Let's travel to Nakhon Si Thammarat! A concise guide to exploring the city of Nakhon Si Thammarat.

Come visit my house, little sister.

Nakhon Si Thammarat is another province worth visiting with a long history. Today, we will take you on a short tour of the city center.

The first stop was the landmark of the province, Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan. Unfortunately, the main stupa was under renovation during our visit, so we couldn't climb up to pay our respects. The temple has undergone significant renovations since our last visit. The small stupas surrounding the main one have been restored and repainted, but we preferred their original, more weathered appearance.

To make merit, insert coins into the slot. After inserting the coins, please do not leave immediately. Next to the slot, there is a small room with a Buddha statue inside. However, it is not open every day. On the day I visited, it happened to be open. I went in to pay my respects to the Buddha.

The main stupa is not accessible at this time. Normally, visitors can walk up to the stupa.

Pagodas and cannons in the surrounding area

King Taksin the Great Memorial

Visiting and paying respects at the replica of the Buddha's footprint.

If you're looking for souvenirs, both shadow puppets and traditional sweets like "Khanom La" are available for purchase and sampling at the temple. For silverware, there are many shops located near the temple. Feel free to stop by and browse their selection.

Leaving the temple, we set out to find Mangkudkhat. Along the way, we encountered the Giant Pagoda. Legend has it that the pagoda was built by giants who competed with humans. Whoever finished building their pagoda first would claim the city. The human-built pagoda is the Phra Maha Chedi at Wat Phra That. According to legend, the humans, realizing they were falling behind the giants, resorted to a trick. They wrapped cloth around their pagoda to make it appear finished. The giants, believing they had lost, became enraged and kicked the top of their pagoda, breaking it off, resulting in its current state.

Giant pagoda

Behold, the elusive Mangosteen Krad! Initially, we were perplexed, unsure of its identity. Upon inquiring with our mother, we discovered it to be unripe mangosteen. It is treated with limewater, sorted, and peeled, resulting in the appearance depicted in the image.

The selected mangosteen is called "mangosteen khat," which means "selected mangosteen."

The price is not quite affordable, it's actually quite expensive, haha. 100 baht for 6 pieces. But it's delicious, I must say. The taste is just like mangosteen, but not too sweet yet. It's crunchy and creamy. It's best to eat it chilled.

This looks like this. It's my first time eating it.

After satisfying my cravings, I went to pay respects at the City Pillar Shrine. It was a beautiful sight, with its pristine white color.

The interior is the main city pillar shrine.

The door panels are adorned with intricate carvings, each unique in its design. A single photograph captures one such panel.

Finally, the old city wall. We have a house in Nakhon, but this is our first time here. We feel like we've missed out on so much!

I drove and parked near the field in front of the city. I came across the old police station. I really like this kind of atmosphere. I love the classic architecture.

Old police station

The old police station is located near the city square, which has a fountain area next to the old city wall. It is an activity area with a fountain.

Gazing out, one can see the ancient city walls on both sides, making it a sight worth exploring, no less than other provinces.

Walking back near the parking lot, you'll find another section of the city wall. Let me tell you, this spot is perfect for portrait photography! We got so many great shots, but I'll keep those to myself for now. 😉

Another section of the wall

After a long day of walking in the scorching afternoon sun, we decided to grab a bite to eat before heading home. We opted for a meal at Kopi, a renowned establishment in Nakhon. As the saying goes, "If you haven't eaten at Kopi, you haven't truly experienced Nakhon." It was time to put this claim to the test.

The menu offers a wide variety of dishes with unique and interesting names. Today, I ordered chicken with sauce, braised pork rice, bak kut teh, and stewed pork rice. I especially enjoyed the chicken with sauce, which tasted similar to canned fish sauce.

There are many drinks available. We ordered iced cocoa, which was delicious and had the perfect amount of sweetness. My friend's coffee, called Kopi Chino, was also very fragrant and flavorful.

Behind the shop is a pond, which is the Wang Chao Nakhon pond. This area was originally the palace of the ruler of Nakhon Si Thammarat.

A quick note before I end. While riding in the car through the city, we passed by many buildings and houses. If we had more time, it would have been a great opportunity to take lots of pictures. We were in the car, so I was only able to take one quick picture of the Rajathani Department Store, an old department store in the city. Next to it was an old movie theater that looked a bit spooky, but also very photogenic. There were even a few old posters still remaining. If you ever visit Nakhon Si Thammarat, be sure to stop by and take some pictures. If I have the chance, I'd like to go back and take some photos of the old buildings myself. See you again on my next trip! Byeee ^___^