Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya province

Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya (or Ayutthaya, Thai: พระนครศรีอยุธยา, pronounced [pʰráʔ ná.kʰɔ̄ːn sǐː ʔā.jút.tʰā.jāː]) is one of the central provinces (changwat) of Thailand. Neighboring provinces are (from north clockwise) Ang Thong, Lopburi, Saraburi, Pathum Thani, Nonthaburi, Nakhon Pathom and Suphan Buri.

Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya
พระนครศรีอยุธยา
Province
(Clockwise from top left) Wat Chaiwatthanaram, Wat Phutthaisawan, Old locomotive at Ban Phachi Junction, Grilled river prawns, a famous food of Ayutthaya, Ayothaya floating market
Flag of Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya
Flag
Official seal of Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya
Seal
Map of Thailand highlighting Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya province
Map of Thailand highlighting Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya province
CountryThailand
CapitalAyotthaya
Government
 • GovernorWeerachai Nakmas
(since October 2021)
Area
[1]
 • Total2,557 km2 (987 sq mi)
 • RankRanked 63rd
Population
 (2018)[2]
 • Total817,441
 • RankRanked 30th
 • Density320.0/km2 (829/sq mi)
  • RankRanked 11th
Human Achievement Index
[3]
 • HAI (2017)0.6811 "high"
Ranked 2nd
Time zoneUTC+7 (ICT)
Postal code
13xxx
Calling code035
ISO 3166 codeTH-14

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 2,557 square kilometres (987 sq mi),[1] 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 (0.019 sq mi) or 0.02 per mille of provincial area.[4]

Economy

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.[5]

Health

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

History
A description of the Siamese method for creating magic squares, in Simon de la Loubère's 1693 A new historical relation of the kingdom of Siam.
Main article: Ayutthaya Kingdom

Ayutthaya was founded in 1350[a] 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. Early history of Ayutthaya is historically connected to this Khmer settlement.[6][7] 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.[8] 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.[9]

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.[10]

Symbols
Buddha head overgrown by fig tree, Wat Mahathat, Ayutthaya historical park

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 (RTGS: dok sano) Sesbania aculeata, and the provincial tree is the fragrant manjack (Cordia dichotoma). The provincial slogan ราชธานีเก่า อู่ข้าวอู่น้ำ เลิศล้ำกานท์กวี คนดีศรีอยุธยา can be translated as "Old capital city, food larder of the country, poets laureate galore, and national heroes".

Administrative divisions

Provincial government
Map of Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya
with the 16 districts

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:

  1. Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya
  2. Tha Ruea
  3. Nakhon Luang
  4. Bang Sai (1404)
  5. Bang Ban
  6. Bang Pa-in
  7. Bang Pahan
  8. Phak Hai
  1. Phachi
  2. Lat Bua Luang
  3. Wang Noi
  4. Sena
  5. Bang Sai (1413)
  6. Uthai
  7. Maha Rat
  8. Ban Phraek

Local government

As of 26 November 2019 there are:[11] 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.[12] Ayothaya,[13] 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).[2]

Religion

Religion in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya

  Buddhism (95.01%)
  Islam (4.26%)
  Christianity (0.35%)
  Confucianism and others (0.35%)
  Hinduism (0.04%)

Climate

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

  • Hot season: March – May
  • Rainy season: June – October
  • Cool season: November - February
Climate data for Ayutthaya
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 31.0
(87.8)		 33.3
(91.9)		 35.4
(95.7)		 35.9
(96.6)		 34.3
(93.7)		 32.6
(90.7)		 32.0
(89.6)		 31.4
(88.5)		 31.3
(88.3)		 31.3
(88.3)		 30.7
(87.3)		 30.0
(86.0)		 32.4
(90.3)
Average low °C (°F) 17.0
(62.6)		 19.4
(66.9)		 22.3
(72.1)		 24.3
(75.7)		 24.5
(76.1)		 24.3
(75.7)		 24.0
(75.2)		 23.8
(74.8)		 23.5
(74.3)		 22.5
(72.5)		 20.0
(68.0)		 17.4
(63.3)		 21.9
(71.4)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 2.4
(0.09)		 18.8
(0.74)		 43.5
(1.71)		 67.9
(2.67)		 208.0
(8.19)		 223.0
(8.78)		 180.8
(7.12)		 260.0
(10.24)		 213.9
(8.42)		 167.6
(6.60)		 37.1
(1.46)		 0.8
(0.03)		 1,423.8
(56.05)
Average rainy days 0 1 4 6 15 16 17 19 17 12 3 1 111
Source: Thai Meteorological Department[14]

Transport
Ayutthaya Railway Station

Human achievement index 2017
Health Education Employment Income
3 17 3 16
Housing Family Transport Participation
52 38 10 40
Province Ayutthaya, with an HAI 2017 value of 0.6811 is "high", occupies place 2 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.[3]

RankClassification
  1 - 15"high"
16 - 30"somewhat high"
31 - 45"average"
45 - 60"somewhat low"
61 - 77"low"

Tourism
Floating pavilion in Bang Pa-In Royal Palace, Bang Pa-In District
Chinese-style Palace, Bang Pa-In Royal Palace

Ayutthaya is 76 kilometres 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.[15][16]

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.[17]

Local dishes

Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya has many renowned dishes such as

