Sukhothai, which literally means "Dawn of Happiness" with an area of 6,596 sq.km., is about 427 km (267 miles) north of Bangkok and was founded in 1238. Sukhothai was the capital of the Thai Empire for approximately 140 years. Today 193 temples are excavated and partly reconstructed.
Old Sukhothai is a very quiet town with almost no hotels but with a great way to experience life in a Thai village. It is possible to rent bicycles in order to reach the temples outside the city wall and with some luck (and some Thai language skills) one can meet some of the locals. Most tourists stay in New Sukhothai, about 12 km to the East.