View source for Sukhothai province

{{Short description|Province of Thailand}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name                    = Sukhothai
| native_name             = สุโขทัย
| native_name_lang        = th
| settlement_type         = [[Provinces of Thailand|Province]]
| image_skyline           = {{multiple image
| border                  = infobox
| total_width             = 280
| image_style             = border:1;
| perrow                  = 2/2/2
| image1 = 201312131250c HL ps Sukothai, Wat Mahathat.jpg
| image2 = วัดศรีชุม22.JPG
| image3 = Lotusbudwchetthaeo0408.jpg
| image4 = 201312131041a HL ps Sukothai, King Ramkhamhaeng Monument.jpg
| image5 = 13th Century Thai City of Si Satchanalai- Wat Nang Phaya 3.jpg
| image6 = Saritphong Dam (I).jpg
}}
| image_alt               = 
| image_caption           = From left to right, top to bottom : Wat Mahathat, Wat Si Chum, Wat Chedi Chet Taeo, [[Ram Khamhaeng]] Monument, Wat Nang Paya, [[Saritphong Dam]]
| nickname                = 
| mottoes                 = มรดกโลกล้ำเลิศ กำเนิดลายสือไทย เล่นไฟลอยกระทง ดำรงพุทธศาสนา งามตาผ้าตีนจก สังคโลกทองโบราณ สักการแม่ย่าพ่อขุน รุ่งอรุณแห่งความสุข <br> ("Excellent world heritage. Origin of the Thai script. Lights of the Loy Krathong festival. Preserving Buddhism. Beautiful Teen Chok Thai fabric. Ancient golden pottery. Worship Mae Ya and Pho Khun. Dawn of happiness.")
| image_flag              = Flag of Sukhothai Province.svg
| image_seal              = Seal of Sukhothai Province (color version).svg
| image_map               = Thailand Sukhothai locator map.svg
| mapsize                 = frameless
| map_alt                 = 
| map_caption             = Map of Thailand highlighting Sukhothai province
| coordinates             = 
| coordinates_footnotes   = 
| subdivision_type        = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name        = Thailand
| seat_type               = Capital
| seat                    = [[Sukhothai Thani]]
| leader_party            = 
| leader_title            = Governor
| leader_name             = Nopparit Sirikosol<br>(since 2024)
| leader_party1           = 
| leader_title1           = PAO President
| leader_name1            = 
| area_footnotes          = <ref name="AREA">{{cite web |url=https://www.forest.go.th |title=Table 2 Forest area Separate province year 2019 |publisher=Royal Forest Department |access-date=6 April 2021}}</ref>
| area_total_km2          = 6,671
| area_rank               = [[Provinces of Thailand|29th]]
| elevation_footnotes     = 
| elevation_m             = 
| population_footnotes    = <ref name="DOPA2024">{{cite web |url=https://stat.bora.dopa.go.th/stat/statnew/statMenu/newStat/home.php |publisher=Department of Provincial Administration (DOPA) |title=Official statistics registration systems |access-date=10 February 2025 |postscript= , year 2024 >provincial level >Excel File >no.64}}</ref>
| population_total        = {{decrease}}573,388
| population_as_of        = 2024
| population_rank         = [[Provinces of Thailand|44th]]
| population_density_km2  = 86
| population_density_rank = [[Provinces of Thailand|54th]]
| population_demonym      = 
| population_note         =
| demographics_type2      = GDP
| demographics2_footnotes = <ref name="NESDB-2017">{{cite journal|title=''Gross Regional and Provincial Product, 2019 Edition''|journal=Gross Regional and Provincial Product |date=July 2019|url=https://www.nesdc.go.th/ewt_dl_link.php?nid=5628&filename=gross_regional|access-date=22 January 2020|publisher=Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC)|language=en|issn=1686-0799}}</ref>
| demographics2_title1    = Total
| demographics2_info1     = [[baht]] 45 billion<br />([[US$]]1.6 billion) (2019)
| demographics_type1      = Human Achievement Index
| demographics1_footnotes = <ref name="HAI 2565">{{cite web |url=https://www.nesdc.go.th/main.php?filename=Social_HAI |department=Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC)|title=ข้อมูลสถิติดัชนีความก้าวหน้าของคน ปี 2565 (PDF) |language=thai |trans-title=Human Achievement Index Databook year 2022 (PDF) |access-date=12 March 2024 |postscript= , page 79}}</ref>
| demographics1_title1    = HAI (2022)
| demographics1_info1     = 0.6292&nbsp;"somewhat low"<br/>[[#Human achievement index 2022|Ranked 55th]]
| timezone1               = [[Time in Thailand|ICT]]
| utc_offset1             = +7
| postal_code_type        = [[List of postal codes in Thailand|Postal code]]                       
| postal_code             = 64xxx
| area_code_type          = [[Telephone numbers in Thailand|Calling code]]
| area_code               = 055
| iso_code                = [[ISO 3166-2:TH|TH-64]]
| website                 = {{URL|sukhothai.go.th}}
| footnotes               = 
}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name                    = Sukhothai Provincial Administrative Organization
| native_name             = องค์การบริหารส่วนจังหวัดสุโขทัย
| native_name_lang        = th
| settlement_type         = [[Provincial Administrative Organization]]
| government_type         = [[Administrative divisions of Thailand#Local administrative divisions|Local administrative divisions]]
| governing_body          = Sukhothai Provincial Administrative Organization
| leader_title            = President
| leader_name             = Manu Phukprasert
| website                 = {{URL|sukhothaipao.go.th}}
}}

