The second largest province of the South and the land of predominant Buddhism during the Srivijaya Period, is 780 kilometres from Bangkok. It occupies an area of 9,942 square kilometres consisting of high plateau and mountains in the west then sloping down towards the east and becoming a basin along the coastline of the Gulf of Thailand. In addition to its great history, Nakhon Si Thammarat boasts pristine verdant jungles abundant with luxuriant vegetation and is also noted for picturesque beaches and beautiful waterfalls. □ North Borders Surat Thani and Gulf of Thailand
□ South Borders Phattalung and Songkhla
□ East Borders Gulf of Thailand
□ West Borders Trang and Krabi

- Pak Phanang 36 kilometres	- Bang Khan 94 kilometres	- Phipun 93 kilometres
- Cha-uat 71 kilometres	- Chawang 71 kilometres	- Thung Song 55 kilometres
- Chian Yai 52 kilometres	- Tha Sala 32 kilometres	- Thung Yai 102 kilometres
- Chaloem Phra Kiat 22 kilometres	- Sichon 66 kilometres	- Tham Phannara 107 kilometres
- Hua Sai 66 kilometres	- Khanom 100 kilometres
- Ron Phibun 32 kilometres	- Phrom Khiri 21 kilometres
- Chulabhorn 50 kilometres	- Lan Saka 21 kilometres

- Surat Thani 134 kilometres
- Trang 123 kilometres
- Phattalung 112 kilometres
- Songkhla 161 kilometres
- Krabi 233 kilometres
- Phuket 366 kilometres By Car:
Take Highway No.4 on the Bangkok-Prachuap Khiri Khan-Chumphon route and then Highway No.41 past Surat Thani-Thung Song until arriving in Nakhon Si Thammarat or Amphoe Phun Phin in Surat Thani, then take Highway No.401 along the coast to Nakhon Si Thammarat. There are rapid and express trains departing from Bangkok Railway Station to Nakhon Si Thammarat at 5.35 p.m. and 7.15 p.m. respectively.
For more information, contact tel. 2237010, 2237020 or call Nakhon Si Thammarat train station at tel. (075) 356364, 346129. PB Air provides daily flight services from Bangkok to Nakhon Si Thammarat.
For more information, contact their Bangkok office at tel. 0-2261-0220 5.

VIP Bus: 5.15 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Standard 1 Bus: 9 a.m., 6 p.m. and 8.30 p.m.
Standard 2 Bus: 6.40 a.m., 6 p.m., 8 p.m. and 10 p.m.

For more information, contact tel. 0 2435 1199-200 (air-conditioned buses). Nakhon Si Thammarat Bus Staiton tel: 0 7534 1125.

Travel within the province is easy with mini-bus service around the city. Transport to nearby provinces includes vans, taxis, buses, and trains.

PB Air provides daily flight services from Bangkok to Nakhon Si Thammarat.
For more information, contact their Bangkok office at tel. 0-2261-0220 5.

Thai Airways has daily flights connecting Bangkok with Nakhon Si Thammarat.

For more information, contact their Bangkok office at tel. 0 2280 0060, 0 2628 2000, the Nakhon Si Thammarat Office tel. 0 7534 2491, 0 7534 3874.

Nok Air offers three daily flights from Bangkok to Nakhon Si Thammarat. Call 1318

Hae Pha Khuen That Festival
Hae Pha Khuen That Festival is celebrated at Phra Borom That Chedi. The pagoda is considered to be the representative of Lord Buddha and is believed by locals to possess unsurpassed might of righteousness as it contains holy relics. Every year Buddhists pay homage to the pagoda by organizing a procession bearing a religious cloth to wrap around the pagoda to bring good fortune and success. This festival is held twice a year during Makha Bucha Day (the 15th full-moon night of February) and Visakha Bucha Day (the 15th full-moon night of May). Chak Phra or Lak Phra Festival is influenced by Indian culture, which expanded into the province a long time ago. The festival signifies the joy that people had when Lord Buddha returned from a star and the Lord was invited to sit on a throne and carried to a palace. In practice, locals would bear a Buddha image holding a bowl in a procession around the city. This is a great way for escape from daily routine and it is a fun competition to find who is the most religious. Held in October, the festival is preceded by activities 7 days before, such as beating drums, playing castanets and decorating the ceremonial throne for the image. The actual ceremony is usually held only on the last day of the Buddhist Lent. People would take the image from the temple in the morning and proceed to Benchama Rachuthit School in Amphoe Muang. This is also done in front of Ron Phibun district office. In addition, there is a water-borne procession on Pak Phanang River in Pak Phanang, which coincides with an annual boat race for a trophy from the Crown Princess. Festival of the Tenth Lunar Month is a grand event of the province and of southern Thailand. This festival is held from the 1st waning-moon night to the 15th waning-moon night every September. It is held to pay respect to deceased ancestors. According to Buddhism beliefs, the dead had many sins and was sent to hell to become a demon. The demons are allowed to come up to meet their relatives for 15 days in September, but must return to hell before sunrise of the 15th day. The livings try to appease the spirits by taking food to temples to make merit. Beginning on the 13th day, people will go shopping for food to be given. The 14th day is spent preparing and decorating the food tray, and the 15th day is the actual merit-making day. The tray presented nowadays has elaborate designs but still retains traditional components. Contests to find the most beautiful tray are held. A magnificent procession proceeds along Ratchadamnoen Road on the 14th day.

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