Si Thep World Heritage Site
27 kms south of Wichian Buri city lies the new World Heritage site of Si Thep.
This world heritage site dates back 1,700 years to Mon - Dvaravati times & features both Khmer, Hindu & Buddhist monuments.
Si Thep was only granted World Heritage status recently in September 2023.
Discovered in 1904 by Prince Damrong Rajanubhab, serious excavation of the site started in 1978 & in 1984 it was listed as a Thai historical park by the Fine Arts Department.
The bones of a pre-historic elephant, men and women have been found on the site. They are on display as found in a pit.
The main skeleton is a woman in her 30s-40s who was found entombed with a dog and two agate necklaces.
At a higher level – so from a later period – is a partial elephant skeleton, also deliberately buried.
Historical evidence found on the site, suggests Si Thep suggests was the center of the Dvaravati mandalas.
Via royal intermarriage, it was also considered the sister city of Sema the capital of the neighboring state, Canasapura.
The ruins of ancient Muang Sema are to the S-W, 130 kms away in Nakhon Ratchasima province.
Around the 14th century, Si Thep lost importance and was almost abandoned.
There are two parts, an inner moated city, Muang Ngai, of 4.7 square kms & an outer section, Muang Nok, with several ruins.
The inner moated section has six city gates, 40 historical ruins and 70 ponds.
The ruins have features of Hindu, Khmer and Dvaravati civilisations, indicating the importance of Si Thep over the centuries.
Khao Klang Nai.
An brick mound, lying in the centre of the inner city is an ancient Buddhist stupa: Khao Klang Nai.
It was constructed between the 6th or 7th century.
A feature of these ruins are the Krishna statues, around the base.
The presence of these Krishna statues suggests that maybe Si Thep City was the first center, or the main center of what is called “Dvaravati”.
Prang Song Phi Nong
Built during the 11th or 12th century in the Baphuon style of Khmer art during the Angkor Wat period.
When you enter the park, you need to buy a ticket & take a guided tour by bus around the park.
There are multiple buses running around the park, so you can hop on & off at each set of ruibs as you wish,
I hopped back on a bus, it went "the wrong way" & ended up back at the start, it was a returning bus. 55
I know I missed quite a bit, but was well satisfied with what I saw.
Had a nice cold coconut drink, got on my bike & moved onto the next destination - Phimai.
And promptly forgot about the big ruins outside the city!!
maps.app.goo.gl
maps.app.goo.gl
I need to return!
See also
worldheritagesites.net
www.museumthailand.com
en.wikipedia.org
www.siamguides.com
www.bangkokpost.com
www.bangkokpost.com
pathsunwritten.com
27 kms south of Wichian Buri city lies the new World Heritage site of Si Thep.
This world heritage site dates back 1,700 years to Mon - Dvaravati times & features both Khmer, Hindu & Buddhist monuments.
Si Thep was only granted World Heritage status recently in September 2023.
Discovered in 1904 by Prince Damrong Rajanubhab, serious excavation of the site started in 1978 & in 1984 it was listed as a Thai historical park by the Fine Arts Department.
The bones of a pre-historic elephant, men and women have been found on the site. They are on display as found in a pit.
The main skeleton is a woman in her 30s-40s who was found entombed with a dog and two agate necklaces.
At a higher level – so from a later period – is a partial elephant skeleton, also deliberately buried.
Historical evidence found on the site, suggests Si Thep suggests was the center of the Dvaravati mandalas.
Via royal intermarriage, it was also considered the sister city of Sema the capital of the neighboring state, Canasapura.
The ruins of ancient Muang Sema are to the S-W, 130 kms away in Nakhon Ratchasima province.
Around the 14th century, Si Thep lost importance and was almost abandoned.
There are two parts, an inner moated city, Muang Ngai, of 4.7 square kms & an outer section, Muang Nok, with several ruins.
The inner moated section has six city gates, 40 historical ruins and 70 ponds.
The ruins have features of Hindu, Khmer and Dvaravati civilisations, indicating the importance of Si Thep over the centuries.
Khao Klang Nai.
An brick mound, lying in the centre of the inner city is an ancient Buddhist stupa: Khao Klang Nai.
It was constructed between the 6th or 7th century.
A feature of these ruins are the Krishna statues, around the base.
The presence of these Krishna statues suggests that maybe Si Thep City was the first center, or the main center of what is called “Dvaravati”.
Prang Song Phi Nong
Built during the 11th or 12th century in the Baphuon style of Khmer art during the Angkor Wat period.
When you enter the park, you need to buy a ticket & take a guided tour by bus around the park.
There are multiple buses running around the park, so you can hop on & off at each set of ruibs as you wish,
I hopped back on a bus, it went "the wrong way" & ended up back at the start, it was a returning bus. 55
I know I missed quite a bit, but was well satisfied with what I saw.
Had a nice cold coconut drink, got on my bike & moved onto the next destination - Phimai.
And promptly forgot about the big ruins outside the city!!
à¸à¹à¸²à¸à¸ªà¸£à¸°à¸à¸£à¸·à¸ Ban Sa Prue · F4MV+JGW, Si Thep, Si Thep District, Phetchabun 67170, Thailand
âââââ · Village hall
maps.app.goo.gl
Khao Klang Nok · Na Sanun, Si Thep District, Phetchabun 67170, Thailand
âââââ · Historical landmark
maps.app.goo.gl
I need to return!
See also
The Ancient Town of Si Thep and its Associated Dvaravati Monuments
Remains of a town and other monuments dating to the Dvaravati Empire, origin of the Si Thep School of Art.
worldheritagesites.net
Si Thep Historical Park :: Museum Thailand
During his administrative visit in Phetchabun Province, Prince Damrong Rajanubhab came across the name of Si Thep town in the list of sub-towns. He then started a journey and discovered a great ancient site known among the villagers as “Aphai Sali Town.” The evidence from these ancient remains...
www.museumthailand.com
Si Thep Historical Park - Wikipedia
Si Thep Historical Park: Thailand's 7th World Heritage Site
The Ancient Town of Si Thep or Si Thep Historical Park and its Associated Dvaravati Monuments is a cultural heritage site in Thailand that reflects the history, art and religion of the Dvaravati civilization that flourished,. The site consists of three components: the twin-town of Si Thep, which...
www.siamguides.com
Si Thep Historical Park declared world heritage site
The Unesco World Heritage Committee has listed Si Thep Historical Park in Phetchabun province as a cultural heritage site, according to Deputy Prime Minister Phatcharavat Wongsuwan.
Ancient wonders
A car travels down a long peaceful road with lush green paddy fields on each side that will soon be superseded by crops of cassava, corn and sugar cane during the off-season. This scene reminds us of Prince Damrong Rajanubhab
Cultural Profile: Dvaravati, Ancient Thailand’s Lost Civilization
A brief history of the Dvaravati, the first ancient civilization of ancient Thailand who built massive brick ruins and introduced Buddhism to the region.
pathsunwritten.com
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