The 15-metre-high Buddha statue peeks out from a building at of Wat Si Chum.

Sukhothai Historical Park - North

One of the most impressive temples of Sukhothai, with an enormous statue of Buddha, can be found in the North Zone of the historical park.

The entrance booth for Wat Si Chum, which requires a separate ticket to the main section of the Sukhothai Historical Park. – © Michael Turtle

Wat Si Chum and its enormous Buddha statue is one of the highlights of the North section of the historical park. – © Michael Turtle

Cycling is one of the best ways to explore the North section of the Sukhothai Historical Park. – © Michael Turtle

The entrance booth for Wat Si Chum, which requires a separate ticket to the main section of the Sukhothai Historical Park. – © Michael Turtle

The northern part of the Sukhothai Historical Park is dominated by Wat Si Chum, famous for its large 15-metre-high sitting Buddha statue enclosed within four walls, so it only reveals its whole shape when you get close. The lap of the Buddha is 11.3 metres wide and fills the building, creating a space that is both imposing and peaceful at the same time.

A passageway leads through a wall to an opening near the head of the statue and legend says a king once spoke through it to nervous soldiers who were camped here preparing for battle, pretending to be Buddha, to encourage them to fight.

The 15-metre-high Buddha statue at Wat Si Chum has a secret staircase in the wall leading to a window near the statue's head. – © Michael Turtle

Nearby is Tao Thu Riang, the ancient kilns that were used to make the ceramics that Sukhothai was renowned for. The large underground ovens were heated to 1000 degrees Celsius and could hold hundreds of pieces of crockery at once. Some of the kilns have been uncovered and restored for visitors to see.

One of the ancient underground kilns at Tao Thu Riang, which has been restored so visitors can see how Sukhothai's ceramics were made. – © Michael Turtle

Another significant temple in the North Zone is Wat Phra Phai Luang, which is surrounded by a large moat, giving the impression it's located on an island. Stucco reliefs here are similar to those you will find on the main stupa at Mat Mahathat.