Uthai Thani Province
Uthai Thani (
Thai อุทัยธานี) is one of the
provinces (
changwat) of
Thailand. Neighboring provinces are (from north clockwise)
Nakhon Sawan,
Chai Nat,
Suphan Buri,
Kanchanaburi and
Tak.
The province stretches from the low plains of the
Chao Phraya river valley, to mountains covered with forests in the west. The
Sakae Krang River, a tributary of the
Chao Phraya River is the main river of Uthai Thani province.
The
Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary at the western boundary to the province Tak and was declared
World Heritage in
1991. It covers 2,574 km², and houses almost all of the forest animals of South-East Asia, including
tigers and
elephants.
Originally
Mon and
Lawa settled in the area. A first Thai settlement in the area was Muang U Thai during the
Sukhothai period, but was later abandoned when the river changed course. Patabeut, a member of the Karen ethnicity, revived the settlement at its currect place during the Ayutthaya period. It served as a fort protecting the boundary of the kingdom then.
Uthai Thani is most famous as being the hometown of the father of King
Rama I. Rama I also renamed the city from its old name
Uthai to
Uthai Thani.
In
1892 King
Chulalongkorn (Rama V) added the area of Uthai Thani to the
Monthon Nakhon Sawan, and in
1898 formed the province.
{| valign=top|
 |
Provincial seal |
|The provincial seal depicts the pavilion at Wat Khao Sakaekrang. It houses the statue of Thongdee, the father of King Rama I. The mountain in the background symbolizes the location of the pavilion on top of a hill.
Provincial flower is the
Yellow Cotton Tree (
Cochlospermum regium), provincial tree is
Neem (
Azadirachta indica v. siamensis).
|The flag of Uthai Thani depicts the provincial seal of Uthai Thani in the middle. The yellow color in the top of the flag is the symbol color of the Chakri dynasty, as Gold as a precious metal is a symbol for the Thai monarchy. The green color in bottom is the symbol color of King Rama I as he was born on a Wednesday, which is associated with green in the Thai calendar. The text below the seal says Uthai Thani province.
