About Wat Phra Phai Luang
Wat Phra Phai Luang sits just north of the old city walls of Sukhothai. Its oldest part is a row of three sanctuary towers, usually dated to the late 12th or early 13th century, and only one of them is still mostly standing. Look up at that tower and you can still see patches of the old stucco. Later on, Sukhothai's builders turned the grounds into a Buddhist monastery, so the halls, stupas and platforms around the towers are newer. That mix is what makes it worth the stop: you can see an older Khmer-period temple sitting inside a much bigger Buddhist one.
Things to do at Wat Phra Phai Luang
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Find the tower that still stands
Culture
Three towers once stood in a row here. One is mostly intact, with patches of old stucco still on it.
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Walk the later Buddhist ruins
Culture
The halls, stupas and platforms around the towers were added later, when this became a Buddhist monastery.
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Add San Ta Pha Daeng
Culture
This small Hindu shrine is also on the north side of the old city, so the two fit into one stop.
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Go by bicycle
Adventure
Old Sukhothai is flat and spread out, and a bike is an easy way to reach the temples outside the walls.
Boat trips and park access change with the season and weather, so confirm locally before you go.
When to go
Best months for The North: Nov to Jan. Month-by-month guide
- Jan Best
- Feb Good
- Mar Avoid
- Apr Avoid
- May Mixed
- Jun Mixed
- Jul Mixed
- Aug Mixed
- Sep Mixed
- Oct Good
- Nov Best
- Dec Best
Regional weather guide, not specific to Wat Phra Phai Luang. Tap a month for details.