  • Roti sai mai: desserts adapted from Indian roti. Ayutthaya's roti sai mai is the legacy of Muslims who have lived here since the Ayutthaya period.[18]
  • Kung maenam pao: Ayutthaya is one of Thailand that is famous for its grilled giant river prawns. There are many restaurants that serve this menu.[19]

See also

Notes

a 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.[20]

References
  1. Advancing Human Development through the ASEAN Community, Thailand Human Development Report 2014, table 0:Basic Data (PDF) (Report). United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Thailand. pp. 134–135. ISBN 978-974-680-368-7. Retrieved 17 January 2016, Data has been supplied by Land Development Department, Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, at Wayback Machine.{{cite report}}: CS1 maint: postscript (link)
  2. "รายงานสถิติจำนวนประชากรและบ้านประจำปี พ.ศ.2561" [Statistics, population and house statistics for the year 2018]. Registration Office Department of the Interior, Ministry of the Interior (in Thai). 31 December 2018. Retrieved 20 June 2019.
  3. Human achievement index 2017 by National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB), pages 1-40, maps 1-9, retrieved 14 September 2019, ISBN 978-974-9769-33-1
  4. "ตารางที่ 2 พี้นที่ป่าไม้ แยกรายจังหวัด พ.ศ.2562" [Table 2 Forest area Separate province year 2019]. Royal Forest Department (in Thai). 2019. Retrieved 6 April 2021, information, Forest statistics Year 2019{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: postscript (link)
  5. Theparat, Chatrudee; Maikaew, Piyachart (26 July 2018). "BoI gives blessing to B30bn in plans". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 26 July 2018.
  6. "History of Ayutthaya - Temples & Ruins - Wat Ayodhya". www.ayutthaya-history.com. Retrieved 2020-03-16.
  7. "History of Ayutthaya - Temples & Ruins - Wat Thammikarat". www.ayutthaya-history.com. Retrieved 2020-03-16.
  8. Kasetsiri, Charnvit (July 1979). "The Rise of Ayudhya: A History of Siam in the Fourteenth to Fifteenth Centuries" (PDF). {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  9. "History of Ayutthaya - Temples & Ruins - Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon". www.ayutthaya-history.com. Retrieved 2020-03-16.
  10. ประกาศกระทรวงมหาดไทย เรื่อง เปลี่ยนนามมณฑลกรุงเก่าและจังหวัดกรุงเก่า (PDF). Royal Gazette (in Thai). 35 (ก): 24–27. March 23, 1919. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 9, 2008.
  11. "Number of local government organizations by province". dla.go.th. Department of Local Administration (DLA). 26 November 2019. Retrieved 10 December 2019. 32 Ayutthaya: 1 PAO, 1 City mun., 4 Town mun., 31 Subdistrict mun., 121 SAO.
  12. "พระราชกฤษฎีกา จัดตั้งเทศบาลนครนครศรีอุธยา จังหวัดพระนครศรีอยุธยา พ.ศ.๒๕๔๒" [Royal Decree Establish of Thesaban Nakhon Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Changwat Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya B.E.2542 (1999)] (PDF). Royal Thai Government Gazette. 116 (127 Kor): 1–3. 15 December 1999. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 17, 2011. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
  13. "ประกาศกระทรวงมหาดไทย เรื่อง เปลี่ยนแปลงฐานะเทศบาลตำบลอโยธยา อำเภอพระนครศรีอยุธยา จังหวัดพระนครศรีอยุธยา เป็นเทศบาลเมืองอโยธยา" [Notification of the Ministry of Interior Re: Change status of Thesaban Tambon Ayothaya, Amphoe Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Changwat Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya to Thesaban Mueang Ayothaya] (PDF). Royal Thai Government Gazette. 122 (Special Section 84 Ngor): 4. 14 September 2005. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2016. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
  14. "30 year Average (1961-1990) - AYUTTHAYA". Thai Meteorological Department. Archived from the original on 2012-05-21. Retrieved 2011-11-12.
  15. "Ruins of one of the most prosperous empires in history". RenownTravel.
  16. "Bang Pa In Palace". Lonely Planet.
  17. Kongsaiphakin, Zon (2020-03-02). "ฉลอง "อยุธยามรดกโลก" แสง สี เสียง ตระการตา" [Celebrate "Ayutthaya World Heritage" light and sound spectacular]. Thai Rath (in Thai). Retrieved 2020-03-02.
  18. "รีวิวโรตีสายไหมอยุธยา 3 เจ้าดัง แป้งนุ่มหอม ไส้อร่อย ลองรึยัง?" [Review Roti sai mai Ayutthaya 3 famous shops, soft and fragrant flour, luscious filling, have you tasted yet?]. Thai Rath (in Thai). 2018-06-16. Retrieved 2020-04-19.
  19. "รีวิวกุ้งเผาอยุธยา ดูชัดๆ เจ้าไหนเด็ดสุดในตลาดกลาง? (คลิป)" [Review grilled Ayutthaya shrimp look clearly, which one is the coolest in the central market? (clip)]. Thai Rath (in Thai). 2018-06-12. Retrieved 2020-04-19.
  20. Rotchanaratha, Wina, ed. (1999). Prachum Phongsawadan Chabap Kanchanaphisek Lem Nueng ประชุมพงศาวดาร ฉบับกาญจนาภิเษก เล่ม ๑ [Golden Jubilee Collection of Historical Archives, Volume 1] (in Thai). Bangkok: Fine Arts Department of Thailand. p. 211. ISBN 9744192151.
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