TH · Nakhon Si Thammarat · 8.44°N 99.96°E

nakhon si thammarat

Southern temple town of Wat Phra Mahathat and the shadow puppet tradition.

Best time
February to August is mostly dry. Like the rest of the Gulf coast, it gets heavy rain and sometimes floods from October to December.
How long
2 days, 1 night
Getting there
Fly from KL to Bangkok (about 2 hours), then about 1 hour 15 minutes to Nakhon Si Thammarat. By road, it's about 3 hours' drive from Hat Yai.
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TH · Nakhon Si Thammaratnakhon si thammarat8.44°N 99.96°Egowherelah.com
Dear group chat,Southern temple town of Wat Phra Mahathat and the shadow puppet tradition.— gowherelahTo: whoever’s drivingNakhon Si ThammaratTH, Nakhon Si Thammarat
KLnakhon si thammarat
≈ 620 km from KL, as the crow flies
Wat Phra Baromathat Nakhon Srithammarat

Photo: Matthew Laird Acred http://www.asisbiz.com/Thailand.html / Acred99 (talk) · CC BY-SA 3.0

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Photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each.

One of Thailand's oldest cities and for centuries the main centre of the south. Its heart is Wat Phra Mahathat, with a tall white chedi topped in gold, and the town is also the home of nang talung, southern Thai shadow puppetry. Behind it rise the forested Khao Luang mountains, with waterfalls and fruit-growing villages.

Makan

  1. Khanom jeenFresh rice noodles with southern curries and a pile of raw vegetables, a breakfast staple.Map ↗
  2. Southern Thai curriesExpect turmeric, shrimp paste and plenty of heat.Map ↗

Things to do

  1. Wat Phra Mahathat WoramahawihanThe south's most important temple, with a gold-tipped chedi and cloisters lined with Buddha images.Map ↗
  2. Suchart Subsin's shadow puppet houseWatch nang talung puppets being cut from hide, and sometimes catch a short show.Map ↗
  3. Khiriwong villageA village at the foot of Khao Luang known for fruit orchards and naturally dyed fabrics.Map ↗
  4. Krung Ching WaterfallA forest trail in Khao Luang National Park leading to a tall, tiered waterfall.Map ↗
  5. The old cityStretches of the old city wall and small Hindu shrines near the town centre.Map ↗

Good to know

  • Dress modestly at Wat Phra Mahathat: cover shoulders and knees, and take your shoes off where asked.

Last checked October 2026. Things change, so check opening times, fees and transport before you go.