Nakhon Si Thammarat Budget Travel Guide helps you get to know this city in southern Thailand. I write this for the benefit of people who are interested to visit Nakhon Si Thammarat. The places of interest in this city are listed and described for your benefit.
About Nakhon Si Thammarat
Nakhon Si Thammarat is a city in southern Thailand. Tourists often pass through it without stopping on their way between Koh Samui and Hat Yai. As it is still not a popular tourist destination, not many foreign visitors come here. For that reason I am writing this guide so that it can become better known.
Nakhon Si Thammarat is the capital of a Thai province of the same name. This lengthy name comes from the Pali-Sanskrit name, which reads "Negara Sri Dhammaraja", which means "City of the Sacred Dharma King". The name becomes Nakhon Si Thammarat in Thai. Incidentally, the same word "negara" becomes "Angkor" in Khmer.
Scholars believe that Nakhon Si Thammarat was the centre of the Srivijaya kingdom, an ancient kingdom that flourished in southern Thailand since the 3rd century AD. According to the Ramkamhaeng stele in Sukhothai, it fell under the realm of the Sukhothai kingdom, and later was absorbed as a tributary kingdom to Ayutthaya.
According to the chronicles of Nakhon Si Thammarat, the city itself was in the receiving end of tributes from twelve cities on the Malay peninsula, represented by twelve animals of the zodiac. The twelve cities are Saiburi (represented by the mouse), Pattani (ox), Kelantan (tiger), Pahang - most likely Kota Gelanggi (rabbit), Kedah (dragon), Phatthalung (snake), Trang (horse), Chumphon (goat), Baytaysamer or Chaiya (monkey), Saulau - may be Songkhla or Kanchanadit or Pla Tha (cock), Takua Pa (dog) and Kraburi (pig).
Most visitors arrive by road from Hat Yai. It is about one to two hours from Hat Yai. Alternatively, you can also fly to Nakhon Si Thammarat from Bangkok on Thai AirAsia.
Budget Travel within Nakhon Si Thammarat
As with most small towns in Thailand, you are better off with your own transport. Otherwise, look for tuk tuk and hire them by the hour to take you to the places of interest.
Places of Interest in Nakhon Si Thammarat
Bovorn Bazaar A courtyard with cafés and restaurants.
City Wall Ancient wall encircling Nakhon Si Thammarat.
Ho Phra Buddha Sihing Temple housing a replica of the Phra Buddha Sing, one of the most revered Buddha images in Thailand.
Ho Phra I-suan Shrine dedicated to the Hindu deity Shiva, represented by by a shivalinga, the phallic.
Ho Phra Narai Shrine where five lingas dating to AD 1,000 were discovered.
Nakhon Si Thammarat National Museum Museum with ancient artifacts found in southern Thailand, including a 9th century Vishnu statue in the south Indian style.
Suchart House Shadow puppet practitioner still engaged in this dying form of performing arts.
Tha Chang Road Road in Nakhon Si Thammarat famous for its gold and silversmiths. Traditionally only the best artisans were allowed to locate there.
Wat Phra Mahathat One of the most sacred Buddhist temples in Thailand, believed to be 1,500 years old.
Wat Sao Thong Tong Temple with an intricate Thai wooden house from the late 19th century in its compound.
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