'''Sukhothai''' ({{langx|th|สุโขทัย}}, {{IPA|th|sù.kʰǒː.tʰāj|pron}}) is one of Thailand's seventy-six [[Provinces of Thailand|provinces]] (''changwat''); it lies in [[Northern Thailand#Regional classification of northern Thailand|lower northern Thailand]]. Neighboring provinces are [[Phrae province|Phrae]], [[Uttaradit province|Uttaradit]], [[Phitsanulok province|Phitsanulok]], [[Kamphaeng Phet province|Kamphaeng Phet]], [[Tak province|Tak]], and [[Lampang province|Lampang]]. Sukhothai can be translated as 'dawn of happiness'.

==Etymology==
The modern-day province of Sukhothai was named after the [[Sukhothai Kingdom]] that once ruled the area, which in turn borrowed its name from the [[Sanskrit]] terms ''[[sukha]]'' ({{lang|sa|सुख}} 'happiness') + ''udaya'' ({{lang|sa|उदय}} 'rise', 'emergence'), meaning 'dawn of happiness'.

==Geography==
Sukhothai is in the valley of the [[Yom River]] in the lower north of Thailand. The provincial capital, [[Sukhothai Thani]] is {{convert|427|km|mi}} north of [[Bangkok]] and {{convert|300|km|mi}} south of [[Chiang Mai]]. The province covers  {{convert|6,671|km²|abbr=on}} and the total forest area is {{convert|1,975|km²|abbr=on}} or 29.6 percent of provincial area.<ref name="AREA"/>

===National parks===
There are eight national parks in [[List of Protected Areas Regional Offices of Thailand#Protected Areas Regional Office 14 (Tak)|region 14 (Tak)]], of which two are in Sukhothai province. The Khao Luang Mountain Range, with its four main peaks: Khao Phu Kha, Khao Phra Mae Ya, Khao Chedi, and Pha Narai, lies within the Ramkhamhaeng National Park in the south of the province.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.trekthailand.net/north44/index.html|title=Ramkhamhaeng national park, Sukhothai province, Thailand|website=www.trekthailand.net|access-date=14 April 2018}}</ref> Si Satchanalai National Park is in the northwest, protecting the mountainous forest areas of the [[Phi Pan Nam Range]] at the northern end of the province.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://catalog.dnp.go.th/dataset/areaofnp/resource/3b372140-f2bf-4811-8819-bb8a8b1a100a |title=ข้อมูลพื้นที่อุทยานแห่งชาติ ที่ประกาศในราชกิจจานุบกษา 133 แห่ง |date=December 2020 |department=Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation |language=Thai | trans-title=National Park Area Information published in the 133 Government Gazettes |access-date=1 November 2022}}</ref> (Visitors in fiscal year 2024)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://portal.dnp.go.th/Content/nationalpark?contentId=20014 |title=สถิตินักท่องเที่ยวที่เข้าไปอุทยนห่งชาติ ปีงบประมาณ พ.ศ. 2567 |language=th |trans-title=Statistics of tourists visiting national parks in fiscal year 2024 |department=Department National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation |access-date=6 September 2025}}</ref>
{|
|-
| [[Ramkhamhaeng National Park]]&nbsp; ||&nbsp;{{convert|341|km2|abbr=on}} ||&nbsp;(22,767)
|-
| [[Si Satchanalai National Park]] ||&nbsp;{{convert|213|km2|abbr=on}} ||&nbsp;(13,617)
|}

===Wildlife sanctuary===
There are four wildlife sanctuaries in [[List of Protected Areas Regional Offices of Thailand#Protected Areas Regional Office 14 (Tak)|region 14 (Tak)]], of which one is in Sukhothai province.

