Explore the Historical City of Chaiya

Not many people know this but Chaiya, a small town in the northern part of Surat Thani is said to have played an important role as the main coastal trading post during the Srivijaya's reign. Some even go as far as to say that Chaiya was the capital city of the maritime empire that controlled much of modern-day Indonesia and Malaysia between the 7th and 13th Centuries, way before any Thai kingdom was established.

Unfortunately, most of the larger structures have disappeared over time since the fall of the Srivijaya Empire and much of the information was lost in time but you can still see some of the remnants of the once-thriving maritime city. Wat Phra Borommathat Chaiya is one of the Srivijaya remnants left standing that you can still see today. The Buddhist temple was said to have been constructed in the 13th Century and it is the last example of a Srivijaya architectural style that still remains in Thailand. The main highlight of the temple is the Buddha Relic Pagoda, all painted white and adorn with Srivijaya-style decoration on its spire. People from around the country often come to this temple and pay respect to the relic every day.