Sukhothai

Sukhothai (Thai: สุโขทัย, pronounced [sù.kʰǒː.tʰāj]) is a province in lower northern Thailand. Neighboring provinces are Phrae, Uttaradit, Phitsanulok, Kamphaeng Phet, Tak, and Lampang. Sukhothai is located in the Yom river basin which has served as an important lifeline of the region since antiquity. The name Sukhothai comes from Sanskrit meaning 'the dawn of happiness'.

The province is home to the capital city of the namesake 13th-century Sukhothai Kingdom, which is traditionally considered the first state of the Thai people. The ruins of the historical cities of Sukhothai; its capital, and Si Satchanalai; its important city to the north, make up the group of monuments registered as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. There has been evidence of human settlement in the area dating back to the later Iron Age. The ancient city of Sukhothai can be traced back to the 12th century around the same period as the reign of Jayavarman VII, before King Si Inthrathit founded the namesake kingdom, making the city its capital.