Nakhon si thammarat: If one were to speak of the greatest spiritual center for Buddhists in Southern Thailand, none could compare to "Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan," or simply "Wat Phra That" as the locals affectionately call it. Located on Ratchadamnoen Road, Nai Mueang Subdistrict, Mueang Nakhon Si Thammarat District, this sacred ancient site is not only a symbol of pride for the people of Nakhon Si Thammarat but also a pillar of architecture and Buddhism with a history intertwined with Thailand for over 1,500 years.
According to Thai News Agency, the most prominent symbol and heart of the temple is the "Phra Borommathat Chedi," an inverted bell-shaped stupa (Sri Lankan architectural style) that is one of the oldest and most beautiful in Southeast Asia. It enshrines the "dental relic" (sacred canine tooth) of the Lord Buddha. The artistic marvel that captivates people worldwide is the pagoda's spire, standing over 10.89 meters tall and covered in over 141 kilograms of pure gold. When sunlight strikes the spire, it glows with a wondrous brilliance. Furthermore, this pagoda has a unique legend associated with it as the "shadowless pagoda," because, miraculously, no matter the direction from which the sun shines, it casts no shadow on the ground.
With its sacred heritage dating back to the Srivijaya Kingdom and the legend of King Sri Dharma Sokaraja, this is a first-class royal temple of the "Varamahavihara" type (of which there are only 6 in Thailand). Buddhists from all over the world believe that visiting and paying homage to the stupa containing the Buddha's relics is the highest blessing in life, as reflected in the deeply ingrained saying in the hearts of Thai people: "In one's lifetime, to have the opportunity to pay homage to the sacred relics of Nakhon Si Thammarat, even just once, would be considered a great merit."
This faith has also given rise to the "Procession of Cloth to the Relic" tradition, a living custom that has been passed down for thousands of years. On Makha Bucha Day and Visakha Bucha Day, Buddhists come together to carry "Phra Bot cloths" (long strips of cloth painted with images of the Buddha's life) in a procession and then wrap them around the base of the Phra Borommathat Chedi (pagoda) to worship the Buddha up close.
With its outstanding universal value, both in terms of its architecture-a model for later bell-shaped stupas (including those of the Sukhothai and Ayutthaya periods)-and its enduring cultural traditions, Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan is currently being seriously promoted for inscription as a new World Cultural Heritage site of Thailand. This elevation to the international stage will not only help preserve invaluable spiritual values but also open the door to welcome tourists from around the world, which will drive the local economy, expand tourism opportunities, and distribute income to the southern region sustainably.
If you have the chance to travel south, a visit to the magnificent Wat Phra Mahathat in Nakhon Si Thammarat to pay homage and experience the breathtaking spiritual atmosphere will truly fill your life with auspiciousness.