Nakhon Pathom

Nakhon Pathom is one of Thailand's oldest cities and the capital of Nakhon Pathom Province, about 56 kilometres west of Bangkok. Its skyline is defined by Phra Pathom Chedi, a vast 120-metre stupa regarded as the tallest in Thailand and one of the country's most important Buddhist monuments.

The city grew from a Dvaravati-era settlement and is often described as the place where Buddhism first took root in what is now Thailand. Landmarks such as the gold-tiled Phra Pathom Chedi, the early-20th-century Sanam Chan Palace built by King Rama VI, and the riverside Wat Rai Khing reflect this long religious and royal heritage.

The compact centre around the chedi is easy to explore, while the nearby Tha Chin River area offers Don Wai Floating Market, known for food stalls, boat noodles and fruit vendors. Just outside the city, Phutthamonthon Buddhist Park is a large green space with a tall walking-Buddha statue and shaded paths.

Nakhon Pathom is also a university and commuter town, home to Silpakorn University's Sanam Chandra Palace Campus and Mahidol University's Salaya campus. Local food culture is distinctive, especially khao moo daeng, the red pork with rice that draws day-trippers from Bangkok, along with pomelo and coconut sweets.

With frequent rail and road links to Bangkok, Nakhon Pathom works well as a day trip or a quieter base. It attracts both pilgrims and cultural travellers for its temples and festivals, and business or academic visitors connected to its universities and nearby agricultural and industrial areas.