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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.
 Boundary
North
Borders Surat Thani and Gulf of Thailand
South Borders Phattalung 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
- Phattalung 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 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. 2237010, 2237020 or call Nakhon Si
Thammarat train station at tel. (075) 356364, 346129.
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 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.
Nok Air offers three daily flights from Bangkok to Nakhon Si
Thammarat. Call 1318
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 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).
Chak Phra
or Lak 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 Month
 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.
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