Nakhon Si Thammarat, the second largest province in the south, lies 780 kilometers south of Bangkok. The capital of Nakhon Si Thammarat is one of the most ancient cities in Thailand, formerly the capital of the Kingdom of Ligor, which was an independent kingdom for many centuries and a historical center of Buddhism in ancient Thailand. Today Nakhon Si Thammarat is renowned for its shadow puppets, its beautiful countryside, and its beautiful and diverse temple architecture.