. Maldives : Republic of Maldives
9. Mauritius : Republic of Mauritius
10. Oman : Sultanate of Oman
11. Poland : Republic of Poland
12. Russian Federation
13. Saudi Arabia : Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
14. Ukraine

List of Thailand’s Immigration Checkpoints that provides facilities for issuance of visa on arrival

1. Don Muang International Airport , Bangkok
2. Chiangmai International Airport , Chiangmai
3. Phuket International Airport , Phuket
4. Hatyai International Airport , Songkla
5. U Tapao Airport , Rayong
6. Mae Sai Immigration Checkpoint , Chiengrai
7. Chieng Saen Immigration Checkpoint , Chiengrai
8. Chieng Khong Immigration Checkpoint , Chiengrai
9. Betong Immigration Checkpoint , Yala
10. Sadoa Immigration Checkpoint , Songkla
11. Samui Airport , Surat Thani
12. Sukhothai International Airport, Tak Immigration Checkpoint
13. Bangkok Harbour Immigration Checkpoint, Bangkok
14. Sri Racha Immigration Checkpoint , Chonburi
15. Mabtaput Immigration Checkpoint , Rayong
16. Nong Khai Immigration Checkpoint, Nong Khai
17. Samui Immigration Checkpoint , Surat Thani
18. Phuket Immigration Checkpoint , Phuket
19. Satun Immigration Checkpoint , Satun
20. Krabi Immigration Checkpoint , Krabi
21. Songkhla Harbour Immigraion Checkpoint , Songkhla
22. Chiangrai Airport Immigration Checkpoint, Chiangrai
23. Surat Thani Airport Immigration Checkpoint , Surat Thani

List of countries which have concluded agreement on the exemption of visa requirement with Thailand

- Country which has concluded agreement on the exemption of visa requirement for holders of diplomatic, official and ordinary passports with Thailand and permitted to stay for 90 days:
Republic of Peru

- List of Countries which have concluded agreement on the exemption of visa requirement for holders of national passport with Thailand and permitted to stay for 30 and 90 days:

90 Days
1.Brazil
2. Republic of Korea

30 Days
1. Hong Kong SAR
2. Socialist Republic of Vietnam
3. Macao Special Administrative Region