Sights
Wat Phra Pathom Chedi Ratchaworaviharn is one of the main royal temple. Belonging to this temple is the Phra Pathom Chedi, the biggest pagoda of Thailand. The nearby branch of the National Museum displays mostly items of the Dvaravati times, most of them found within the Wat Phra Pratone Chedi.
Sanam Chan Palace was built by crown prince Vajiravudh 1907-10. It now houses one campus of the Silpakorn University as well as a King Rama VI museum.
Phutthamonthon is a large park devoted to Buddhism, located in the east of the province.
Suan Sam Pran is a big garden, located at Phetkasem Road. Nearby is the Sam Pran Crocodile farm, which includes a zoo and has elephant and crocodile shows.
The Jesada Technik Museum is located on the eastern edge of Nakhon Chaisri and has a large collection of old cars, trucks and planes.
Paya Kong, said to be a former ruler of Nakhon Chai Si, fathered Paya Pan who is said to have built the pagoda at Pra Pratone for his father and the Phra Pathom Chedi at Nakhon Pathom for Grandmother Hom who reared him. Historical evidence is not clear. Nevertheless, Paya Kong's statue near the central market of Nakhon Pathom is much revered.
Wat Phra Pathom Chedi Ratchavoraviharn (วัดพระปฐมเจดย์ราชวรวิหาร) this is a first class royal monastery. The temple houses Phra Pathom Chedi, the largest pagoda in Thailand. Phra Pathom Chedi is the official provincial symbol of Nakhon Pathom.
Nakhon Pathom Palace (พระราชวังนครปฐม) At present, it houses the Nakhon Pathom Municipality. Under the royal command of King Rama IV, the palace was built near the Phra Pathom Chedi, similar in concept to those palaces in the Ayutthaya period whereby the King commanded that a palace be built on the perimeter of the temple housing the Phra Buddhabat (Buddha’s Foot Print).
Neun Wat Phra Ngam (เนินวัดพระงาม) Prince Damrong Rachanuphab explained that the origin of the name “Wat Phra Ngam” (temple of magnificent Buddha images) was due to the beauty of the discovered earthen Buddha images, the temple was given such name. All of the discovered artefacts date back to the Dvaravati period, which are the same age as those found around Phra Pathom Chedi.
Phrabat Somdej Phra Monkut Klao Chaoyuhua Museum (Sanam Chan Palace) (พิพิธภัณฑ์พระบาทสมเด็จพระมงกุฏเกล้าเจ้าอยู่หัว) The palace was constructed by command of King Rama VI in the year 1907 when he was the Crown Prince. Sanam Chan Palace covers a vast area with a big court in the middle, surrounded by ring roads, with water canals on the outer perimeter. The beautiful halls that located in the middle of the Palace include:
Phiman Pathom Hall (พระที่นั่งพิมานปฐม): It is the first hall to be built in the Sanam Chan Palace. It is of European architecture, a 2-storey building in which King Rama VI resided before his ascension to the throne. As for the Phiman Pathom Hall, it now houses a part of the Nakhon Pathom City Hall.
Apirom Reudi Hall (พระที่นั่งอภิรมย์ฤดี): It is a 2-storey hall located to the south of Phiman Pathom hall. At present it houses the offices of the Nakhon Pathom City Hall.
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