Vietnam & Asia
Why a temple in southern Thailand became World Heritage
UNESCO added Wat Phra Mahathat in Nakhon Si Thammarat to its list on July 25, 2026, for its mix of influences and living traditions.
On July 25, 2026, a Buddhist temple in southern Thailand was added to UNESCO's World Heritage List. The decision on Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan, in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, was made by the World Heritage Committee at its 48th session in Busan, South Korea. According to UNESCO, it was one of 25 new sites inscribed on the list at that session. Thailand's Government Public Relations Department reported the news on the same day. It said that the temple is the country's ninth World Heritage site, its sixth cultural site and the first in the south.
The temple stands in Peninsular Thailand, on a narrow strip of land between the Pacific and Indian oceans. UNESCO says that it has been a major Buddhist center for the region since it was founded in the 8th century. However, it is far more than a historic monument. As the same Thai department points out, Buddhists still worship there, and local customs and religious practices are still carried on.
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The buildings, places, traditions and other things from the past that a community or country values and wants to protect.
He said they would also promote sustainable tourism and encourage local communities to help protect the temple as living heritage.