The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) marked the inscription of Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan in Nakhon Si Thammarat on the UNESCO World Heritage List, Thailand’s ninth World Heritage property and sixth cultural property. The agency is carrying the recognition forward through a year-round program called The Twelve Sacred Discoveries Nakhon Si Thammarat: A Journey to World Heritage, inviting visitors to explore the site’s living Buddhist heritage across the seasons.
Thailand’s No. 9
The World Heritage Committee inscribed the property at its 48th session, held July 19-29, 2026, in Busan, South Korea, following a recommendation from the International Council on Monuments and Sites. Recognized for its Outstanding Universal Value under criteria (ii) and (vi), the monastery has served as a major regional Buddhist center since the eighth century, drawing religious and architectural traditions from northeastern India, central Java, Sri Lanka and the Mon region of southern Myanmar. Local traditions have continued at the site for more than 1,500 years, including the annual cloth-wrapping ceremony for the Great Reliquary and the Nora dance drama.
“TAT will build on this recognition to position Nakhon Si Thammarat as a leading destination for living heritage, where faith, culture and community remain central to the visitor experience,” said Thapanee Kiatphaibool, TAT governor, in a press statement. “Our focus is to create lasting value through responsible tourism, strengthen local participation and ensure that the significance of Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan is understood, respected and sustained for generations to come.”
The inscription brings Thailand’s World Heritage portfolio to nine properties: six cultural and three natural. The cultural properties are the Historic City of Ayutthaya, Historic Town of Sukhothai and Associated Historic Towns, Ban Chiang Archaeological Site, the Ancient Town of Si Thep and its Associated Dvaravati Monuments, Phu Phrabat and Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan. The natural properties are Thungyai-Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuaries, Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai Forest Complex and Kaeng Krachan Forest Complex.
