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Chaiya is one of the oldest cities of Thailand. It was a regional capital in the Srivijaya kingdom of the 5th to 13th century - some historians even claim that it was the capital for the kingdom for some time, but this is largely disputed. The temple Wat Phra Borom That is centered around a reconstructed pagoda, build around the year 757 in Srivijaya style. The nearby branch of the National Museum has several relicts of that time on display. Two more former pagodas nearby are only brick mounds now.
Another important temple nearby Chaiya is the Wat Suan Mohkha Phalaram (also known by the short name Suan Mok, or Wat Than Nam Lai Monastery of Flowing Water), a forest temple. The temple was founded in 1932 by Phra Buddhadasa (1906-1993), a highly revered Buddhist teacher. In 1959 the temple was relocated to the present 150 acres area.
Chaiya is located at the southern railway line, also the Asian highway 2 passes the city.