Phra Pathommachedi

Phra Pathommachedi is a Buddhist reliquary monument in the city of Nakhon Pathom, about 56 kilometers west of Bangkok, and stands as the tallest religious structure of its kind in the country. The orange facade rises over several tiers, and the base features covered walkways with murals and niches for sculptures.

The monarch ordered construction starting in 1853 after discovering remains of an older religious site dating to the 6th century. The new shell enclosed the ancient foundations and was expanded further under his successors into the early 20th century.

The name comes from "Pathom" (first) and "Chedi" (reliquary monument), pointing to the region's long tradition of Buddhist devotion. Today, worshippers come here to lay flowers, light incense sticks, and honor the sacred objects kept inside.

The complex opens in the morning and closes in the late afternoon, and visitors should remove their shoes before entering and keep shoulders and knees covered. A walk along the covered galleries leads around the entire base and offers several entrances to the prayer halls.

Each of the four prayer halls holds an oversized Buddha figure in a different posture, from meditation to teaching. The halls open directly toward the central tower and allow worshippers to walk around it from four cardinal directions.