Nakhon Si Thammarat is one of the oldest cities in Thailand and a major religious centre of the south, home to Wat Phra Mahathat — one of the most revered Buddhist temples in the country, said to enshrine a relic of the Buddha. The city is known as the home of Thai shadow puppetry (nang talung) and Nakhon-style nielloware craftsmanship, and it hosts important Buddhist festivals throughout the year.