[[Tham Chao Ram Wildlife Sanctuary]]&nbsp; {{convert|341|km2|abbr=on}}

===Location protected areas===
{|role="presentation" class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|<strong>Overview protected areas of Sukhothai </strong>
|&nbsp;
|-
|[[File:Map Sukhothai Protected Areas.svg|thumb|left|700px|{{resize|150%|'''&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Sukhothai protected areas'''}}]]
{| class="wikitable" style="width:30%; display:inline-table;"
|-
| style="width:3%; background:#00FF00;"|&nbsp;
| style="width:27%;"|'''National park'''
|-
|&nbsp;&nbsp;1 ||[[Ramkhamhaeng National Park|Ramkhamhaeng]]
|-
|&nbsp;&nbsp;2 ||[[Si Satchanalai National Park|Si Satchanalai]]
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="width:40%; display:inline-table;"
|-
| style="width:3%; background:#FFA400;"|&nbsp;
| style="width:37%;"|'''Wildlife sanctuary'''
|-
|&nbsp;&nbsp;3 ||[[Tham Chao Ram Wildlife Sanctuary|Tham Chao Ram]]
|-
|}
|}

==History==
{{main|Sukhothai Kingdom}}
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 [[Sukhothai Kingdom|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.<ref name="tour">{{cite web|url=http://www.tourthai.net/province/sukhothai/index.php |title=Sukhothai |year=2006  |access-date=2008-09-28 |publisher=Tourthai.net |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 11, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011233403/http://tourthai.net/province/sukhothai/index.php}}</ref> He also laid the foundation for politics, the monarchy and religion, as well as expanding its circle of influence. Sukhothai was later ruled by many kings. The [[province]] is most known for the [[Sukhothai historical park|historic city of Sukhothai]], the capital of the [[Sukhothai Kingdom]]. It is about 12&nbsp;km from the modern [[New Sukhothai]] city. Not far from Sukhothai are the [[Si Satchanalai Historical Park]] and the [[Kamphaeng Phet Historical Park]]. Both were cities in the former Sukhothai kingdom and at the same time period.
[[Sukhothai Kingdom]] was merged into [[Ayutthaya Kingdom]] in 1438.

The province was at first known as Sawankhalok; it was renamed to Sukhothai in 1939.<ref>{{cite journal|journal=Royal Gazette|volume=56|issue=ก|pages=351–353|title=พระราชกฤษฎีกาเปลี่ยนนามจังหวัดและอำเภอบางแห่ง พุทธศักราช ๒๔๘๒|url=http://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2482/A/351.PDF|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080409015152/http://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2482/A/351.PDF|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 9, 2008|date=April 17, 1939|language=th}}</ref>

==Language==
The inhabitants of Sukhothai still speak the Sukhothai dialect of Thai, a language that has been spoken since the formation of the [[Sukhothai Kingdom]], some 700 years ago, among themselves. The Sukhothai dialect is distinct from Central Thai in both tone and vocabulary and is thought to be similar to [[proto-Tai]] in tone structure, an ancestor to the modern Thai language.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hudak |first1=Thomas J |title=Some Historical Background of Thai Language |url=https://thaiarc.tu.ac.th/thai/thai.htm |website=Thai Audio Resource Center (ARC)|publisher=[[Thammasat University]] |access-date=19 August 2019 |format=Taken from Comrie, Bernard (ed.) ''The World's Major Languages''. New York: Oxford University Press, 1990}}</ref> The inhabitants of [[Si Satchanalai District|Si Satchanalai]] and [[Thung Saliam District]]s in the northern part of the province mainly speak ''[[Kham Muang]]'' (also known as [[Northern Thai language]] or [[Lan Na#Lan Na language|Lan Na]]).

==Symbols==
[[File:Ram Khamhaeng Sukhothai Historical Park Thailand.jpg|thumb|left|180px|Statue of King Ramkhamhaeng The Great]]
The [[Seals of the provinces of Thailand|provincial seal]] shows King [[Ram Khamhaeng]] the Great sitting on the Managkhasila Asana throne. Under King Ramkhamhaeng the kingdom of Sukhothai flourished.<ref name="SG-nd">{{cite web |title=General Information |url=http://www.sukhothai.go.th/3584/data/data_01.htm |website=Sukhothai.go.th |access-date=19 August 2019}}</ref>

The [[list of Thai provincial trees|provincial tree]] is  ''[[Afzelia xylocarpa]]''. The provincial flower is the Lotus (''[[Nymphaea lotus]]''). The provincial aquatic life is the ghost shetfish (''[[Kryptopterus vitreolus]]'') according to local legend about [[Phra Ruang]], the one with sacred speech.

