Nakhon Pathom

No reviews yetCity Nakhon Pathom, Thailand

The Little Tree Garden panoramio (1), Nakhon Pathom, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand

Phra Prathom Chedi, Mueang Nakhon Pathom District, Nakhon Pathom 73000, Thailand panoramio (15), Nakhon Pathom, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand

Chedi Bucha Canal panoramio, Nakhon Pathom, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand

About Nakhon Pathom

An orange-tiled dome taller than almost any other Buddhist monument on earth announces Nakhon Pathom long before you reach the centre. Phra Pathom Chedi, about 120 metres high, stands where some of Thailand's earliest Buddhism took root, and the city still lives around its terraces, markets and festivals.

In the first millennium this was a major centre of the Dvaravati culture, whose wheel-of-law stones and stucco figures fill the museum beside the chedi. Much later, King Mongkut ordered the great stupa rebuilt, and his grandson Vajiravudh created Sanam Chandra Palace, a peaceful mix of Thai and English-style buildings that now shares its grounds with Silpakorn University.

Just an hour west of Bangkok, the city makes an easy base for the wider province: floating markets on the Tha Chin River, the vast Buddhist park at Phutthamonthon and the riverside temples of Sam Phran. Bring an appetite for khao lam, sweet sticky rice roasted in bamboo, the snack every visitor carries home.

Best seasonNovember to February, cooler and dry

Ideal stay1-2 days, or a long day trip from Bangkok

ArrivingTrains and buses from Bangkok, about an hour

11 Unforgettable Things to Do in Nakhon Pathom

Temples and Shrines 4

Phra Pathom Chedi

About 120 metres tall and sheathed in glazed orange tiles, this immense bell-shaped stupa is counted among the tallest in the worl...

Phra Prathon Chedi

East of the city centre, this large brick chedi dates back to the Dvaravati era and is one of the oldest Buddhist monuments in the...

Wat Rai Khing

On the banks of the Tha Chin River in Sam Phran, this temple is famous for Luang Pho Wat Rai Khing, a revered Buddha image that dr...

Wat Sam Phran

This unusual temple in Sam Phran is known for a tall, cylindrical pink tower with a giant dragon sculpture coiling around the outs...

Museums 2

Phra Pathom Chedi National Museum

Beside the great stupa, this museum explains Nakhon Pathom's role as a centre of the Dvaravati culture in the first millennium. Hi...

Thai Human Imagery Museum

In Nakhon Chai Si district, this museum displays strikingly lifelike figures made by Thai artists, depicting revered monks, scenes...

Landmarks 1

Sanam Chandra Palace

Begun in 1907 for Crown Prince Vajiravudh, later King Rama VI, this palace blends Thai pavilions with European designs, most notab...

Food and Drink 1

Nakhon Pathom Khao Lam

The city's signature snack is khao lam: glutinous rice mixed with coconut milk, sugar and often black beans or taro, packed into b...

Markets 2

Don Wai Floating Market

Beside a temple on the Tha Chin River in Sam Phran district, this market mostly serves Thai day-trippers rather than tour groups....

Lamphaya Floating Market

Held at weekends on the Tha Chin River in Bang Len district, this relaxed market lets visitors buy noodles, grilled snacks and loc...

Parks 1

Phutthamonthon

This huge landscaped park was created to mark 2,500 years of Buddhism and centres on a towering standing Buddha designed by the sc...

Reviews

No reviews yet. Been to Nakhon Pathom? Be the first to share your experience.

Write a review

Share what you loved, what to skip and tips for other travelers.

Share your photos

Been to Nakhon Pathom? Add your best shots to the gallery.

More places in Nakhon Pathom

Pattaya

Chon Buri, Thailand

Bangkok

Thailand

Chiang Mai

Thailand

Phuket

Thailand

See all places in Thailand →

Photo credits

Photo: Guido Johannes Joerg (Endimione), Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

Photo: Preecha.MJ, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Piyatad, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

Photo: Phong Phat G, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

Photo: Z3144228, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Suikotei, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0

Photo: กสิณธร ราชโอรส, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Kriengsak Jirasirirojanakorn, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: NATNAREE K., Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: yeowatzup, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0

Photo: Supanut Arunoprayote, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0

Photo: Ananda, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain

Photo: Mr.Peerapong Prasutr, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Ddalbiez, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

Photo: Hdamm, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

Photo: Paul_the_Seeker, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0

Photo: Tevaprapas ผู้สร้างสรรค์ผลงาน/ส่งข้อมูลเก็บในคลังข้อมูลเสรีวิกิมีเดียคอมมอนส์ - , Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.5

Photo: Lerdsuwa, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

Photo: MONTREE CHUTANORM, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Ahoerstemeier, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Bankthongluan789, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Angsyl, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Suikotei, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Chongkian, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0