Phra Mae Ya Shrine

Phra Mae Ya Shrine is a revered shrine located in Mueang Kao, Mueang Sukhothai District, near Sukhothai Historical Park in Sukhothai Province, Thailand. Dedicated to Phra Mae Ya, believed to be the mother of King Ramkhamhaeng the Great of the Sukhothai Kingdom, it is an important local place of worship. The shrine houses a venerated statue and is visited by locals and tourists to pay respect, make offerings and learn about Sukhothai folklore and history.

Visitors can expect a small, open-air shrine complex with a central pavilion housing the venerated statue of Phra Mae Ya, surrounded by offering tables and incense burners. The setting is quiet and located near the Sukhothai Historical Park with trees and open grounds. Visitors can observe local worship practices, make offerings, take photographs of the shrine exterior, and read informational plaques about the legend and history associated with the shrine.

The shrine is dedicated to Phra Mae Ya, traditionally believed to be the mother of King Ramkhamhaeng the Great, ruler of the Sukhothai Kingdom in the late 13th century. The figure is deeply rooted in local folklore and Sukhothai history. The shrine has long been a center of local veneration and is associated with the early Sukhothai period and the cultural memory of the kingdom's founding era.

Phra Mae Ya is highly revered by residents of Sukhothai as a protective and benevolent maternal figure. Locals visit to pray for good fortune, health, safe travel and family well-being, and to make offerings of flowers, incense and traditional items. The shrine reflects enduring folk beliefs and the cultural identity of Sukhothai, and remains an active place of worship alongside its interest for visitors to the Historical Park area.