Nakhon Sri Thammarat - Wat Phra Mahathat Vihan

Nakhon Sri Thammarat is a very old city by Thai standards as it is more than 1,000 years old and contains many buildings and ruins of historical significance. It was originally located along the coast, wich explains why the city is oriented north-south (i.e., long and narrow).

While the chedi is now in Sri Lankan style, it is said to be built on top of an earlier Srivijaya style chedi. The chedi completed a renovation in early 2009 and now appears like new. Adjoining to the north is the Viharn Kien, which contains a small temple museum.

The chedi is the symbol of the Nakhon Si Thammarat province, present in the seal of the province. It is also displayed on the 25 satang coin.

Wat Phra Mahathat Vihan is the most important temple of Nakhon Si Thammarat and indeed in all of southern Thailand. It was constructed at the time of the founding of the town, and contains a tooth relic of Buddha. The 78 m high chedi (Phra Baromathat) is surrounded by 173 smaller ones.

  

A few years back, there was a frenzy to get hands on amulets from Wat Phra Mahathat Vihan as word spread that owning such an amulet would ensure the owner the winning numbers in the state lottery. Needless to say that soon a mass production of „lucky amulets“ started. For the temple and for middle-men, this was a very lucrative trade for a while.