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Sukhothai (city)

Coordinates: 17°01′N 99°42′E / 17.017°N 99.700°E / 17.017; 99.700
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sukhothai
สุโขทัย
City
Phra Achana Buddha Statue in Wat Si Chum, Sukhothai Historical Park
Phra Achana Buddha Statue in Wat Si Chum, Sukhothai Historical Park
Map
Area
 • Total
659,600 ha (1,629,907 acres)
Population
 (2012)
 • Total
35,713
 • Density5.4/km2 (14/sq mi)

Sukhothai (Thai: สุโขทัย, pronounced [sù.kʰǒː.tʰāj]) was the capital of the Sukhothai Kingdom (also known as the Kingdom of Siam).[1] Sukhothai is 12 km west of the modern city of Sukhothai Thani.[2]

History

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Sukhothai is from Sanskrit sukha (सुख "happiness") + udaya (उदय "rise, emergence"), meaning "dawn of happiness".[citation needed] Founded in 1238, it is about 427 km north of Bangkok.[3] Sukhothai was the capital of the Thai Empire for approximately 140 years.[3] As of 2014, 193 temples have been excavated and partly reconstructed.[4][5]

The stele of Ram Khamhaeng states the city had a triple wall and four gates.[6] At its center was a pond, a "marvelous pond of clear and delicious water like the water of the Mekong in the dry season."[7] The Aranyika monastery was west of the city, a great lake to the east, a market to the north, and the Khao Luang hill to the south.[8]: 207 

Old Sukhothai is a small town with nearly no hotels.[3] Most visitors stay in New Sukhothai.[9][10]

Sukhothai occupies an area of 6,596 km2.[11] The historic town of Sukhothai and related areas were designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1991.[12]

References

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  1. ^ Centre, UNESCO World Heritage. "Historic Town of Sukhothai and Associated Historic Towns". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Retrieved 2024-05-05.
  2. ^ Weiner, James Blake (12 October 2018). "Sukhothai". World History Encyclopedia.
  3. ^ a b c "Sukhothai". Journeys International. 2024-03-28. Retrieved 2024-05-05.
  4. ^ "Thailand in a nutshell". Fleewinter. Retrieved 2024-05-05.
  5. ^ Anne, Mike & (2014-07-17). "Sukhothai: The Golden Age of Thailand". HoneyTrek. Retrieved 2024-05-05.
  6. ^ tim (2018-05-09). "English Translation of the Ramkhamhaeng Inscription". Tim's Thailand. Retrieved 2024-05-05.
  7. ^ Coedès, George (1975-06-01). The Indianized States of Southeast Asia. University of Hawaii Press. ISBN 978-0-8248-0368-1.
  8. ^ Coedès, George (1968). Walter F. Vella (ed.). The Indianized States of Southeast Asia. trans.Susan Brown Cowing. University of Hawaii Press. ISBN 978-0-8248-0368-1.
  9. ^ "11 Best Hotels in Sukhothai, Thailand". www.agoda.com. Retrieved 2024-05-05.
  10. ^ "Where to stay in Sukhothai?". Travelfish. Retrieved 2024-05-05.
  11. ^ Centre, UNESCO World Heritage. "Historic Town of Sukhothai and Associated Historic Towns". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Retrieved 2024-05-05.
  12. ^ U. "Historic Town of Sukhothai and Associated Historic Towns - UNESCO World Heritage Centre". Whc.unesco.org. Retrieved 2015-07-17.
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17°01′N 99°42′E / 17.017°N 99.700°E / 17.017; 99.700