Discover
Discover
Si Thep, in Phetchabun province, has three parts: the ancient town with its rare twin layout of an inner and an outer town, each ringed by moats; Khao Klang Nok, which UNESCO describes as the largest surviving Dvaravati monument; and Khao Thamorrat, a Mahayana Buddhist cave monastery.
History
History
UNESCO presents Si Thep as representative of Dvaravati culture from the 6th to the 10th centuries, an important phase in Southeast Asian history. Lying on routes that carried people and ideas, the town shows traces of both Buddhism and Hinduism.
People & Culture
People & Culture
Dvaravati art at Si Thep, from sculpture to the carvings of the Khao Thamorrat cave, shows different beliefs living side by side in one town. For us, Si Thep shows that long before the better-known kingdoms, this land already had complex, outward-looking towns.
Living Heritage
Living Heritage
Inscription in 2023 quickly made Si Thep better known to visitors and students. The next task is to make sure nearby communities benefit, while caring for a site that still has much left to reveal.
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