The Minister of Culture conducted an inspection to prepare for the announcement of Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan in Nakhon Si Thammarat province as a World Heritage Site.
On 6 July 2026, Ms. Sabida Thaiset, Minister of Culture, visited Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan in Nakhon Si Thammarat to prepare for its World Heritage registration announcement. She also held meetings with the Fine Arts Department, Nakhon Si Thammarat provincial officials, and relevant agencies at the temple. Mr. Panombut Chantrachot, Director-General of the Fine Arts Department; Mr. Somchai Leelanoy, Governor of Nakhon Si Thammarat; and other officials welcomed and accompanied her on site.
Ms. Sabida stated that the World Heritage Center has invited the Kingdom of Thailand, as a State Party to the World Heritage Convention for cultural and natural heritage protection, to participate in the 48th Session of the World Heritage Committee, from 19 to 29 July 2026 at the Busan Exhibition and Convention Center (BEXCO) in Busan, Republic of Korea. Thailand will propose Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan in Nakhon Si Thammarat as a World Cultural Heritage Site based on its Outstanding Universal Value (OUV). It represents the fusion of Brahmanic, Hindu, Mahayana, and Theravada Buddhist religions in Central and Southeast Asia, reflected in the art, architecture, religious traditions, and local customs that influenced regional structures. It meets World Heritage criteria, including Criterion 2: the temple illustrates religious influences originating from Pala art in Nalanda, Central Java, Lanka, and Mon culture from southern Myanmar, which impacted religious sites in Thailand, Malaysia, and beyond. Criterion 6 recognizes the temple as a testament to diverse belief systems and a spiritual center in Nakhon Si Thammarat, with ongoing religious traditions and outstanding universal significance in arts and literature, such as the Nora dance and local legends, showing the relationship between sacred sites and surrounding communities, inspiring religious sites and communities in Thailand and elsewhere.
Ms. Sabida added that it is a matter of great pleasure if Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan in Nakhon Si Thammarat is declared a World Heritage Site, becoming the first such site in southern Thailand. The Fine Arts Department and the provincial government have prepared plans to celebrate the temple’s new status throughout July. Before the official announcement, a historical exhibition about the temple and its nomination process will be held, along with public relations campaigns in the province. On the announcement dates, 26-27 July 2026, there will be a Buddhist chanting ceremony celebrating the inscription, recitations of the Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta, local cultural performances including the Nora dance, a multimedia light and sound show narrating the temple's legend, illumination of the stupa, and city decorations under the theme “Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan: The Faith of Nakhon City, Humanity’s World Heritage.”
Following the inscription, there will be panel discussions, Khon dance performances celebrating the World Heritage status, local cultural shows, and the casting of the Buddhist Lent candle. The Fine Arts Department will open the permanent exhibition room 'The Great Relic of Nakhon Si Thammarat' at the National Museum of Nakhon Si Thammarat for the first time on 26 July 2026 to commemorate this important occasion.
Additionally, discussions were held on the management of the Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan World Heritage Site and the preparation of conservation status reports as recommended by the World Heritage Committee. These reports must be submitted to the World Heritage Center by 1 December 2029. Topics include site management, conservation approaches such as buffer zone improvements, digital database creation, structural stability studies, heritage conservation, long-term conservation strategies, studies of Hindu religious sites, and safeguarding intangible heritage. The Ministry of Culture, through the Fine Arts Department and Nakhon Si Thammarat province, has finalized operational plans on these matters.
Ms. Sabida also stated, that the inscription of Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan as Thailand’s new cultural World Heritage Site will elevate cultural heritage conservation to international standards, promote cultural tourism, generate income while encouraging community participation in heritage preservation, stimulate local and national economies, enhance international recognition, and honor Thailand on the global stage.
