Nakhon Si Thammarat Thailand hotels and travel guide

Nakhon Si Thammarat - Today, the city remains a cultural hub, notably for shadow puppets, southern Thai dance, and the nielloware craft of fashioning objects out of silver mixed with a black alloy.

Nakhon Si Thammarat town is the centre of Buddhism in the South, with a history dating back to the Srivijaya period. The most famous sight is Wat Phra Mahathat with its massive 1,500year-old chedi containing relics of Lord Buddha brought from Sri Lanka.

History permeates the town, with an almost intact old city wall dating to the 13th century, various Brahman shrines and old temples, and a sala containing the revered Phra Buddha Sihing image. The National Museum houses a huge collection of fascinating Thai artifacts.

To the west, the province is very mountainous with Khao Luang National Park home to the highest peak in southern Thailand and full of fascinating scenery, waterfalls and flora. At the foot of the mountains,- the agrotourism village of Khiriwong is the place to hire guides for treks into the park. The beaches are some of the best on the southeast coast, especially those like Khanom beach close to Surat Thani.

Chak Phra Festival
Chak Phra or Lak Phra Festival is influenced by Indian culture, which expanded into the province a long time ago. The festival signifies the joy that people had when Lord Buddha returned from a star and the Lord was invited to sit on a throne and carried to a palace. In practice, locals would bear a Buddha image holding a bowl in a procession around the city. This is a great way for escape from daily routine and it is a fun competition to find who is the most religious. Held in October, the festival is preceded by activities 7 days before, such as beating drums, playing castanets and decorating the ceremonial throne for the image. The actual ceremony is usually held only on the last day of the Buddhist Lent. People would take the image from the temple in the morning and proceed to Benchama Rachuthit School in Amphoe Muang. This is also done in front of Ron Phibun district office. In addition, there is a water-borne procession on Pak Phanang River in Pak Phanang, which coincides with an annual boat race for a trophy from the Crown Princess.

Festival of the Tenth Lunar
Festival of the Tenth Lunar Month is a grand event of the province and of southern Thailand. This festival is held from the 1st waning-moon night to the 15th waning-moon night every September. It is held to pay respect to deceased ancestors. According to Buddhism beliefs, the dead had many sins and was sent to hell to become a demon. The demons are allowed to come up to meet their relatives for 15 days in September, but must return to hell before sunrise of the 15th day. The living try to appease the spirits by taking food to temples to make merit. Beginning on the 13th day, people will go shopping for food to be given. The 14th day is spent preparing and decorating the food tray, and the 15th day is the actual merit-making day. The tray presented nowadays has elaborate designs but still retains traditional components. Contests to find the most beautiful tray are held. A magnificent procession proceeds along Ratchadamnoen Road on the 14th day.

Hae Pha Khuen That Festival
Hae Pha Khuen That Festival is celebrated at Phra Borom That Chedi. The pagoda is considered to be the representative of Lord Buddha and is believed by locals to possess unsurpassed might of righteousness as it contains holy relics. Every year Buddhists pay homage to the pagoda by organizing a procession bearing a religious cloth to wrap around the pagoda to bring good fortune and success. This festival is held twice a year during Makha Bucha Day (the 15th full-moon night of February) and Visakha Bucha Day (the 15th full-moon night of May).