Sukhothai, Administrative province in northern Thailand.
The province sits in the northern part of the country and borders Phrae, Uttaradit, Phitsanulok, and three other administrative units. The territory covers more than 6600 square kilometers (about 2600 square miles) and connects archaeological zones with contemporary towns through a network of roads and air links.
The area became the core of the first independent Thai kingdom from 1238 after local rulers broke free from Khmer control. The region later transformed into an administrative province and still preserves traces of that founding era.
The provincial name means "dawn of happiness" in Sanskrit. You can see this meaning reflected in local temple art and in the way residents refer to their home as the birthplace of Thai identity.
Long-distance buses and regional flights link the main towns of the province with Bangkok and other northern destinations. Local buses and songthaews circulate within the region, allowing travelers to move between archaeological sites and settlements.
The provincial seal displays King Ramkhamhaeng, who developed the Thai script from Khmer characters. This writing system remains the foundation of modern Thai language and shapes everyday life across the country.
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