The provincial slogan is "Source of national heritage and pride, birth place of the Thai alphabet, fireworks of the Loy Krathong festival, preservation of Buddhism, the fine Teen Jok cloth, ancient golden chinaware, holy image of Ramkhamhaeng the Great's mother, the dawn of happiness".

==Administrative divisions==

[[Image:Districts_Sukhothai.svg|thumb|right|Map of nine districts]]

===Provincial government===
The province is divided into nine districts (''[[Districts of Thailand|amphoe]]s''). These are further divided into 86 subdistricts (''[[tambon]]s'') and 782 villages (''[[muban]]s'').

#[[Mueang Sukhothai district|Mueang Sukhothai]]
#[[Ban Dan Lan Hoi district|Ban Dan Lan Hoi]]
#[[Khiri Mat district|Khiri Mat]]
#[[Kong Krailat district|Kong Krailat]]
#[[Si Satchanalai district|Si Satchanalai]]
#[[Si Samrong district|Si Samrong]]
#[[Sawankhalok district|Sawankhalok]]
#[[Si Nakhon district|Si Nakhon]]
#[[Thung Saliam district|Thung Saliam]]

===Local government===
As of 26 November 2019 there are:<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dla.go.th/work/abt/province.jsp |title=Number of local government organizations by province |date=26 November 2019 |website=dla.go.th |publisher=Department of Local Administration (DLA) |access-date=10 December 2019 | quote=66 Sukhothai: 1 PAO, 3 Town mun., 18 Subdistrict mun., 69 SAO.}}</ref> one Sukhothai Provincial Administration Organisation (''{{lang|th-Latn|ongkan borihan suan changwat}}'') and 21 municipal (''thesaban'') areas in the province. Sukhothai, Sawankhalok and Si Satchanalai have town (''[[thesaban mueang]]'') status. Further 18 subdistrict municipalities (''[[thesaban tambon]]''). The non-municipal areas are administered by 69 Subdistrict Administrative Organisations - SAO (''ongkan borihan suan tambon'').

== Transport ==
===Roads===
There are five highways traversing Sukhothai:

* Highway 12 connects the eastern districts starting at Ban Dan Lan Hoi and passing Muang and Kong Krailat districts to Phitsanulok province.
* Highway 101, starting at Si Satchanalai District, connects the northern districts to the southern districts and passing Sawankhalok, Si Samrong, Muang and Khiri Mat Districts to Kamphaeng Phet province.
* Highway 102 connects Si Satchanalai District to Uttaradit province.
* Highway 1180 connects Sawankhalok District to Si Nakhon District and Uttaradit province.
* Highway 1048 connects Sawankhalok District to Thung Saliam District and Lampang province.

===Air===
[[Sukhothai Airport]] is in [[Sawankhalok District]], about {{convert|30|km|mi}} from downtown. Flights operate daily between Sukhothai and Bangkok.

===Rail===
The Rail system in Sukhothai is part of the [[Sawankhalok Line]], a branch line which splits from the [[Chiang Mai Main Line]] at [[Ban Dara Junction Railway Station|Ban Dara Junction]], [[Uttaradit]] and ends at [[Sawankhalok Station]], 30 kilometers from Sukhothai town.

'''Songthaew '''
[[Songthaew]]s are the most popular form of public transport in the new city and the rural areas. Larger sized Songthaews travel to and from the old and new cities.

===Bus===
Air-conditioned buses run regularly from Sukhothai Bus Terminal to Bangkok and Chiang Mai, stopping at other major towns on the way. Non air-conditioned buses are for inter-provincial travel to the other districts.

===Other===
Tuk-tuks and motorbike-taxis are popular for short journeys within the new town.

== Tourism ==
[[Image:Phra Achana Wat Si Chum.jpg|250px|right|thumb|Phra Achana in Wat Si Chum Chapel, Sukhothai National Historical Park]]
Sukhothai province is most known for its historical city of Sukhothai, the first capital of Siam, founded by King Ramkhamhaeng. The province's temples and monuments have been well restored and [[Sukhothai Historical Park]] is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Other interesting places include [[Ramkhamhaeng National Museum]], [[Ramkhamhaeng National Park]], [[Si Satchanalai Historical Park]], [[Khao Luang National Park]] and The Royal Palace and Wat Mahathat.
[[Image:Histparksukhothai.png|left|275px|thumb|Map of [[Sukhothai Historical Park]]]]

