Si Thep (, ) is the southernmost district (''

amphoe An amphoe (sometimes also ''amphur'', , )—usually translated as "district"—is the second level administrative subdivision of Thailand. Groups of ''amphoe'' or districts make up the Provinces of Thailand, provinces, and are analogous to count ...

'') of

Phetchabun province Phetchabun (, ) is one of Thailand's seventy-six provinces (''changwat'') and lies in lower northern Thailand. Neighbouring provinces are (from north clockwise) Loei, Khon Kaen, Chaiyaphum, Lopburi, Nakhon Sawan, Phichit and Phitsanulok. ...

, Thailand, in the valley of the

Pa Sak River The Pa Sak River (, , Pronunciation is a river in central Thailand. The river originates in the Phetchabun Mountains, Dan Sai District, Loei Province, and passes through Phetchabun Province as the backbone of the province. It then passes throu ...

. Si Thep, is Thailand’s latest World Heritage Sites, and Thailand's largest ancient city.

History

The district was created on 13 December 1970 as a minor district (''

king amphoe An amphoe (sometimes also ''amphur'', , )—usually translated as "district"—is the second level administrative subdivision of Thailand. Groups of ''amphoe'' or districts make up the provinces, and are analogous to counties. The chief district ...

'') with territory from

Wichian Buri district Wichian Buri (, ) is a district (''amphoe'') in southern part of Phetchabun province, northern Thailand. History and toponymy In the past the area of Wichian Buri was administered by ''Mueang'' Tha Rong. King Rama III upgraded the status of Tha R ...

. It was upgraded to Si Thep District on 8 August 1976. The ancient city of Si Thep was built in the Dvaravati era. Prince Damrong found the area of the old city in 1905 when he visited

Monthon Phetchabun ''Monthon'' (), also known as ''Monthon Thesaphiban'' (; Mṇṯhl Theṣ̄āp̣hibāl; , ), were administrative subdivisions of Thailand at the beginning of the 20th century. The Thai word ''monthon'' is a translation of the word ''mandala'' (', ...

. It is now

Si Thep Historical Park Si Thep Historical Park () is an archaeological site in Thailand's Phetchabun province. It covers the ancient city of Si Thep, a site inhabited from around the third to fifth century CE until the thirteenth century, spanning cultural periods fro ...

Geography

Si Thep is on a dry highland surrounded by waterways and floodplains bordered by mountains on both sides. To ensure sufficient water for city use, ancient Si Thep had an elaborate system of ponds, tank moats, and a hydraulic system to bring water from higher grounds to sustain the city. Neighboring districts are (from the north clockwise) Wichian Buri of Phetchabun Province, and

Lam Sonthi Lam Sonthi (, ) is a tributary of the Pa Sak River. It originates at the Ruak and Phanghoei mountains in the border area of Lam Sonthi district, Lopburi province and Si Thep, Phetchabun province Phetchabun (, ) is one of Thailand's seventy- ...

, Chai Badan, and Khok Charoen of Lopburi province.

Administration

The district is divided into seven sub-districts (''

tambon ''Tambon'' (, ) is a local governmental unit in Thailand. Below district (''amphoe'') and province ('' changwat''), they form the third administrative subdivision level. there were 7,255 tambons, not including the 180 ''khwaeng'' of Bangkok, whi ...

s''), which are further subdivided into 93 villages (''

muban Muban (; , ) is the lowest Administrative divisions of Thailand, administrative sub-division of Thailand. Usually translated as 'village' and sometimes as 'hamlet (place), hamlet', they are a subdivision of a tambon (subdistrict). , there were 74 ...

s''). The township (''

thesaban tambon Thesaban (, , , Pali, Pali: desapāla (protector of region) are the municipalities of Thailand. There are three levels of municipalities: city, town, and sub-district. Bangkok and Pattaya are special municipal entities not included in the ''thesa ...

'') Sawang Watthana covers parts of tambon Sa Kruat. There are seven tambon administrative organizations (TAO).

References

External links

Si Thep Historical Park by Finearts
Si Thep Dvaravati {{Phetchabun-geo-stub