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accommodation in Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand.
Nakhon Si Thammarat
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Nakhon Si Thammarat, the second largest province of the South and the
land of predominant Buddhism during the Srivijaya Period, is 780 kilometres
from Bangkok. It occupies an area of 9,942 square kilometres consisting of
high plateau and mountains in the west then sloping down towards the east
and becoming a basin along the coastline of the Gulf of Thailand.
In addition to its great history, Nakhon Si Thammarat boasts pristine
verdant jungles abundant with luxuriant vegetation and is also noted for
picturesque beaches and beautiful waterfalls.
How to get to Nakhon Si Thammarat
Boundary North Borders Surat
Thani and Gulf of Thailand
South Borders Phatthalung and Songkhla
East Borders Gulf of Thailand
West Borders Trang and Krabi
Distances from Amphoe Muang to Other Districts:
- Pak Phanang 36 kilometres
- Cha-uat 71 kilometres
- Chian Yai 52 kilometres
- Hua Sai 66 kilometres
- Chaloem Phra Kiat 22 kilometres
- Ron Phibun 32 kilometres
- Chulabhorn 50 kilometres
- Bang Khan 94 kilometres
- Chawang 71 kilometres
- Tha Sala 32 kilometres
- Sichon 66 kilometres
- Khanom 100 kilometres
- Phrom Khiri 21 kilometres
- Lan Saka 21 kilometres
- Phipun 93 kilometres
- Thung Song 55 kilometres
- Thung Yai 102 kilometres
- Tham Phannara 107 kilometres
- Chang Klang 50 kilometres
- Nopphitam 50 kilometres
Distances from Nakhon Si Thammarat to Nearby
Provinces:
- Surat Thani 134 kilometres
- Trang 123 kilometres
- Phatthalung 112 kilometres
- Songkhla 161 kilometres
- Krabi 233 kilometres
- Phuket 366 kilometres
By Car
Take Highway No. 4 on the Bangkok-Prachuap Khiri Khan-Chumphon route and
then Highway No. 41 past Surat Thani-Thung Song until arriving in Nakhon Si
Thammarat or Amphoe Phun Phin in Surat Thani, then take Highway No. 401
along the coast to Nakhon Si Thammarat.
By Bus
Regular and air-conditioned buses of the Transport Co. and private companies
depart from Bangkok's Southern Bus Terminal. The trip takes about 12 hours.
Air-conditioned buses, varying in 3 types, leave Bangkok at the following
times:
VIP Bus: 5.15 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Standard 1 Bus: 9 a.m., 6 p.m. and 8.30 p.m.
Standard 2 Bus: 6.40 a.m., 6 p.m., 8 p.m. and 10 p.m.
For more information, contact tel. 0 2435 1199-200 (air-conditioned buses).
Nakhon Si Thammarat Bus Staiton tel: 0 7534 1125.
Travel within the province is easy with mini-bus service around the city.
Transport to nearby provinces includes vans, taxis, buses, and trains.
By Train
There are rapid and express trains departing from Bangkok Railway Station to
Nakhon Si Thammarat at 5.35 p.m. and 7.15 p.m. respectively. For more
information, contact tel. 1690, 0 2223 7010, 0 2223 7020 or call Nakhon Si
Thammarat train station at tel. 0 7535 6364, 0 7534 6129.
By Air
PB Air provides daily flight services from Bangkok to Nakhon Si Thammarat.
For more information, contact their Bangkok office at tel. 0-2261-0220 5.
Thai Airways has daily flights connecting Bangkok with Nakhon Si Thammarat.
For more information, contact their Bangkok office at tel. 0 2280 0060, 0
2628 2000, the Nakhon Si Thammarat Office tel. 0 7534 2491, 0 7534 3874, or
view their website at
www.thaiairways.com.
Nok Air offers three daily flights from Bangkok to Nakhon Si Thammarat. Call
1318 or book online at www.nokair.com
Festivals
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 livings 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).
Local Products
Brassware
Brassware can be found at the Suan Maphrao Thai-Muslim village behind Wat
Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan. The only brassware product now available is a
cylinder for making noodles.
Kapho fans
Kapho fans are made from a kind of palm called Ton Pho by locals. The
villagers of Ban Khok Yang in Ron Phibun use their spare time to make the
fans. The leaves are dried and then woven into fans. Some are dyed into
bright colors and sold at reasonable prices. Kapho fans are well known and
sold throughout the country. Fans in Nakhon Si Thammarat can be bought at
stores at Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan, souvenir shops on Tha Chang Road
and in Bowon Bazaar in the Tha Wang market area.
Necklaces
Necklaces have long been the work of local silversmiths who can create gold,
silver and mixed (gold, silver and an alloy) necklaces. The centre is at Tha
Chang Road behind Sanam Na Mueang.
Nielloware
Nielloware is a famous craft of the province and is well known since the old
days. There are two types; black surface with white designs and black
surface with gold designs. The Nakhon Si Thammarat College of Arts and
Handicrafts teaches this craft. Nielloware of this province is popular for
its durability and intricate designs by hand. The finished product is a
bright, shiny black object with beautiful patterns. Items include rings,
necklaces, bracelets, bowls, pedestals, and trays. The best shopping area is
Tha Chang Road, behind Sanam Na Mueang in the area of Wat Phra Mahathat
Woramahawihan, Nakhon Si Thammarat Municipality, and the Tha Wang market
area.
Shadow play
Shadow play making is an art that goes with the popular southern
entertainment of shadow play. Thai shadow play figures have been transformed
from those found in Java so that they are now very Thai. The hands and feet
of the figures are fully movable during performances. The hide used can be
either raw cow or goat hide. Designs are made by using chisels of various
sizes to make small holes along drawn patterns. The price of each figure
varies according to the delicateness and size of each one. Shadow play
figures are now important products of Nakhon Si Thammarat and Phatthalung.
Nakhon Si Thammarat city, in particular, has plenty of shops selling this
unique product.
Souvenir
The souvenirs of Nakhon Si Thammarat include silverware, brassware,
nielloware, and Yan Liphao basketry. They can be purchased from stores in
the area of Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan, behind Sanam Na Mueang, Tha
Chang Road, Tha Wang area, Burapha Plaza, Bowon Bazaar, Robinson Ocean
Department Store, Twin Lotus Hotel, etc.
Yan Liphao basketry
Yan Liphao basketry is another famous product of the South, particularly in
Nakhon Si Thammarat where people have been making it for over 100 years. Yan
Liphao is a climbing plant that grows in damp places. It likes to exist
among other plants. The trunk is very tough and durable, so locals found a
way to make good use of it by making household goods such as handbags,
tobacco boxes, tea utensils, etc. Some pieces are encased in silver alloy,
gold alloy or gold. It takes around 10 days to a month to make one item,
depending on the details of the design. The major Yan Liphao production
spots are Ban Mon, Tambon Tha Rua and Ban Na Khian, Tambon Na Khian, both in
Amphoe Mueang, and families in Fort Vajiravudh.
Dinning
Amphoe Mueang
Krua Khun Pa (ครัวคุณป้า) (Thai food, Isan food and Sea food)
Saphan Yao Road, Tel: 0 7531 6285-6
Chan Nakorn Suki (จันทร์นครสุกี้) (Chinese food and Suki )
Phattanakarn Ku Kwang Road, Tel: 0 7532 1962