{{clear}}

==Human achievement index 2022==
{| class="wikitable floatright" style="width:400px;"
|- 
| style="text-align:center; width:100px; background:black; color:white;"| Health
| style="text-align:center; width:100px; background:black; color:white;"| Education
| style="text-align:center; width:100px; background:black; color:white;"| Employment
| style="text-align:center; width:100px; background:black; color:white;"| Income
|-
| [[File:Health icon Thai.png|95px]]
| [[File:Round Landmark School Icon - Transparent.svg|100px]]
| [[File:Employment icon.png|100px]]
| [[File:Numismatics and Notaphily icon.png|100px]]
|-
| style="text-align:center; background:black; color:white;"| 53
| style="text-align:center; background:black; color:white;"| 49
| style="text-align:center; background:black; color:white;"| 74
| style="text-align:center; background:black; color:white;"| 44 
|-
| style="text-align:center; background:black; color:white;"| Housing
| style="text-align:center; background:black; color:white;"| Family
| style="text-align:center; background:black; color:white;"| Transport
| style="text-align:center; background:black; color:white;"| Participation 
|-
| style="height:100px;"| [[File:586-house-with-garden.svg|100px]] 
| [[File:Parents, enfants, famille.png|center|85px]]
| [[File:Groundtransport inv.svg|100px]]
| [[File:Icon Sociopolítica y relaciones internacionales (wikiproyect, es.wp).png|90px]]
|-
| style="text-align:center; background:black; color:white;"| 32
| style="text-align:center; background:black; color:white;"| 47
| style="text-align:center; background:black; color:white;"| 49
| style="text-align:center; background:black; color:white;"| 21  
|-
| colspan="4"; style="background:black; color:white;"| Province Sukhothai, with an HAI 2022 value of 0.6292 is "somewhat low", occupies place 55 in the ranking.
|}
Since 2003, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Thailand has tracked progress on human development at sub-national level using the [[Human achievement index]] (HAI), a composite index covering all the eight key areas of human development. National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB) has taken over this task since 2017.<ref name="HAI 2565" />
{| class="wikitable" ---valign=top
||Rank||Classification
|-
||&nbsp;&nbsp;1 - 13||"high"
|-
||14 - 29||"somewhat high"
|-
||30 - 45||"average"
|-
||46 - 61||"somewhat low"
|-
||62 - 77||"low"
|}
{|role= "presentation" class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|<strong>Map with provinces and HAI 2022 rankings</strong>
|-
|[[File:HAI 2022 rankings.svg|950px]]
|}
{{clear}}

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Sukhothai arid plains, Thailand.jpg|Sukhothai dry plains
File:Sukhothai, Wat Chedi Ngam, Thailand.jpg|Wat Chedi Ngam
Wat Sa Si, Sukhothai, Thailand.JPG|Wat Sa Si
Ramkhamhaeng National Park (1).jpg|Ramkhamhaeng National Park
Narai Peak-3 ,Ramkhamhaeng National Park.jpg|An overlook from Khao Narai
(Khao Luang) Ramkhamhaeng National Park 04.jpg|Khao Luang, Ramkhamhaeng National Park
(Khao Luang) Ramkhamhaeng National Park 03.jpg|Khao Luang, Ramkhamhaeng National Park
British Museum Asia 2.jpg|Sangkhalok ceramic
Wat Mahathat Buddha - Sukhothai.jpg|Wat Mahathat
</gallery>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Sukhothai Province}}
*{{Wikivoyage inline|Sukhothai}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20050307030447/http://www.sukhothai.go.th/english/index.htm Website of the province]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060107123206/http://www.tourismthailand.org/destinationguide/list.aspx?provinceid=51 Province page from the Tourist Authority of Thailand]
<!--*[http://kanchanapisek.or.th/cgi-bin/kp8/oncc/province.cgi?prov=n15 Golden Jubilee Network province guide] currently empty-->
* [http://www.thailex.info/THAILEX/THAILEXENG/LEXICON/Copy%20of%20Sukhothai.htm Sukhothai provincial map, coat of arms and postal stamp]

{{Geographic location
|Centre    = Sukhothai province
|North     = [[Phrae province]]
|Northeast = [[Uttaradit province]]
|East      = 
|Southeast = [[Phitsanulok province]]
|South     = [[Kamphaeng Phet province]]
|Southwest = [[Tak province]]
|West      = 
|Northwest = [[Lampang province]]
}}

{{Provinces of Thailand}}
{{coord|17|0|21|N|99|49|35|E|type:adm1st_region:TH|display=title}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Sukhothai province| ]]
[[Category:Provinces of Thailand]]