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Amphoe Muang
Arts and Culture Centre of Nakhon Si
Thammarat Rajabhat Institute
Arts and Culture Centre of Nakhon Si Thammarat Rajabhat
Institute is 13 kilometres from the city on the Nakhon Si Thammarat-Phrom
Khiri Road (Highway No. 4016). It is the centre of information on
archaeological sites discovered in the province. On display are
ancient local tools and utensils from the establishment of the community
to the Srivijaya Empire. The centre also preserves and revives local
entertainment, as well as researches and collects works on languages,
literature and anthropology. The most important artifacts here are
the stone inscriptions found at Khao Chong Khoi and artifacts from
the ancient community at Wat Mok Lan. These vital evidences relate
when Nakhon Si Thammarat was built. The centre is open daily during
official hours.
Bang Pu
Bang Pu is 17 kilometres from the city and is at the Bang
Pu intersection. This is where quality pottery is made. Only bricks
and flowerpots used to be made here, but villagers from Ban Mok
Lan have now set up stores selling their handicrafts in this area.
The products on sale have been improved in variety and quality for
greater marketing appeal.
Chedi Yak
Chedi Yak is the province’s second tallest pagoda,
after Phra Borom That pagoda. It is located near Nakhon Si Thammarat
Municipality in the abandoned Wat Chedi area. It is said that the
pagoda was built by Khotkhiri, a wealthy Mon, and his employees
when they took refuge in the city in 1003.
Chinese buildings at Wat Pradu and Wat
Chaeng
Chinese buildings at Wat Pradu and Wat Chaeng is on Ratchadamnoen
Road near the provincial stadium. Built in the early Rattanakosin
period, they house the ashes of Phraya Nakhon and is believed to
also have the ashes of King Taksin the Great.
City wall
City wall is alongside Ratchadamnoen Road. The wall was
renovated in the early Rattanakosin period and once more in 1990.
The wall runs parallel with the city moat from Chai Nua Gate or
Chai Sak Gate to the east for 100 metres.
Ho Phra Isuan
Ho Phra Isuan is on Ratchadamnoen Road. It is a historical
site of the Brahman religion. On display is the Shiva Linga , the
symbol of the Brahman god Shiva. There are also several bronze images,
such as the Siwa Nattarat image, Phra Uma and Phra Phikkhanet. The
bronze images in this hall are replicas of the real images that
are in Nakhon Si Thammarat National Museum.
Nakhon Si Thammarat National Museum
Nakhon Si Thammarat National Museum occupies the area of
the former Wat Suan Luang Tawan Ok. The museum was opened in 1974
and displays artifacts found in the 4 southern provinces of Nakhon
Si Thammarat, Phatthalung, Surat Thani, and Chumphon. Of interest
are the local handicrafts display room. The national library building
opened to the public in 1976. There is a good collection of rare
books and important books sent by the National Library in Bangkok
for locals to study.
Phra Phutthasihing
Phra Phutthasihing is housed in the Phra Phuttha Sihing
hall near the Provincial Hall. This sacred image was believed to
have been ordered by the king of Lanka in 157 AD and was brought
to Thailand during the reign of King Ramkhamhaeng the Great. There
are currently 3 similar images in Thailand. One is housed at the
National Museum in Bangkok, another at Wat Phra Sing in Chiang Mai
and this image in Nakhon Si Thammarat. The hall housing the image
was originally the Buddha image hall of the palace of Chao Phraya
Nakhon (Noi). The hall is divided into 2 parts; the front portion
houses Phra Phuttha Sihing, Phra Lak Ngoen and Phra Lak Thong and
the back portion houses the ashes of the ancestors of the Na Nakhon
family.
Phra Wihan Sung
Phra Wihan Sung, or Ho Phra Sung, is an important historical
site located just outside the ancient city wall to the north in
the area of Sanam Na Muang, on Ratchadamnoen Road. The site is so
called because of its high location on a hill, 2.10 metres above
level ground. There is no exact historical evidence but it is believed
that its architecture and wall murals are from the early Rattanakosin
period. The building houses plaster images with a thick, clay core.
