BANGKOK, Thailand – Minister of Culture Sabeeda Thaised visited Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan in Nakhon Si Thammarat province on July 6, 2026, to follow up on preparations for the temple’s proposed inscription as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Minister attended a meeting at the temple with the Fine Arts Department, provincial agencies, and related organizations. She was welcomed by Fine Arts Department Director-General Phnombootra Chandrajoti, Governor Somchai Leelanoi, and other officials.
Sabeeda stated that the World Heritage Centre has invited Thailand, as a State Party to the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, to attend the 48th Session of the World Heritage Committee from July 19 to 29, 2026, at BEXCO in Busan, Republic of Korea. The committee is expected to consider the nomination of Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan as a cultural World Heritage Site. The nomination is based on the temple’s Outstanding Universal Value, especially its integration of Brahmanism, Hinduism, Mahayana Buddhism, and Theravada Buddhism in South and Southeast Asia. The temple has also influenced religious architecture, traditions, arts, literature, and local cultural practices.
If inscribed, the temple will be Southern Thailand’s first UNESCO World Heritage site. To commemorate this milestone, the Fine Arts Department and provincial authorities have planned a month-long celebration in July. Before the announcement, the province will host historical exhibitions and public awareness campaigns. During the expected endorsement period from July 26–27, 2026, activities will include Buddhist chanting ceremonies, international Nora performances, multimedia light-and-sound shows, and citywide illuminations. After the official announcement, celebrations will feature academic panels, Royal Khon performances, and traditional Buddhist Lent candle-casting ceremonies.
During the visit, officials discussed the site’s long-term management and the State of Conservation report, which must be submitted to the World Heritage Centre by December 1, 2029. Strategies include refining buffer zones, conducting structural stability studies, developing a digital database, and protecting intangible cultural heritage. The Minister emphasized that World Heritage status will raise the temple’s conservation to international standards, boost cultural tourism, empower local communities, and highlight Thailand’s cultural prestige on the international stage. (NNT)
