Surat Thani - Chaiya

Chaiya is one of oldest cities in Thailand and is well worth a visit. It was once a thriving center for trade and therefore has plenty of historic sites. Chaiya was a regional capital in the Srivijaya kingdom of the 5th to 13th century - some historians even claim that it was the capital for the kingdom for some time, but this is largely disputed.

More interesting than these disputes is Wat Praborommathatchaiyaratchaworawiham. This temple has an ancient chedi that houses Buddha relics that are highly revered by local residents. The restored Phra Borom That Chaiya is believed to have been built more than 1,200 years ago.

The adjjacent branch of the National Museum has several relicts of that time on display.