Majestic Cultural Heritage Thailand’s cultural heritage
was influenced by ancient India when the Indian merchants and
scholars set foot and gradually settled in Southeast Asia some
2,300 years ago. It continued for several centuries. Buddhist
religion and popular myth are the most obvious examples. Much
of Thailand’s royal tradition is also rooted in Indian culture.
Buddhism is thought to have first come to Thailand at Nakhon
Pathom, While Indian concepts of divine kingship first took
root in the Khmer empire. By the 6th century AD, many independent
states were flourishing in the region we now know as Thailand.
One of these was the Mon’s Dvaravati kingdom. Mon dominance
over central Thailand has been diminished by the power of an
expanding Khmer empire. Eventually, The Khmer became so powerful
that they ruled the entire area. Only the southern isthmus where
the Srivijaya civilization had taken root was unaffected.
Towards the end of the 13th century, Khmer power in this area
waned and new kingdoms dominated by the Thai race developed,
including the northern Lanna kingdom. Beginning by nibbling
away at the perimeter of the Khmer empire at Sukhothai and in
Lanna some 700 years ago, the Thai race later established the
glorious court at Ayutthaya, and eventually Bangkok. Over the
past centuries, many peoples, among them the Chinese, Arabs,
Malays and Westerners, have contributed to Thailand’s cultural
heritage.
Thailand’s majestic cultural heritage inherited over the past
centuries was dominated or influenced by many kingdoms encompassing
the area including the powerful Khmer. The remains of their
cultural heritage can still be seen in many places through out
the kingdom.
 Khmer
Kingdom The best example of Khmer culture is at Phimai,
some 60 kilometres northeast of Nakhon Ratchhasima. The old
temple stands in the middle of the modern town. The outlines
of the old fortified town can still be traced. It was strictly
rectangular in plan, as were all Khmer settlements, and it was
made doubly secure by placing it on an artificial island. The
nearby Phanom Rung and Muang Tham sanctuaries are also two good
examples. Other outstanding Khmer treasures in Thailand include
the powerfully evocative sanctuary at Muang Singh in Kanchanaburi,
and the imposing triple-spired strines at Lop Buri.
Dvaravati
Kingdom Davaravati culture was centred on the area between
Nakhon Pathom, a littie- fortified town some 50 kilometers west
of Bangkok, and UThong to the north. Its enduring emblem is
Phra Pathom Chedi, the massive bell-shaped Buddhist shrine with
its golden spire at Nakhon Pathom. This is where Buddhism is
believed first to have been taught in Thailand. The chedi, at
120.45 meters, is the tallest Buddhist structure in the world.
Lanna
Kingdom Founded by King Mengrai, the northern Lanna kingdom
had an exciting mixture of cultures due to its diverse populations
and mountainous location. The main division was between the
farmers and townspeople of the valleys and the hill tribes of
the valleys and the hill tribes themselves represent several
very distinct ethnic stocks, so that a multitude of languages,
customs, beliefs, architectures, diets, and styles of dress
exist harmoniously side by side.
Sukhothai
Kingdom Sukhothai, some 480 kilometers north of Bangkok,
was the capital of the first truly Thai kingdom. Its third king,
the great Ramkhamhaeng, is credited with devising the Thai alphabet
from ancient Mon and Khmer scripts. The kingdom is credited
with producing the most sublime religious art and sculpture
ever seen in Thailand, and for manufacturing the most perfect
pottery and Buddha images. Sukhothai also developed the concept
of the Thai town – set four squares on the plain and protected
by triple walls and intervening moats. Thais pattern was so
successful in terms of defense (it allowed more wall forts)
and flexibility to match the terrain that it was never abandoned.
Ayutthaya Kingdom Ayutthaya’s art and architecture was a
delicate blend of Dvaravati, Khmer, Mon, Lawa and Khmer cultures.
The city site at the heart of the riverine system of the lower
Chao Phrayabasin was carefully chosen to allow a moated trapezoid
plan and a water-borne way of life. Ayutthaya’s sister city,
Lop Buri, just a short distance north. It shared in the capital’s
splendour. One of Thailand’s greatest kings. Narai built a palace
there that can still be seen. It was these two glorious cities
that Europeans first saw.
This golden age of Thai culture also produced the exquisite
architecture and decoration at Bang Pa-in, a royal summer palace
on the majestic Chao Phraya River just south of the capital,
as well as the elegance and grace of Thai classical dance and
theatre. Unhappily, all these fabulous glories were sacked by
a Burmese invasion in 1767. All that remains of 417 glorious
years are the ruins you can see today. They are now a World
Heritage site.
Historical
Parks Historical objects and sites are a testimony to every
country’s civilization and cultural heritage. They serve to
Bridge the gap between past and present and instill in the people
a sense of belonging and pride and the importance of cherishing
their invaluable legacy.
In April 1987, the government officially opened Thailand’s first
historical park, the Muang Sing Historical Park in Kanchanaburi.
Today, 10 historical parks have been opened – tree of which
have received the honor of being designated World Heritage Sites.
