Thailand usually conjures images of beaches and nightlife. True, but another fact about the country is that numerous travellers hunt down cheap flights to Thailand to explore the destination’s astounding cultural attractions. In fact, Thailand boasts quite a few UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Buying airline tickets for a cultural odyssey proves to be a rewarding experience indeed.Sukhothai Historical ParkMeasuring about 70 sq. km, the Sukhothai Historical Park is full of breathtaking cultural attractions. Awe inspiring ruins and numerous temples dot the park. Every area of the park has its own bit of charm. While the central area makes for a very tranquil setting with a serene lake, lawns, and trees, another area treats visitors to a Ramkamheng Stone copy. It depicts the first Thai alphabet. Similarly, the Loi Kratong area is one of the best places in Thailand for watching gleaming candle lit Kratongs floating across the lake. In fact, Sukhothai is the birthplace of the Kratong festival. In simple words, anyone boarding a flight to Thailand should definitely try to pay a visit to the park.AyuttayaDazzling modern as well as ruined old temples, remnants of some majestic palaces, and well stocked museums make Ayuttaya a very appealing place for a cultural holiday to Thailand. The city is full of Buddhist temples and also bears the scars of a violent past. About two centuries back, the Burmese plundered the city and today the headless Buddha statues robbed off the intricate gold plating tell this silent tale of woe to anyone who cares to throw a glance. Besides cultural attractions Ayuttaya also offers great cuisines, a fiery nightlife, luxurious hotels and the other trappings of a modern tourist destination.Kamphaeng Phet Historical ParkThe Kamphaeng Phet Historical Park is a tremendous lure amongst visitors. Amazing remnants from places such as Mueang Nakhon Chum, Mueang Trai Trueng, and Mueang Chakangrao are to be found at the park. Religious sites are segregated into separate zones. Some of the major highlights of the Kamphaeng Phet Historical Park are the Wat Phrakaew monastery with its numerous Viharas, the Standing Buddha in the Phra Si Iriyabot monastery, a Wat Chang Rop, and the Kamphaeng Phet National Museum. Interestingly, the museum has a fine Shiva bronze statue. This shows that Hindu gods were well revered even in midst of strong Buddhist influences.PhimaiPhimai is a wonderful place for catching rich glimpses of Northeast Thai culture and perhaps the hottest attraction here is the Phimai Sanctuary. It is the largest stone sanctuary in Thailand and is also home to the famed Angkor era Khmer shrine. The place is richly steeped in culture, religion, and history. Shiva’s dancing form has been well depicted along with the great Hindu epic ‘Ramayana’ as well. Phimai remains one of those places in Thailand, where visitors can expect to see remnants of the past in the barest possible form. A trip to Phimai and basking in the rich cultural experience there proves to be a cheap substitute to shelling out money on a Thailand to Cambodia airline ticket for visiting the Angkor Wat temple ruin.Ban ChiangBan Chiang, a Bronze Age cemetery site and village is amongst the largest of prehistoric Bronze Age era sites in Thailand. Scientific evidence suggests that Ban Chiang had a full fledged Bronze Age metallurgy. Numerous centuries old artefacts have been excavated from the site, with some of the most famed ones being the ‘Ban Chiang Ceramic Tradition ceramics’, paddles wrapped in cord, swirling incision motifs, S-shaped curve motifs, carinated, globular and pedestaled vessels, and black incised red painted on buff colourations.