Nakhon Si Thammarat Historical Sight

Driving home from the tourist destination Khanom, we have often seen a sign reading “Nakhon Si Thammarat historical sight.”  Finally making the decision to find the place we turned off the highway and headed down a side road.  After driving for some time we saw the same sign with an arrow pointing to the left.  We took the first left which entered through a topical elaborate Thai temple gate.

As a farang entering temple grounds I always feel a little out of place.  Not really knowing what building is what and were to park I pulled up beside another bike and parked.  The area is cool shaded by trees, leaves and random stones lay on the gray white gravel that covers most of the ground, the place looks a bit run down.  All we see are some dogs, hens, and roosters.  The dogs look young and playful but still a little hesitant to come to us.  The hens scratching around with there chicks, and roosters strutting, showing off there feathers.

To the left we see some old ruins enclosed by a low brick wall.  With only the foundation left of an old temple.  You can see the old stones edges worn away and rounded off, with new bricks cemented on top trying to preserve the ruins.  The red and orange bricks are all that is left of the structure but laying around there are are old granite stones and pillars that look like they may have been part of the temple at one time.  Some are carved with designs while most are just chiseled into large bricks.  As part of the whole complex we found a small playground rusted and worn.  It’s nestled in close to the ruins almost being part of a big playground.


On leaving the old empty Hindu temple we return back to the main Buddhist temple grounds.  We now see the temple has life.  A few men resting under a tree giving nods of welcome.  A young monk lighting a cigarette.  An elderly monk beloved by the dogs, hens, and roosters who follow closely behind.