"Interesting off-the-beaten-track destination" Nakhon Si Thammarat by Willettsworld

An interesting and off-the-beaten-track destination, Nakhon Si Thammarat is definitely worth taking the time to check out. It is one of the most ancient cities of Thailand, previously known as the Kingdom of Ligor, and contains many buildings and ruins of historical significance. With the fall of the Siamese capital of Ayutthaya in 1767 it regained independence, but returned to its allegiance on the founding of Bangkok. In the 17th century British, Portuguese and Dutch merchants set up factories here and carried on an extensive trade.

Significant sights include Wat Phra Mahathat which is the most important temple of Nakhon Si Thammarat and southern Thailand. It was constructed at the time of the founding of the town, and contains a tooth relic of Buddha. The 78 m high chedi is surrounded by 173 smaller ones and dates back to 555 AD. There are also a couple of nice small chapels and a museum. I stayed here for a couple of days in a very nice hotel called the Thai Hotel (see my accommodation tips below) before I headed on to Hat Yai and Malaysia.