I just visited two days ago! Would have saved me a lot of km's in South Thailand. But enjoyed my trip anyway, Nakhon is interesting enough and the overland route to Malaysia was fun. Left Nakhon at 8 a.m. for a 4h minibus ride to Hat Yai (with 2 unaccompanied fighting cocks as fellow passengers - the minibusses also deliver goods), 1h minibus to Padang Besar, 15min walk across the border (a lonely pedestrian amidst the trucks) including 2 border controls, lost an hour due to the time difference between Thailand and Malaysia, GrabTaxi to Padang Besar KMT station, 1h50 train to Butterworth, 15min ferry to Georgetown. Arrived at my hotel at 18.30.

And I wrote a first review for the temple anyway... maybe I should publish it quickly before Thailand takes it of its Tentative List!

elsslots

Don't worry Els, I don't think government will dare to put the temple out from the list as it will hurt Nakhon's pride, that province has a lot of hard core MPs in parliament. Also local politicians will keep it as the way to get money to their pocket somehow. We will have election this May so this maybe a trick to renew support from MP candidates! Also there are discussions that Nakhon can be a part of Maritime Silk Routes proposed by both China and India so finger cross. Haha your journey to Malaysia is really something! I also saw your recent upload pic of Andaman TWHS. Is that Phuket's Maikrow Beach in Sirinat NP near airport? Just went there on 19 Feb for plane spotting.

Yep! And I hiked a 500m long forest trail.


The connections actually were very good, I never had to wait long for the next step. The longest was 45 mins for the next ferry to George Town. But everybody knew where I wanted to go. "You! Border!" is what the minibus driver said when he kicked me out in Padang Besu.

Phra That Phanom WHS nomination update

UNESCO has included Palm-Leaf Manuscripts of Phra That Phanom Chronicle on the Memory of the World this year, so the reporter asked Nakhon Phanom Governor on WHS plan of Phra That Phanom which is listed on tentative list since 2017. He said that the committee just start to draft nomination dossier!! and need at least 3 more years to finalize all document!!

Government approved foreigners' new entrance ticket price for historical park and archaeological sites

Historical Park - From 100 THB to be 120 - 200 THB (Ayutthaya, Sukhothai, Si Thep)
Important Archaeological Site - From 50 - 100 THB to be 80 - 120 THB (Ban Chiang)

https://www.infoquest.co.th/2023/321139

https://www.pattayamail.com/thailandnews/thailand-plans-applications-for-unesco-world-heritage-status-for-various-cultural-sites-450972

Wat Phra Mahathat in Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phra That Phanom in Nakhon Phanom, and Chiang Mai's Memorial Sites are in the pipeline.

Our World Heritage in Danger?: A Close Look Into Thailand's Natural World Heritage Sites and Challenges

Recent short article which lists the dangers for three Thai NWHS.

Update on Thailand WHS

Early this month, Thai Parliament had a livestream seminar/workshop on WHS nomination to assist local government on drafting nomination dossier by learning from Si Thep nomination.

- Phu Phrabat nomination done by Ministry of Culture and Thai ICOMOS, almost the same team of Si Thep nomination.
- Phu Phrabat nomination now focus on "Sima Stone" culture as recommend by ICOMOS
- The team just submit more information on "Sima Stone" as request by ICOMOS experts
- After Phu Phrabat, their next project will be Phimai and Phanomroong
- Chiang Mai, Wat Mahathat and Phra That Phanom nomination done by local government with support from local politicians
- All local teams admitted that they never read UNESCO operational guidelines on WHS nomination!!!
- Their previous works done by local experts with no consult with ICOMOS or ministry.
- Chiang Mai will go back to study operational guidelines and refocus the nomination again! as they still cannot agree what should be the main focus on OUV!!
- Wat Mahathat nomination done by one professor who also just learn about UNESCO operation guidelines, so no surprise why the nomination has been reject by Thai ICOMOS. The presenting OUV is not justified since it was not done by UNESCO format.
- Phra That Phanom just finished excavation and research which need to be assembled by someone who understand UNESCO format.
- Discussion on Ban Chiang extension to include nearby archaeological sites.
- The Government want to nominate City of Nan as WHS and want Ministry of Culture to take the lead.
- The pending TWHS Songkha team noted mistake of other local teams, will cooperate with ministry and ICOMOS on drafting.
- The City of Phitsanulok will submit TWHS nomination soon
- The City of Pattani want to nominate the heritage of historic Pattani Sultanate and Langkasuka as TWHS

Songkhla and its associated lagoon settlements apparently ready for the T List now:
https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40037192

elsslots

Some media reported that this Songkhla nomination got the fast-track ticket for WHC 2026/27 after Phu Phrabaht and Andaman Sea from the government, yet I checked cabinet resolution, no such direction. But checking with local ICOMOS, Songkhla nomination team has good relationship with ICOMOS and already got numbers of recommendations (I heard at least 80!!) from experts to draft the nomination files, so this Songkhla has a really good start.

New Thai Minister of Culture announces 1 region 1 World Heritage Site policy

Since Southern Thailand is the only region right now that still don't have WHS, this new policy will focus on tentative list that located in Southern region as priority after Phu Prabaht which are Andaman Sea, Wat Mahathat and Songkhla Lagoon.

https://www.thansettakij.com/business/tourism/595600

Chiang Mai

SAD UPDATE

The latest draft of a master plan of Chiang Mai WHS Nomination that will submit to the government next month will only limit to city wall, city moat and 5 temples, namely Wat Phra Singh, Wat Chedi Luang, Wat Suan Dok, Wat Chet Yot, and Wat Chiang Man. The famous Doi Suthep Temple is not included! Only cultural site and not Cultural Landscape.

Chiang Mai - Update

- A new committee to push Chiang Mai as WHS has been created (again)!
- Committee set new target to finalize document and process on Chiang Mai's 730 years anniversary which is 2026, so possibly WHC 2027 or 2028.
- After reconsideration the famous Doi Suthep Temple is now back to the nomination plan.
- Wat Chiang Man, the first temple of Chiang Mai is not included in the current list!!
- Wat Umong has been added to the plan.
- So now 7 temples, Wat Umong, Wat Suan Dok, Wat Phra Singha, Wat Chedi Luang, Wat Chet Yod and Wat Doi Suthep with City wall, City Gates and moat.

https://www.chiangmainews.co.th/social/3527637/

Bangkok's Temple of Dawn

Finally happen! The idea of nominating Temple of Dawn for WHS has been happened many times proposed by scholars and government officer, even ICOMOS, but the temple never want to associate. However, the current abbot agrees on WHS idea, so the project has finally happened.

https://news.ch7.com/detail/771429

Minor damage on Thailand's WHS and TWHS from Myanmar Earthquake 2025

- Cracks at the giant reclining Buddha at Wat Lokayasutharam, part of Ayutthaya WHS.
- Columns and wall cracks inside the main hall of Wat Chedi Luang, part of Chiang Mai TWHS.