Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan
Southern Thailand's most important temple, crowned by the great white chedi of Phra Borommathat and its gold spire.
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 — The workshop and museum of nang talung, southern Thailand's shadow-puppet theatre, in the home of a master puppeteer.
- Khao Luang National Park — Khao Luang National Park is a mountainous rainforest reserve near Nakhon Si Thammarat, known for waterfalls, hiking trails,...
- The Old City Wall, Nakhon Si Thammarat — The Old City Wall in Nakhon Si Thammarat is a historic fortification remnant, drawing visitors keen to explore the city's...
