The Design Of Sukhothai & Water

As the demand for water grew for domestic consumption and agriculture the community at Sukhothai dug enlarged moats as protection against enemies and also for the storage of water. They also constructed a system of dikes for water storage. These are evident in the layout and design of this World Heritage Site.

The annual supply of water was unreliable so to the Southwest of the City between the City and the local mountains they constructed a dike to dam the water flow. This is Phra Ruang Dike. Its 4 meters wide banks join the mountain at both ends and trap the water flow down from the mountain. From this reservoir the water is drained to flow to the City moats and internal reservoirs.

Inside the City the landscape is dominated by these water storage and conveying constructions. There are 175 ponds, some lined with laterite. There are 147 wells, each lined with either brick or laterite. Many of the Temples had moats and ponds, such as at Wat Mahathat and Wat Phra Chetuphon. Additionally there are water pipe lines constructed with glazed baked clay for water transmission. Water and the facilities to collect, hold and transfer it are a dominant theme.