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Itinerary: Ancient Architecture
SUKHOTHAI TO KHAO PHRA WIHAN
This trip takes in several former royal capitals along with one-time outposts of the Angkor empire. Start at the Unesco World Heritage site of Sukhothai Historical Park, the restored remains of 13th- to 14th-century monastic complexes belonging to Thailand's first major kingdom. World Heritage status extends to nearby satellite-city remains in Kamphaeng Phet and Si Satchanalai-Chaliang, both stylistically related to Sukhothai. Although influenced by Khmer art and architecture, the Sukhothai style was considered the first 'Thai' art period.
Drop south to Lopburi to view what remains of the extraordinary palace of King Narai, a smaller one belonging to his Greek-born minister, Constantine Phaulkon, along with one of the best-preserved Khmer Hindu shrines anywhere in Thailand or Cambodia. Further south, the extensive temple ruins at Ayuthaya Historical Park represent the pinnacle of Thai dynastic power in terms of wealth, global prestige and geographic extent.
From Ayuthaya head northeast to Buriram Province to scale an extinct volcano and see Prasat Hin Khao Phanom Rung, the most important and visually impressive Angkorean temple site in Thailand. From here it's a short jaunt to see Prasat Meuang Tham - known for its unique L-shaped lily ponds - and other smaller Angkorean sites.
Further south you can visit Khao Phra Wihan, dramatically perched on a 600m-high cliff just over the Cambodian border from Surin Province.
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