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| Nakhon Si Thammarat | ||
| province | Nakhon Si Thammarat | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents | 106.322 (2014) | |
no tourist info on Wikidata:  | ||
| location | ||
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Nakhon Si Thammarat(นครศรีธรรมราช) is the capital of eponymous province as well as one of the largest and oldest cities in Southern Thailand
background
Nakhon Si Thammarat is one of the oldest and most historic cities in Thailand. Presumably the center of the historical kingdom was located here Tambralinga, which already existed in the 1st millennium of the Christian era. For a time it was one of the centers of the Buddhist maritime empire Srivijaya (something like the "Hanseatic League" of Southeast Asia). In general, Nakhon Si Thammarat played an important role in the spread of Buddhism, which was adopted from Sri Lanka, in Thailand. An important relic of the Buddha is said to be kept here. Later Nakhon Si Thammarat became a kingdom of the Thai, which was temporarily subordinate to the kingdoms of Sukhothai and later Ayutthaya as a vassal, but always maintained a certain degree of independence and was ruled by its own dynasty. In the early modern period it became an important hub for overseas trade, with Dutch and Portuguese traders among others.
getting there
| Distances | |
| Bangkok | 780 km |
|---|---|
| Has yai | 195 km |
| Phuket | 301 km |
By plane
Nakhon Si Thammarat has its own Nakhon Si Thammarat
(IATA: NST), about 14 km north of the city center. Nok Air, Thai AirAsia and Thai Lion Air approached. The flight takes 1:10 hours. The standard price for one route is 1,025 (Thai Lion) 2,306 (AirAsia) or 3,099 THB (Nok Air), saver prices are available from 490 (AirAsia), 825 (Thai Lion) or 849 THB (Nok Air; as of November 2015).
The car rental companies are at the airport Advice, budget, Sixt and Thai Rent a Car represented.
By train
Nakhon Si Thammarat Station is the end of a branch line on the southern line of the Thai Railway. Two pairs of trains run from / to Bangkok per day (or rather per night). The faster ones express- Trains need 3:35 hours. A 3rd class seat costs 283 THB, a 2nd class sleeping car place from 728–828 THB, 1st class 1,272–1,472 THB (as of November 2015). The trains stop in Phetchaburi, Hua Hin, Chumphon and Surat Thani. Current timetable and prices
By bus
Long-distance buses run from Bangkok's bus station Sai Tai approx. 11 hours. A ticket costs between 619 and 959 THB, depending on the car class.
mobility
Tourist Attractions
- Wat Phra Mahathat (วัด พระ มหาธาตุ วรมหาวิหาร). The city's most famous Buddhist temple and one of the oldest in Thailand. It was built when the city was founded and is said to house a tooth relic of the Buddha. Particularly noteworthy is the bell-shaped, 74 meter high Chedi in the Sri Lankan style with a square base, which is surrounded by 173 smaller chedis in a small courtyard. Its history goes back to the 8th, maybe even 5th century. More about this in Wikipedia article.
- Historic city wall. It is already mentioned in the city chronicle of 1278. It was renewed in the 14th century under King Ramesuan and again in 1686 during the reign of King Narai with the help of the French engineer M. de la Mare. Its east-west extension is 456 m, in north-south direction it is 2238 m long, so it encloses an area of about 1 km². In the northern part there is only one gate, the Pratu Chai Nuea or Pratu Chai Sak; there was also a gate in the south. The eastern part, on the other hand, had three gates, the western part five. Today only the north gate with a piece of the historic wall still exists.
- National Museum. Interesting collection of works of art, including with a unique Vishnu figure from the 5th century.
- San Lak Mueang. Shrine with the “city pillar”, the symbolic center of the province and the assumed place of residence of its guardian spirits. Almost every provincial capital in Thailand has one, but that of Nakhon Si Thammarat is particularly magnificent.
Wat Phra Mahathat
North gate of the city wall
San Lak Müang
activities
- Hae Pha Khuen That. The Hae Pha Khuen That festival is one of the highlights of the year. It is celebrated on the occasion of Magha Puja (Makha Bucha), the full moon day in February. A large parade with long white, yellow, red or brightly painted cloths moves through the city to Wat Phra Mahathat, its chedis (especially the highly revered main chedi Phra Mahathat) then wrap the towels around them. Celebrants come from the wider area, sometimes even from other Buddhist countries, some dress up, perform dances, etc.
shop
Nakhon Si Thammarat is an important center of Thai handicrafts, including known for masterful goldsmithing in the niello technique (rubbing impression).
kitchen
nightlife
accommodation
Cheap
- Bua Long Hotel (Close to the night market), 1487/19 Chamroenwithi Rd. Tel.: 66 (0)75-341002, Fax: 66 (0)75-343418. Price: THB 170/240/340/420 (single room / double room with fan / single room / double room with A / C).
| Phone code | 075 |
|---|---|
| Post Code | 80000 |
trips
- Khao Kha, in Sao Phao, Amphoe Sichon. Excavation site with 1500-year-old remains and a laterite shrine on the mountain peak, which is regarded as sacred, small museum (only on weekdays, closes at 4 p.m.), approx. 60 km north, a little off the coast road (No. 401) to Surat Thani.
- Beaches of Amphoe Khanom. About 80 km north, lie Ko Samui "Opposite" on the mainland.
- Nam Tok Phrom Lok, in Amphoe Phromkhiri. Three-tier waterfall, 24 km northwest, on road 4016.
- Tham Hong Cave, in Amphoe Nopphitam. With an underground river system, a good 70 km northwest.
National parks
- Khao Luang National Park. 597 km²; extends around the mountain Khao Luang (1,835 m high) with a lot of rainforest; the water tumbles down several steps over hundreds of meters high waterfalls. About 30 km to the west on road No. 4015. More on this in Wikipedia article.
- Hat Khanom-Mu Ko Thale Tai National Park, is in Sichon and Khanom counties. Mainly consists of primary forest, but there are also some mangrove forests; 80 km north on the coastal road (No. 401) towards Surat Thani.
- Nam Tok Yong National Park. 205 km², large newer national park; about 55 km southwest, on national road 41 (Asian Highway 2) towards Surat Thani. More about this in Wikipedia article.
literature
- : Nakhon Sri Thammarat: The Archeology, History and Legend of a Southern Thai Town. Bangkok: White Lotus Press, 2001, ISBN 974-7534-73-8 .