The 10 historical parks are Muang Singh, Phanom Rung, Sukhothai,
Si Satchanalai, Kamphaeng Phet, Sri Thep, Phimai, Ayutthaya,
Phra Nakhon Khiri and Phu Phra Bat. They are the result of hard
work of the Fine Arts Department in the excavation, renovation
and landscaping for several decades. Each of these parks in
now equipped with a tourist and information centre and provides
qualified guides.
Muang
Sing Historical Park This is one of the most important sites
in the Khwai Noi River basin in Kanchanaburi. Prehistoric human
skeletons have been discovered near the ancient city, together
with metal tools, vessels and ornaments, bricks, foundations
of Dvaravati period architecture and laterite ruins from the
13th century. The remains of the ancient city comprise several
layers of rectangular walls and a moat. The annual festival
within the historical park is the “Thin Buri Sri Chai Sing”
featuring a light and sound show and classical dances.
Phanom
Rung Historical Park The Northeast includes many historical
monuments in the Khmer style from prehistoric times to the 13th
century. Among these, Prasat Hin Khao Phanom Rung is one of
the most important. This is the only Khmer religious monument
constructed on a natural mountain.
Restorations have made a great contribution to the study of
Khmer architecture in Thailand. A special festival is Phanom
Rung Fair, held either March or April each year.
Si Satchanalai
Historical Park A satellite town of the Sukhothai era, Si
Satchanalai is located on the bank of Yom River, 50 kilometers
from modern Sukhothai. Ruins of 134 monuments have been discovered
in the park. The city plan was laid out along fixed cosmological
lines – temple complexes lay at its heart, surrounded by city
walls, rivers and forest. It is considered by many historians
to be the apogee of Thai city planning. On account of its relation
to the Kingdom of Sukhothai it was selected to be on the World
Heritage List in 1990. The annual Songkran Festival is held
in April within the historical park itself and throughout the
province.
Kamphaeng
Phet Historical Park Kamphaeng Phet was an important city
of the Sukhothai Kingdom from the 13th to 15th centuries. The
earliest mention of the city appears in the stone inscriptions
from Wat Mahathat and Wat Phra Sri in Kamphaeng Phet. The Ayutthaya
annuals mention that this city was known as “Muang Chakangrau”
and was ruled by a prince from Sukhothai. Cultural and folk
festivities are held in April each year to celebrate the Nop
Phra Len Pleng Festival.
Sri Thep Historical Park The large ancient city of Sri Thep
in the Pasak River basin served as a centre of communications
between the cities in central Thailand and those in the North
and Northeast for a long period. Archaeological excavations
conducted in the Pasak and Lop Buri river basins have revealed
that highly-developed prehistoric cultures flourished with more
advanced technology than that of any other sites in neighbouring
areas.
Ayutthaya
Historical Park From the 14th to 18th centuries, Ayutthaya
was the capital of the central Thai Kingdom for 417 years. With
influences from Dvaravati, Khmer, Mon, and Lawa cultures, Ayutthaya
was able to create its own arts and culture from a delicate
blend of those cultures. During the reigns of 33 kings, Ayutthaya
gave Thailand a great number of fine buildings, monuments and
works of art. It was selected as a World Heritage Site in 1994.
An annual festival, Ayutthaya World Heritage Day, is held in
December within the historical park.
Phimai
Historical Park The largest stone monument in the Northeast
is Prasat Hin Phimai in Phimai Historical Park. It was erected
for the practice of Mahayana Buddhism in the early 12th century.
This particular monument became the prototype of Angkor Wat
in Cambodia, Which makes it of even greater historical and aesthetic
importance. An annual Phimai Festival within the historical
park is held in November. Festivities include a special light
and sound show and classical dances.
Phra Nakhon Khiri Historical Park Phra Nakhon Khiri Historical
Park is in Phetchaburi Provice, an important satellite city
of Ayutthaya. Commonly called Khao Wang (the palace on the mountain).
It was built on top of Samana mountain ad a summer palace for
King Rama IV. Within the park area are royal halls, temples
and groups of buildings, constructed in harmonious Thai, Western
neoclassic and Chinese architectural styles. The museum on the
western hilltop exhibits some royal paraphernalia of King Rama
IV and King Rama V, decorative sculptures and ceramics from
China, Japan and Europe. To reach the hilltop, one can either
walk or take a cable car. The Phra Nakhon Khiri Fair is held
each year with lots of activities to promote tourism to the
site and a trade fair of local handicrafts
Phu Phra
Bat Historical Park The park is situated on the Phu Phra
Bat hill of Phu Phan Mountain. There are 62 archaeological and
cultural sites offering prehistoric rock paintings from about
4,000 to 2,000 years ago. There are also many historical artifacts
from Dvaravati and Khmer cultures. Within the historical park
is also the site of a sputa constructed during the 1920s, and
a Buddha’s footprint. Festivities for tourists are held each
year in October in the park and its vicinity to celebrate Usabaros
Day and Ban Chiang World Heritage Day. |
