20 November 1988

Ancient city of Sukhothai opens to modern eyes

After 25 years of excavation and restoration, Thai and foreign experts had partially brought to life 193 Buddhist temples, moats, kiln sites and other structures that 700 years earlier formed part of the ancient royal city of Sukhothai. These and large-scale landscaping formed the 70-sq-km Sukhothai Historical Park, which was officially opened by Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn.

The bid to save Sukhothai, abandoned by its rulers in the 16th century, began in 1953. After a period of inactivity, work resumed in the mid-1960s and then received a major boost in 1978 when the government and Unesco embarked on a 10-year, $10-million masterplan as part of Unesco’s campaign to restore major cultural sites around the world. The opening came amid heightened awareness of the kingdom’s massive loss of art treasures through theft and corruption.

20 November 1988

Ancient city of Sukhothai opens to modern eyes

After 25 years of excavation and restoration, Thai and foreign experts had partially brought to life 193 Buddhist temples, moats, kiln sites and other structures that 700 years earlier formed part of the ancient royal city of Sukhothai. These and large-scale landscaping formed the 70-sq-km Sukhothai Historical Park, which was officially opened by Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn.

The bid to save Sukhothai, abandoned by its rulers in the 16th century, began in 1953. After a period of inactivity, work resumed in the mid-1960s and then received a major boost in 1978 when the government and Unesco embarked on a 10-year, $10-million masterplan as part of Unesco’s campaign to restore major cultural sites around the world. The opening came amid heightened awareness of the kingdom’s massive loss of art treasures through theft and corruption.