Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya province

Toponymy

The name Ayutthaya derives from the Sanskrit word Ayodhyā, found in the Ramayana, which means "the invincible [city]". Grammatically, this word is composed of the morphemes a- 'not' + yodhya 'defeatable' (from the root yudh- 'to fight') + ā, a feminine suffix.

Geography

Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, covering 2,548 km2, is on the flat river plain of the Chao Phraya River valley. The presence of the Lopburi and Pa Sak rivers makes the province a major rice farming area. The total forest area is 0.05 km2 or 0.02 per mille of provincial area.

History

Main article: Ayutthaya Kingdom

Ayutthaya was founded in 1350 by King U-Thong. However, the establishment of Ayutthaya is far older than 14th century. Evidence shown that the area was already populated during Mon Dvaravati period. Sources further mentioned that around 850 AD, the Khmers occupied the area and established a stronghold there, named it as Ayodhya after one of the holiest Hindu cities of India of the same name. Consistently, Prince Damrong also agreed that there was a city called Ayodhya which was found by the Khmers ruling from Lopburi at the point where the three rivers meet. Excavation map shows the traces from an ancient baray (water reservoir) close to the southwestern tip of Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon which could has been built on a former important Khmer temple complex.

Ayutthaya was the capital of Thailand (then called Siam) for 417 years from 1350, until in Burmese–Siamese War (1765–1767), it was sacked by the Burmese army in 1767. During this era, now usually referred as the Ayutthaya period or Ayutthaya kingdom, Ayutthaya was ruled by 33 kings of five different dynasties. The kingdom became a major regional player, and a trade center of the East, a meeting point of European merchants and Asian traders. Notable monarchs during the Ayutthaya period include King Naresuan the Great, who liberated Ayutthaya from the first Burmese occupation and embarked on a reign of conquest, and King Narai the Great, who initiated diplomatic relations with France, during the reign of Louis XIV. His reign was the golden age of trade and culture.

The city was strategically positioned. During several months of the year, the flood plains around the cities would be flooded by the many rivers around the city. Enemy sieges were thus impossible, and forced to withdraw. This advantage was a contributing factor in the many failed Burmese invasions.

The ruins of the old capital in the Ayutthaya historical park have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since December 1991. The province is also home to the Bang Pa-in summer palace complex.

Originally named Krung Kao (กรุงเก่า), the province was renamed Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya in 1926.

File:Siamese Square.jpg|Siamese method for creating magic squares, Simon de la Loubère's 1693 File:อนุสาวรีย์พระเจ้าอู่ทอง342.jpg|Royal Statue of King Ramathibodi I in Ayutthaya, Ayutthaya province,

Symbols

According to legend, King Ramathibodi I found a beautiful conch shell buried in the ground, and chose the site as the place for his capital. He then placed the shell on a pedestal tray and built a pavilion around it. The seal shows this pavilion with the provincial tree behind it.

The provincial flower is the ดอกโสน () Sesbania aculeata, and the provincial tree is the fragrant manjack (Cordia dichotoma). The giant river prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) is the provincial aquatic life. The provincial slogan ราชธานีเก่า อู่ข้าวอู่น้ำ เลิศล้ำกานท์กวี คนดีศรีอยุธยา เลอคุณค่ามรดกโลก can be translated as "The old capital, a land flowing with milk and honey, excellent literature, the good people of Ayutthaya, the treasured world heritage".

File:เศียรพระพุทธรูปในรากโพธิ์.jpg|Buddha head overgrown by fig tree, Wat Mahathat, Ayutthaya historical park

Administrative divisions

Provincial government

The province is divided into sixteen districts (amphoe), 209 subdistricts (tambon) and 1,328 villages (muban). Ayutthaya is unique among the provinces of Thailand in that the district of its seat of government is not called Mueang District Ayutthaya, as the common scheme would suggest, but rather Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya District:

Local government

As of 26 November 2019 there are: one Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Provincial Administration Organisation (ongkan borihan suan changwat) and 36 municipal (thesaban) areas in the province. Ayutthaya municipality has city (thesaban nakhon) status. Ayothaya, Bang Ban, Phak Hai and Sena municipalities have town (thesaban mueang) status. Further 31 subdistrict municipalities (thesaban tambon). The non-municipal areas are administered by 121 Subdistrict Administrative Organisations - SAO (ongkan borihan suan tambon).

Economy

Economic output

In 2022, Ayutthaya province had an economic output of 418.104 billion baht (US$11.0 billion). This amounts to per capita gross provincial product (GPP) of 456,286 baht (US$12,000). In 2024 the total labourforce was 542,038 of which 531,858 persons were employed in economic activity. In agriculture and fishing 23,677 persons (4.5%) were employed and in the non-agricultural sector 508,181 persons (95.5%).

Honda has an automobile factory in the province. Honda produces hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) and batteries for electric vehicles there, and at its factory in Prachin Buri. Honda's Ayutthaya factory has an annual capacity of 300,000 units.

