The ancient town of Si Thep has just been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site, becoming the seventh overall in Thailand. The news was made official during the World Heritage Committee’s 45th extended session, held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from 10-25 September 2023.
Located around 340 km north of Bangkok in Thailand’s Phetchabun province, Si Thep and its associated Dvaravati monuments were recognised by the committee according to a number of key criteria. The official entry for the site on the World Heritage List describes it as a “distinctive twin-town site, featuring an inner and outer town surrounded by moats, the massive Khao Klang Nok ancient monument, and the Khao Thamorrat cave ancient monument.
Together, these sites represent the architecture, artistic traditions and religious diversity of the Dvaravati Empire that thrived in Central Thailand from the 6th to the 10th centuries, demonstrating the influences from India. The local adaptation of these traditions resulted in a distinctive artistic tradition known as the Si Thep school of art, which later influenced other civilisations in Southeast Asia.”
Thailand’s other official World Heritage Sites include the Historic Town of Sukhothai and Associated Historic Towns (1991), the Historic City of Ayutthaya (1991), Ban Chiang Archaeological Site (1992), the Thungyai-Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuaries (1991), the Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai Forest Complex (2005) and the Kaeng Krachan Forest Complex (2021).
Visitors to Si Thep Historical Park between 20-24 September enjoyed free admission, in celebration of the latest news. According to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), a special exhibition will also be held at the Bangkok National Museum from 20 September to 14 January 2024, showcasing some of the relics from the Si Thep Historical Park and highlighting their historical significance to Thailand.
Si Thep is a destination that’s long been popular with visitors, largely thanks to its architecture and historical treasures, but also due to the surrounding landscape – the nearby mountains are a popular destination for trekking and camping. Other famous attractions nearby include Thung Salaeng Luang National Park, the Phu Thap Boek mountain, five overlapping white Buddha statues and the That Yai Waterfall.
