Bangkok & Around - Thailand - page 283

( daylight hours) F Southeast of the city stands this Sukhothai-style standing Buddha
designed by Corrado Feroci. At 15.8m, it is reportedly the world's tallest, and it's surroun-
ded by a 400-hectare landscaped park that contains sculptures representing the major
stages in the Buddha's life.
All Bangkok-Nakhon Pathom buses pass by the access road to the park at Phra Phut-
thamonthon Sai 4; from there you can walk, hitch or flag down a sŏrng·tăa·ou into the
park itself. From Nakhon Pathom you can also take a white-and-purple Salaya bus; the
stop is on Th Tesa across from the post office.
Eating
Nakhon Pathom has an excellent market along the road between the train station and Phra
Pathom Chedi; its kôw lăhm (sticky rice and coconut steamed in a length of bamboo) is
reputed to be the best in Thailand. There are many good, inexpensive food vendors and
restaurants in this area.
Getting There & Away
Nakhon Pathom is 64km west of Bangkok. The city doesn't have a central bus station, but
most transport arrives and departs from near the market and train station.
The most convenient and fastest way to get to Nakhon Pathom is by minivan from
Bangkok's Victory Monument (60B, one hour, frequent 6am to 6pm).
There are also more frequent trains from Bangkok's Hualamphong station (14B to 60B,
one hour) throughout the day. Nakhon Pathom is also on the spur rail line that runs from
Thonburi's Bangkok Noi station to Kanchanaburi's Nam Tok station, although because of
the route's status as a 'tourist line' the fares are exorbitantly high for foreigners.