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The Phra I-suan contains a 1 m (3ft) Shiva linga which dates possibly to the 6th century CE.<br/><br/> Nakhon Si Thammarat was the administrative center of southern Thailand during most of its history. Originally a coastal city, silting moved the coastline away from the city.<br/><br/> It is one of the oldest towns in Thailand and most historians recognize the Tambralinga kingdom of Chinese records as a precursor of Nakhon Si Thammarat. With the fall of the Siamese capital of Ayutthaya in 1767 it regained independence, but returned to its allegiance on the founding of Bangkok. In the 17th century British, Portuguese and Dutch merchants set up factories here and carried on an extensive trade.
The Devasathan or Brahmin Shrines are three shrines dedicated to the Hindu gods Shiva, Ganesh and Vishnu. The shrines were originally built in 1784 at the same time as the Giant Swing (<i>Sao Ching Cha</i>) situated across the road. All were built on the orders of King Rama I.
It must rate as one of Bangkok’s most curious sights - the so-called Giant Swing, a 25 m high, blood-red, wooden structure, which stands in front of Wat (Temple) Suthat. The Giant Swing, in Thai <i>Sao-Ching-Cha</i> ('Swinging Pillars'), consists of two solid pillars which are connected at their tops with a wooden beam. From this beam, in days gone by, worshippers of Lord Shiva used to swing in a kind of gondola for the entertainment of their god. They could also earn themselves some cash: a bag of money was tied to one of the pillars and the participants had to grab this with their teeth. Predictably, many fell to their doom, and the festivities, usually conducted in December or January when Shiva was supposed to visit the earth, were discontinued in 1935. The 'Swinging Festival' was one of the numerous Thai rites which had its origins in ancient India.