Nakhon Pathom is a small province just 56 km west of Bangkok, easily reached as a day trip. The main draw is the Phra Pathom Chedi, the tallest Buddhist stupa in the world at 127 metres. It marks what is traditionally held to be the spot where Buddhism first arrived in what is now Thailand, and the chedi has been a pilgrimage site for centuries. The surrounding temple grounds are spacious and well-kept, with a museum and several smaller shrines.
Beyond the chedi, the town is a pleasant stop for its fruit markets and local food — Nakhon Pathom is known across Thailand for its pomelos and for khao lam, sticky rice cooked in bamboo tubes. The Sanam Chandra Palace, a former royal residence set in parkland near Silpakorn University, is worth a look if you have an hour to spare. The Rose Garden Cultural Centre on the nearby Tha Chin River combines traditional performance shows with attractive riverside grounds. On the eastern edge of town, the Songdhammakalyani Monastery is a historically significant place for Buddhist women's ordination, while the Phra Prathon Chedi — older than the famous main stupa and far quieter — is worth a detour for those with a full day to spare.