Health

Ayutthaya's main hospital is Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Hospital, operated by the Ministry of Public Health.

Education

Primary and secondary education

There are over 400 schools in the province. Notable ones are Ayutthaya Wittayalai School, which is the main provincial school of Ayutthaya, it was founded in 1905 as "Krung-Kao Provincial Model School". Chomsurang Upatham School, an all-girls provincial school founded in 1917 by Queen Saovabha Phongsri. The Laboratory School of Phranakhon Si Ayutthaya Rajabhat University, commonly called Satit Ayutthaya, a laboratory school under Phranakhon Si Ayutthaya Rajabhat University.

Higher education

There are several higher institutions in Ayutthaya. Phranakhon Si Ayutthaya Rajabhat University is a public university located in the Ayutthaya Island. It was founded in 1905 by King Chulalongkorn as "Krung-Kao Teacher Training College". Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University is the oldest Buddhist university in Thailand. It was founded in 1887 by King Chulalongkorn with the purpose of offering higher education to monks. Rajamangala University of Technology Suvarnabhumi, it has four campuses in Hantra, Wasukri, Suphanburi, and Nonthaburi.

Religion

Climate

Ayutthaya, on the central plains, historically has three seasons:

• Hot season: March – May
• Rainy season: June – October
• Cool season: November - February

Transport

• Rail: Ayutthaya's main station is Ayutthaya Railway Station. Ban Phachi Junction in Phachi District regarded as an important junction of the Northern and Northeastern Railway Lines. Bang Pa-in Railway Station in the southern part of the province near the Bang Pa-In Royal Palace has a royal pavilion associated with King Rama V.
• Boat: Ayutthaya has many piers that can be boarded by river cruise from Bangkok pier.

Human achievement index 2022

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.

Tourism

Ayutthaya is 76 kilometers north of Bangkok and boasts numerous ruins. Such ruins indicate that Ayutthaya was one of Indochina's most prosperous cities. The Ayutthaya Historical Park is a vast stretch of historical sites in the heart of Ayutthaya city.

There were three palaces in Ayutthaya: Grand Palace, Chantharakasem Palace or the Front Palace, and Wang Lang or the Rear Palace. In addition, there were many other palaces and buildings for royal visits outside the city area of Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, such as Bang Pa-In Palace at Bang Pa-in and Nakhon Luang Building in the Nakhon Luang District.

To promote tourism, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya government has organized a light and sound show at Ayutthaya Historical Park in every beginning of the year as "Yor Yos Ying Fah: Ayutthaya World Heritage" consistently for about 10 days.

File:พระที่นั่งไอศวรรย์ทิพยอาสน์.jpg|Warophat Phiman throne hall in Bang Pa-In Royal Palace File:Chinese style palace in Bang Pa In Palace.JPG|Chinese-style Palace, Bang Pa-In Royal Palace

Local dishes

Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya is famous for many distinctive dishes, including:

• Roti sai mai: a dessert adapted from Indian roti, roti sai mai in Ayutthaya reflects the legacy of the Muslim community that has lived here since the Ayutthaya period.
• Kung maenam pao: Ayutthaya is renowned for its grilled giant river prawns. Numerous restaurants in the area proudly serve this flavourful dish.
• Ban Phachi coconut ice cream: coconut ice cream, served in small plastic cups at Ban Phachi Junction railway station, has become a popular treat among travelers and tourists. Its unique feature is that it is eaten with a straw instead of a spoon to avoid messiness when enjoyed on a moving train.
• Kuaitiao ruea: Ayutthaya is considered the origin of boat noodles, a distinctive Thai noodle dish traditionally served in small bowls. Originally sold from rowing boats, boat noodles remain a local favourite, with many noodle shops offering their own versions today.

Notable people

• Somdej Toh (1788–1872), Highly revered Buddhist monk
• Luang Phor Phrom Thawaro (1884-1975), Revered Buddhist monk
• Pridi Banomyong (1900–1983), politician, the 7th prime minister of Thailand
• Thawan Thamrongnawasawat (1901–1988), navy, politician, the 8th prime minister of Thailand
• Damrong Puttan (born 1944), TV host, radio presenter, travel journalist, magazine editor, politician
• Sorapong Chatree (1950–2022), actor, singer
• Bhandit Rittakol (1951–2009), filmmaker
• Vichai Sangprapai (born 1955), police, politician, TV host
• Dieselnoi Chor Thanasukarn (born 1961), Muay Thai fighter
• Ek Rangsiroj (born 1974), actor, singer, songwriter, TV series producer and director
• Krailas Panyaroj (born 1994), professional footballer

Notes

The city was founded on Friday, the 6th day of the waxing moon of the 5th month, 1893 Buddhist Era, corresponding to Friday, 4 March 1351 Common Era, according to the calculation of the Fine Arts Department of Thailand.

References

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