| 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.
Ho Phra Narai
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.
Wirathai Monument
Wirathai Monument is made of blackened copper. The monument
features a soldier in a ready to fight stance with a
bayonet. The locals call this monument Cha Dam or Chao
Pho Dam. It was erected to honor Thai soldiers in southern
Thailand who died fighting an invading Japanese force
in World War II on December 8, 1941. The monument is
on Ratchadamnoen Road in Fort Vajiravudh, the headquarters
of the Fourth Region Army. The fort compound itself
has conference rooms, guesthouses, a golf course, a
shooting range, and a souvenir shop. |
