Wat Ratchathani

The Fine Arts Department says no document records its founding; Wikipedia suggests Sukhothai-period origins from old chedi bricks measuring 6×12×1.5 in. By tradition it was first Wat Pa Lamoh, then Wat Tha Ni, after a trading landing on Khlong Mae Ramphan leading north to Chaliang, then Wat Thani, and became Wat Ratchathani when a governor the sources call Phra Ratchathani restored it, though his rank and date are unconfirmed.

It hosted state rites such as the oath-of-allegiance water ceremony, and folk tradition says Phraya Phichai Dap Hak lived here with his father as a child. On 12 January 1907 the Royal Gazette recorded the Sukhothai Witthayakhom school moving into the temple, and in 1914 it appears in Prince Wachirayan's report on the northern monastic circles, which mentions a Sukhothai-style principal image.

In 1954 a branch of the National Museum was set up here, and on 2 March 1958 King Bhumibol and Queen Sirikit came to pay respect to the principal Buddha in the ubosot, as seen in the King's private films. Important Sukhothai, U Thong and Lopburi images from the viharn were later moved to the Ramkhamhaeng National Museum.

In 1968 the great Sukhothai market fire spread to the old ubosot and monks' quarters, an event remembered in the song "Sukhothai Rathom". The old ubosot was abandoned, the grounds raised and a new ubosot built, so the old base now sits well below today's ground level. An act published on 29 December 1978 transferred the temple's land to the municipality.

The Fine Arts Department dates the old ubosot to late Ayutthaya to early Rattanakosin, with repairs under Rama V–VI. It is brick and stucco with front and rear porches, two doors each on the east and west, a three-tier timber roof of clay tiles, glazed floor tiles with plant patterns, a surrounding balustrade and stucco lions at the stairs; old photos show kub-style sema shrines in all eight directions.

In 2018 the Fine Arts Department funded restoration of the old ubosot and the grounds, reusing original bricks, roof tiles, stucco lions, floor tiles and column capitals and checking against pre-fire photos and excavation. The rebuilt hall sits no more than 1.50–1.80 m off the original line, the old footings were conserved and the badly damaged timber roof frame was replaced with reinforced concrete styled like wood. On 21 January 2011 the temple received a royal grant of land for its ubosot.

The temple grew with new Sukhothai town: in 1917 Mueang Sukhothai district was renamed Thani; in 1932 the province was merged into Sawankhalok; on 11 March 1937 Sukhothai Thani municipality was created, covering Thani subdistrict; and in 1939 the province took back the name Sukhothai. Recorded abbots are Phra Khru Sinlawat Wichan; Phra Ratchaprasitthikhun (Thim Yasathinno), 1917–1970, under whom old images went to the museum; Phra Khru Uthai Thirakhun (Chaloem Kusalathammo), 1970–2019; and Phra Khru Si Thammanusit (Songchai Thawatchayo) since 2019.

Today the best-known image is Luang Pho Pao, in the Luang Pho Pao viharn. The temple opens daily and is free, a walk or short tuk-tuk ride from the market and night market. The grounds are flat, but the sunken old ubosot has steps. Dress modestly. No verified annual festival was found; the province's Loi Krathong is held at Sukhothai Historical Park.