Nakhon Pathom

Nakhon Pathom
นครปฐม
City of Nakhon Pathom
เทศบาลนครนครปฐม
Nakhon Pathom
Nakhon Pathom
Location in Thailand
Coordinates: 13°49′14″N 100°03′45″E / 13.82056°N 100.06250°E / 13.82056; 100.06250
Country Thailand
ProvinceNakhon Pathom
DistrictMueang Nakhon Pathom
Government
  TypeCity Municipality
  MayorEkaphan Kuptawat
Area
  Total
19.85 km2 (7.66 sq mi)
Population
 (2000)
  Total
120,657
Time zoneUTC+7 (ICT)
Area code(+66) 34
Websitenakhonpathomcity.go.th

Nakhon Pathom (Thai: นครปฐม, pronounced [náʔkʰɔ̄ːn pā.tʰǒm]) is a city (thesaban nakhon) in central Thailand, the former capital of Nakhon Pathom province. One of the most important landmarks is the giant Phra Pathommachedi. The city is also home to Thailand's only Bhikkhuni temple Wat Song Thammakanlayani (วัดทรงธรรมกัลยาณี), which is also open to women from abroad.

Nakhon Pathom houses a campus of Silpakorn University within the former Sanam Chandra Palace.

The city is 57 km west of Bangkok.

According to Charles Higham, "Two silver medallions from beneath a sanctuary at Nakhon Pathom, the largest of the moated sites, proclaim that it was 'the meritorious work of the King of Sri Dvaravati', the Sanskrit term Dvaravati meaning 'that which has gates'. The script is in south Indian characters of the seventh century." Nakhon Pathom was the largest Dvaravati center.:301–302,304