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Thailand's Ancient Monastery Wins UNESCO Status
A centuries-old monastery in southern Thailand has been inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List, becoming the country's latest cultural landmark and the first heritage site in Thailand's southern region.
Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan, located in Nakhon Si Thammarat province, is Thailand's ninth UNESCO World Heritage Site. The designation is expected to strengthen efforts to conserve and sustainably manage the historic monument, Thailand's Foreign Ministry said on Sunday.
"Its inscription will further strengthen cooperation at both the national and local levels in the conservation, protection and sustainable management of the World Heritage Site," the ministry said in a statement.
Officials and Buddhist monks celebrated the recognition on Saturday with prayers and traditional ceremonies at the monastery.
According to UNESCO, also known as Phra Mahathat Monastery, the site has served as a major regional Buddhist centre since its establishment in the eighth century.
The temple complex features towering grey stupas, a massive reclining Buddha statue, rows of gilded standing and seated Buddha images, and ornate sculptures depicting guardian deities.
Situated on the Thai peninsula between the Pacific and Indian oceans, the monastery reflects centuries of cultural exchange. UNESCO said its architecture, religious buildings and traditions incorporate influences from Brahmanism, Hinduism, Mahayana Buddhism and Theravada Buddhism originating in India, Sri Lanka and Myanmar.
The World Heritage designation is also expected to support Thailand's tourism industry, which has yet to fully recover to pre-pandemic levels.
According to the country's tourism ministry, international tourist arrivals fell by more than 3% in the first half of this year compared with the same period in 2025.
Thailand's other UNESCO World Heritage Sites include the Historic City of Ayutthaya, the Thungyai-Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuaries, and the Ancient Town of Si Thep and its associated Dvaravati monuments.