Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan
Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan is the principal temple of Nakhon Si Thammarat and the most important Buddhist site in southern Thailand. Its centrepiece is the Phra Borommathat chedi — a vast whitewashed stupa topped with a gold-sheathed spire, visible across the town and said to enshrine a relic of…
Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan
Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan is the principal temple of Nakhon Si Thammarat and the most important Buddhist site in southern Thailand. Its centrepiece is the Phra Borommathat chedi — a vast whitewashed stupa topped with a gold-sheathed spire, visible across the town and said to enshrine a relic of the Buddha.
The chedi is ringed by dozens of smaller stupas and by cloisters holding rows of Buddha images, and the temple's museum-like halls contain donated objects accumulated over centuries. The architecture reflects the town's position on the old maritime trade routes, with Sri Lankan influence clearly present.
The temple has been proposed for UNESCO World Heritage listing and appears on Thailand's tentative list. It remains an active place of worship: modest dress is required.
- Suchart Subsin's Shadow Puppet House — Suchart Subsin's Shadow Puppet House is a small family-run museum and workshop in Nakhon Si Thammarat dedicated to nang talung,...
- Khao Luang National Park — The highest peak in peninsular Thailand, in montane rainforest above Nakhon Si Thammarat.
- The Old City Wall, Nakhon Si Thammarat — The restored northern gate and rampart of one of the oldest walled cities in southern Thailand.
