6 World Heritage Sites to visit in Thailand
By 2023, Thailand has six sites on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, two of them – Sukhothai and Ayutthaya – are historic cities, one is archeological site – Ban Chiang, two sites – Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai and Kaeng Krachan – are forest complexes and one site is wildlife sanctuary.
- Historic City of Sukhothai
- Historic City of Ayuthaya
- Ban Chiang Archaeological Site
- Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai Forest Complex
- Kaeng Krachan Forest Complex
- Thungyai-Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuaries
Historic City of Sukhothai
The Sukhothai Kingdom was a post-classical Thai kingdom (mandala) in Mainland Southeast Asia, surrounding the ancient capital city of Sukhothai, in present-day north-central Thailand.
Sukhothai is 12 km west of the modern city of Sukhothai Thani. Sukhothai is from Sanskrit, meaning “dawn of happiness”. Founded in 1238, it is about 427 km north of Bangkok.
Sukhothai was the capital of the Thai Empire for approximately 140 years. As of 2014, 193 temples have been excavated and partly reconstructed. It has a number of fine monuments, illustrating the beginnings of Thai architecture.
The great civilization which evolved in the Kingdom of Sukhothai, absorbed numerous influences and ancient local traditions; the rapid assimilation of all these elements forged what is known as the ‘Sukhothai style’.
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Historic City of Ayuthaya
Ayutthaya Historical Park covers the ruins of the old city of Ayutthaya, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province.
Founded around 1350, Ayutthaya became the second Siamese capital after Sukhothai. It was destroyed by the Burmese in the 18th century.
Its remains, characterized by the prang (reliquary towers) and gigantic monasteries, give an idea of its past splendour.
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Ban Chiang Archaeological Site
Ban Chiang is an archaeological site in Nong Han district, Udon Thani province, Thailand. It has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1992.
Discovered in 1966, the site first attracted interest due to its ancient red-painted pottery. It is considered the most important prehistoric settlement so far discovered in South-East Asia.
Ban Chiang marks an important stage in human cultural, social and technological evolution. The site presents the earliest evidence of farming in the region, and of the manufacture and use of metals.
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Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai Forest Complex
The Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai Forest Complex is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in Thailand. The complex spans 230 kilometers between Ta Phraya National Park on the Cambodian border in the east and Khao Yai National Park in the west. It’s home to over 800 species of fauna, including 112 mammal species (including two gibbon species), 392 bird species, and 200 reptile and amphibian species.
The site plays a crucial role in conserving globally threatened and endangered mammals, birds, and reptiles. Among them, 19 species are vulnerable, four are endangered, and one is critically endangered.The complex protects some of the largest remaining populations of important wildlife species. It’s the only known location where White-headed and Pileated Gibbons have overlapping ranges and interbreed.
With its high annual rainfall, the complex acts as a critically important watershed for Thailand, feeding five major rivers: Nakhon Nayok, Prachin Buri, Lamta Khong, Muak Lek, and Mun.
This remarkable forest complex attracts millions of visitors each year for recreation and education purposes.
Kaeng Krachan Forest Complex
The Kaeng Krachan Forest Complex (KKFC) is a remarkable UNESCO World Heritage Site located in Thailand. The KKFC lies in the Tenasserim Range, near the border area of Thailand and Myanmar. It covers vast forest areas across parts of three provinces in western Thailand: Ratchaburi, Phetchaburi, and Prachuap Khiri Khan.
Encompassing nearly 409,000 hectares, the KKFC is rich in diverse flora and fauna. It spans semi-evergreen/dry evergreen, moist evergreen, mixed deciduous, montane, and deciduous dipterocarp forests.
The complex hosts several globally endangered and endemic species, including the critically endangered Siamese Crocodile, the endangered Asiatic Wild Dog, Banteng, Asian Elephant, and various vulnerable bird and mammal species.
Surprisingly, the KKFC is home to eight cat species, including the endangered tiger, Fishing Cat, and the near-threatened Leopard and Asian Golden Cat.
Biogeographical Significance: Its biodiversity results from the confluence of four zoogeographical sub-regions and four floristic provinces, making it a unique hotspot within the Indo-Malayan ecoregion.
Thungyai-Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuaries
The Thungyai-Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuaries is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Thailand, encompassing two adjacent wildlife sanctuaries: Thung Yai Naresuan and Huai Kha Khaeng. Here’s a concise overview:
The sanctuaries stretch over more than 600,000 hectares along the Myanmar border. They lie in the provinces of Uthai Thani, Tak, and Kanchanaburi in western Thailand.
These relatively intact sanctuaries contain examples of almost all the forest types found in continental South-East Asia. They are home to a diverse array of animals, including: 77% of the large mammals (especially elephants and tigers). 50% of the large birds, 33% of the land vertebrates in the region.
The sanctuaries combine two contiguous areas: Thung Yai Naresuan and Huai Kha Khang. They encompass two important river systems: the Upper Khwae Yai and the Huai Khakhaeng.The property is the largest conservation area in Mainland Southeast Asia. It boasts rare, endangered, and endemic species.
The sanctuary contains outstanding natural features and major watersheds, Steep-sided valleys, impressive mountain peaks, and lowland plains create stunning landscapes, tributary streams, waterfalls, and a unique mosaic of forest types enhance its scenic beauty.
Its heterogeneity, integrity, and ecosystem complexity contribute to its conservation importance.
Four realms (Sino-Himalayan, Sundaic, Indo-Burmese, and Indo-Chinese) meet here, resulting in unique associations of flora and fauna.
