Uttaradit

Uttaradit is the provincial capital in Uttaradit province in northern Thailand. The population is estimated (2005) at 58,300.

Uttaradit has been disputed and fought over for several centuries between the Ayutthaya Empire and Burma.

In 1967, the center was almost completely destroyed during a terrible fire. Old Town has since been rebuilt in old Thai style, and a more modern district has risen in other parts of the city.

Uttaradit Province is located in the valley and in the high precipitation area of a portion of the Nan River (Mae Nam Nan), which rises every year. Most of its overflowing is into the northern neighboring province of Nan. Northwest of the province of Nan it is dammed by Siritik Dam, which creates the 250 km ² large artificial Sap-Neua-sea Thaleh Sap Neua.

North and south of the river run two ranges of mountains, which peak at 1465 m in the northwest (Doi Phaya Fo), and 1564 meters in the southeast (Khao Mun Ram).  Along the eastern border of Luang Prabang are the Laos runner mountains. In the river valley some highlands run just over 1000 meters high.

Uttaradit is an ancient trading post on the Nan River. In the Sukhothai period from 1238-1438. It consisted of a series of province city-states that were controlled by the king of Sukhothai.  Uttaradit has been disputed for several centuries between 1350 and 1767 in the rivalry between the Ayutthaya Empire and Burma. In the 1700s, it was under the ruler of Phichai who controled the area and liberated it from the Burmese.