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Sukhothai Province
Sukhothai is one of the upper central or lower northern provinces (changwat) of Thailand. Neighboring provinces are Phrae, Uttaradit, Phitsanulok, Kamphaeng Phet, Tak, and Lampang. Sukhothai translates as Dawn of Happiness.
Geography......Sukhothai is located in the valley of the Yom River in the lower north of Thailand. The provincial capital, Sukhothai Thani is 427 kilometres (265 mi) north of Bangkok. The province covers some 6,596 square kilometres (2,547 sq mi).
The Khao Luang Mountain Range, with four main peaks lies within the Ramkhamhaeng National Park in the south of the province. The Si Satchanalai National Park is located in the north-west.
History......Sukhothai was a town founded in the 13th century on the fringe of the Khmer empire. The exact year is unknown, but according to the Fine Arts Office it was between 1238 and 1257. Founded by Phokhun Si Intharathit, it was the first truly independent Thai (Siamese) Kingdom after defeating the Khmers. Sukhothai enjoyed a golden age under their third king, King Ramkhamhaeng, who was credited with creating the Khmer-derived Thai alphabet which is essentially the same as that in use today. In 1438 the political power of the kingdom came to an end when it was subdued by the emerging Ayutthaya kingdom. The province has been part of the current Ratanakosin kingdom since 1782. Prior to 1939 it was known as Sawankhalok.
Attractions......Most visitors to Sukhothai head for the important Sukhothai Historical Park representing the site of the birth of a nation but Si Satchanalai Historical Park is also significant with monuments even older at Chaliang (a Khmer outpost). While historical sites dominate the province, the two national parks mentioned above are among Thailand’s natural treasures.
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