The images are either from the 18th-19th century or from the late
Ayutthaya period.
Residence of Ok Ya Sena Phimuk (Yamada
Nagamasa)
Residence of Ok Ya Sena Phimuk (Yamada Nagamasa) Yamada
Nagamasa was a Japanese volunteer soldier who lived in the Ayutthaya
period during the reign of King Songtham. For his many contributions
to the palace, he was rewarded by being bestowed the title of Ok
Ya Sena Phimuk and appointed lord of Nakhon Si Thammarat in 1629.
Traces of his home are still visible in the area of the Thai restaurant
on Nang Ngam Road (beside the provincial hall).
Shadow play house of Suchat Sapsin
Shadow play house of Suchat Sapsin is at 10/18 Si Thammasok
Road, Soi 3. Suchat Sapsin received the 1996 Thailand Tourism Awards
for the best cultural and historical site. The house has a shadow
play museum, shadow play-making demonstrations and complete performances.
Visitors can appreciate this fascinating art by calling tel. demonstrations
and complete performances. Visitors can appreciate this fascinating
art by calling tel. 0 7534 6394.
Somdet Phra Sri Nakharin 84 Park
Somdet Phra Sri Nakharin 84 Park is a large park with an
area of over 490.23 acres. It is just behind the provincial stadium.
Originally part of Ratcharudi Park during the time of King Rama
V, the park has an open zoo, a bird park, a health park, and a lake
which is home to waterfowls that migrate here during January to
March every year.
The Thai-style monks’ residence of
Wat Wang Tawan Tok
The Thai-style monks’ residence of Wat Wang Tawan Tok
is on Ratchadamnoen Road, in the area said to be opposite Wang Tawan
Ok (Eastern Palace), the retreat of Chao Chom Prang. Formerly a
park, Chao Phraya Nakhon (Noi) donated Wang Tawan Ok and the park
opposite it to a temple, now known as Wat Wang Tawan Tok(Western
Palace Temple). In 1888, Phra Khru Kachat (Yong) and his disciples
built a group of houses for monks. The 3 houses have a pointed roof
connected to the other and there are exquisite Nakhon Si Thammarat
designs on the walls, doors, windows, and vents. The Siam Architects
Society named these houses the best conservation effort in the area
of historical sites and temples in 1992.
Wat Chai Na Meditation Centre
Wat Chai Na Meditation Centre is on Phatthanakan Thung Prang
Road. Meditation courses are held for Thais and foreigners. The
famous monk Phutthathat Bhikkhu established the centre as a branch
of his monastery in Surat Thani. The centre is peaceful with an
abundance of shady trees.
Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan
 Wat
Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan is located on Ratchadamnoen Road in
Tambon Nai Mueang. This is a royal temple of the first class. Formerly
named Wat Phra Borom That, this is one of the most important historical
sites in southern Thailand and in all of Thailand. According to
the legend of Phra Borom That Nakhon Si Thammarat, Prince Thanakuman
and Queen Hem Chala brought Buddha relics to Hat Sai Kaeo and built
a small pagoda to mark the location. Later on, King Si-Thamma Sokarat
established the city of Nakhon Si Thammarat and built a new pagoda.
The present pagoda has a distinctive Sri Lankan style, measuring
55.78 metres high (measured by the Fine Arts Department during the
renovation of the gold top in 1995). The height from the lotus base
to the gold top is 6.80 metres. The top is entirely covered by pure
gold. Inside the temple are many buildings of importance, especially
the royal building which has beautiful architecture from the Ayutthaya
period and the Sam Chom building where the Buddha image attired
in royal wardrobe, Phra Si Thamma Sokarat , is housed. There are
also the Phra Maha Phinetkrom (the equestrian image) building and
the Thap Kaset building, while the Khian and Pho Lanka buildings
are used to display artifacts that were donated to the temple by
Buddhists.
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