other · Mainland Southeast Asia

Dvaravati

600 CE – 1000 CE (approx.) · capital Nakhon Pathom

A Mon Buddhist civilisation of central Thailand from the 7th to 11th centuries, the earliest Theravada culture of the Chao Phraya basin.

Origins

Dvaravati takes its name from silver coins found at Nakhon Pathom and other sites inscribed 'meritorious deeds of the king of Dvaravati', matching the Duoluobodi of Chinese pilgrims. Moated towns appear in the Chao Phraya valley from around the 6th and 7th centuries, built by Mon-speaking communities.

Rule and society

Whether Dvaravati was a single kingdom or a cultural network of city-states, including Nakhon Pathom, U Thong, Khu Bua, Si Thep and Lopburi, is debated. Its people were early adopters of Theravada Buddhism, using Pali and Old Mon in inscriptions, and produced distinctive Buddha images, stone Wheels of the Law and terracotta stupa decoration. Moats, canals and rice farming supported the towns.

Decline and legacy

From the 10th and 11th centuries the region came under the influence of the Khmer Empire, and Lavo became a Khmer centre. Dvaravati's Mon Buddhist traditions passed to Hariphunchai in the north and fed into the later Thai kingdoms of Sukhothai and Ayutthaya.

Lineage

DvaravatiLavo Kingdom 648 CE – 1388 CE

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Cite this page
APA
The Epoch Institute. (2026). Dvaravati. In The Epoch Institute States Register. https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/dvaravati
MLA
“Dvaravati.” The Epoch Institute States Register, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/dvaravati. Accessed .
Chicago
The Epoch Institute. “Dvaravati.” The Epoch Institute States Register. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/dvaravati.
Harvard
The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘Dvaravati’, The Epoch Institute States Register. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/dvaravati (Accessed: ).

Last reviewed October 2026Random state ↻