NAKHON SI THAMMARAT

Nakhon Si Thammarat town is the centre of Buddhism in the South, with a history dating back to the Srivijaya period. The most famous sight is Wat Phra Mahathat with its massive 1,500- year-old chedi containing relics of Lord Buddha brought from Sri Lanka.

History permeates the town, with an almost intact old city wall dating to the 13th century, various Brahman shrines and old temples, and a sala containing the revered Phra Buddha Sihing image. The National Museum houses a huge collection of fascinating Thai artifacts.

To the west, the province is very mountainous with Khao Luang National Park home to the highest peak in southern Thailand and full of fascinating scenery, waterfalls and flora. At the foot of the mountains, the agrotourism village of Khiriwong is the place to hire guides for treks into the park. The beaches are some of the best on the southeast coast, especially those like Khanom beach close to Surat Thani.