The ancient town of Si Thep and its associated Dvaravati Monuments was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List because of the architecture, artistic traditions and religious diversity of the Dvaravati Empire that thrived in Central Thailand from the 6th to the 10th centuries.

Thailand is now home to seven World Heritage Sites after the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) World Heritage Committee recognised the ancient town of Si Thep and its Associated Dvaravati Monuments’ in Phetchabun province as a cultural World Heritage Site.

In a press statement, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) says that Si Thep was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List during the World Heritage Committee’s 45th extended session held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Si Thep is located about 340 km north of Bangkok in the Phetchabun province, a region known for breathtaking vistas and misty mountains that serve as a camping and trekking paradise.

According to the World Heritage List, the ‘Ancient Town of Si Thep and its Associated Dvaravati Monuments’ is a serial property of three component parts, a distinctive twin-town site, featuring an ‘Inner’ and ‘Outer Town’ surrounded by moats, the massive Khao Klang Nok ancient monument and the Khao Thamorrat Cave ancient monument.

TAT says together these sites represent the architecture, artistic traditions and religious diversity of the Dvaravati Empire that thrived in Central Thailand from the 6th to the 10th centuries, demonstrating the influences from India. The local adaptation of these traditions resulted in a distinctive artistic tradition known as the Si Thep School of Art, which later influenced other civilisations in Southeast Asia.

The statement adds that other existing World Heritage Sites in Thailand comprise three cultural sites, ‘Historic Town of Sukhothai’ and ‘Associated Historic Towns and Historic City of Ayutthaya’, both recognised in 1991 and ‘Ban Chiang Archaeological Site’, recognised in 1992. It also has three natural sites, namely Thungyai-Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuaries, recognised in 1991, Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai Forest Complex, recognised in 2005 and Kaeng Krachan Forest Complex which attained the status in 2021.

TAT says that to commemorate the listing, the Fine Arts Department has waived the admission fees at Si Thep Historical Park from September 20-24 and hosting a special exhibition from September 20 to January 14, 2024.

TAT says among Phetchabun’s famous attractions are several national parks, like Khao Kho, Nam Nao, Phu Hin Rong Kla, and Thung Salaeng Luang and its highest mountain Phu Thap Boek, the five overlapping white Buddha statues of Wat Phrathat Pha Son Kaeo, and That Yai Waterfall,  one of the 25 finalists in the ‘Unseen New Chapters’ campaign.