'''Nakhon Pathom''' (??????, also ''Nakorn Pathom'') is the capital of Nakhon Pathom Province, Thailand and the site of the '''world's largest stupa'''.

Get in

By bus

BKS public buses (lines 83 and 997) leave from Bangkok's Southern Bus Terminal. The trip costs 40 baht in first class and takes about an hour in good traffic. Buses go every 10 minutes from 04:10 until 21:30.

There are also 2nd class buses to Kanchanaburi every 15-30 minutes.

In addition there is a non-stop minibus service between Bangkok's Victory Monument and the Big C Superstore in Nakhon Pathom. Victory Monument is far more convenient than the Southern Bus Terminal, and is on the skytrain light rail system. But the departure point from Victory Monument is hard to find, being located under the expressway, about 50 metres north of the roundabout, on Phahon Yothin Road (look up and around for the "Canon" billboard for the direction). At the other end, Big C is on the main road through Nakhon Pathom, and has plenty of four-wheel and two-wheel taxis to take you to your final destination. Cost is currently 60 baht each way.

By train

Trains from Bangkok's Thonburi Train Station to Kanchanaburi/Nam Tok stop at Nakhon Pathom along the way.

Get around

See

  • '''Wat Sisathong '''. The temple famous for residing the god "phra rahu".??????? or "PHRA RAHU" is said to be the mythical god of darkness.Worshippers often offer Rahu eight black offerings, which are black chicken, black jelly, black liquor, black rice and black pudding.In year 1997, Khunying Phankrua Yongchaiyudh,the Prime Minister Chavalit's wife, seek help from phra Rahu, the mythical god of darkness, to keep her husband's coalition government in one piece. Seeking the blessing and repel bad luck from phra rahu is a common practice. Wat SisaThong is most popular with Rahu followers as it has a giant statue of phra Rahu, said to be the largest in Thailand.
  • '''Phra Pathom Chedi'''. Towering over the low-rises of central Nakhom Pathom, at 120 meters this massive brick stupa is the largest in the world. It also makes a respectable claim to being Thailand's oldest Buddhist temple, dating back to the 6th century AD, although the present structure is mostly the handiwork of King Mongkut (1853) and his successors. There is no entry into the stupa itself, which is said to house a relic of the Buddha, but you can circumambulate the stupa in the inner courtyard and admire the giant golden Buddha on the southern side (always packed with worshippers). Also take some time to look around the many smaller temple halls around the chedi. Entrance is theoretically 20 baht, although this is loosely enforced at best.
  • '''Sanam Chan Palace'''. Previously summer residence for King Rama VI. Right in front of the palace locates a monument of Yah Leh, his beloved dog. Also wander around the beautiful Silpakorn University campus attached. Every Wednesday there is a student market selling T-shirts, and the cafeteria near the lake provides excellent Thai food every day at rock-bottom prices.
  • '''Damnoen Saduak Floating Market''' - The best-known floating market in Thailand. From Nakhon Pathom, taking bus No 78. from the Bus Stop in front of Police Station (Kwaa-Pra Road). It would take about 1 hour to get there. Buses come every 30 mins. The first bus comes approximately 6:30AM. The best time to catch the bus is around 7:30AM- 8:00AM, otherwise the tour buses from Bangkok will get there first and it will be too touristy. The market really starts around 8 AM and closes around 11:30AM.
  • Do

    Eat

    The Night Market [in the area of Pagoda or Chedi (aka ONG-PRA)] is located on the west side of the pagoda. There are many food hawkers or food stalls where you can enjoy a variety of food. It's a cheap and clean open air food court, open 18:00-23:00. Don't forget to drop in at '''Flying Ice Cream''' - you'll be fascinated by how ice cream flies. You can also sample what is reputadly the best Khao Lam (sticky rice and coconut milk cooked in bamboo) in all of Thailand.

  • There is a restaurant with no English sign on Thanon Ratchadamnoen, a few minutes walk towards Sanam Chan from the Chedi. Transliterated the name is roughly Ratchaphreuk. If heading towards Sanam Chan it is on the left, and is recognisable by it's plastic table and chairs in a comfortable beer garden. Sometimes the place has karaoke. The food is good traditional Thai, but you will be tested on your knowledge of Thai cuisine as there is no English menu.
  • '''Any Order''' (''Raan A-haan Taam Sung''), Rajdamnern Rd (''towards Sanamchan Palace from Chedi, at the far corner of the first block on the right, opposite side of 7-11, if you face towards Sanamchan''). Clean and cheap. They provide English Menu with their signature dishes. Open daily until midnight to 1AM.
  • '''Yuer Mai''', Rajdamnern Rd (''around 5 mins on the left hand side, opposite side of Catholic Church''). Nice and simple Thai dishes, air-conditioning.
  • Drink

    Sleep

    All the hotels in Nakhon Pathom are like hotels in most other provincial capitals - designed for Thais, and straight out of the 1970s. At the Nakhon Inn, for example, they haven't changed their brochure since the early 1980s, and the photos of the rooms still match exactly to the rooms you'll stay in. That said, they are comfortable and prices are very reasonable.

  • '''Mitsampant Hotel''', 2/11 Rachadamnern Road, Nakhon Pathom, 73000 (''above the Mitsampant electric appliance store, right next to the chedi on the West side and across Shell gas station''); tel. ''+66''-34252010. Nice and clean, very friendly owners who speak fluent English. Rooms from 200 baht a night. A handout of local map in English is available for free for all tourists.
  • '''Mitpaisal Hotel''', 120/30 Prayapan Road, Nakhon Pathom, 73000. tel. ''+66''-34242422. Six-storey hotel located close to the air-con bus station to Bangkok and the fruit market, less than a quarter mile to the north from the chedi. Better than Mitsampant and Nakhon Inn, but the price is still very affordable. The room and bathroom are very clean. A handout of the local map in English is available for free with very helpful insight of area of attractions including very descriptive of transportation to other popular provinces.
  • '''Nakhon Inn''', 55 Rajivithi Road, Nakhon Pathom, 73000. tel. +66 (0) 34 251 152. Large hotel in a small cul-de-sac off the road which the Bangkok Buses travel down. Very close to the Chedi, and a 15 minute walk to Sanam Chan. An internet cafe is located in a shop outside. Opt for a room which overlooks the Chedi, as the rooms on the other side sits directly above a school - you'll be woken at the crack of dawn by the screaming chorus of Thai kids being dropped off by their parents. Rooms have clean bathrooms and beds, a fridge, there is a hotel restaurant and the building has a lift. The reception staff have limited English. Rooms from 300 baht a night.
  • '''Whale Hotel''', Rajivithi Road, Nakhon Pathom, 73000. This large hotel also has an attached restaurant and nightclub. It is the best situated hotel to visit Silpakorn University and Sanam Chan Palace grounds, however it is a bit far from the Chedi. It is also the priciest hotel in town.
  • Get out

  • Kanchanaburi - site of the Bridge over the River Kwai and the start of the Death Railway