Phra Rot-Meri Ancient City is one of the most important archaeological sites in eastern Thailand, located in Na Phra That Subdistrict, Phanat Nikhom District, Chonburi Province. It is about 2 kilometers northeast of Phanat Nikhom town center, along the Phanat Nikhom–Chachoengsao road, which cuts across part of the ancient city wall and moat on the eastern side. This area holds great historical and archaeological significance, with evidence of continuous human settlement dating back to the Dvaravati period and lasting through the Lopburi period. Phra Rot City was a large ancient community that thrived between the 6th and 12th centuries CE (12th–18th Buddhist centuries), serving as an important center of religion, trade, and transportation.

 

The city was strategically situated between upland and lowland areas, making the surrounding environment ideal for wet-rice cultivation. Several waterways flow through the area, including Khlong Sa Klang, Khlong Luang, and Khlong Phan Thong. Khlong Sa Klang flows from the south, passing through Phanat Nikhom town and Wat Ko Kaew, before reaching the eastern city moat, which locals call Khlong Mueang or “City Canal.” These waterways made Phra Rot City a vital local transportation hub, providing connections to other contemporary settlements, most notably Si Mahosot City in Prachin Buri, with which it shared commercial and cultural ties.

 

The city layout is rectangular, measuring approximately 1,550 by 850 meters. Its defensive system consists of two earthen ramparts, about one meter high, separated by a space of about ten meters, and surrounded by a moat about 1.5 meters wide. This reflects a well-organized urban planning system of the era. The most prominent religious site in the area is Noen Phra That (Phra That Mound), located on the western side of the city. It is the base of a Dvaravati-style stupa built with large bricks in a square shape. North of Noen Phra That is another rectangular mound beside an ancient pond known locally as Sa Khong. Stone markers are found at the four cardinal points of this mound, leading archaeologists to believe it was once the foundation of a Buddhist chapel or vihara.

 

Excavations have unearthed a variety of artifacts, both large and small, most of which are religious objects. These include glazed and unglazed pottery fragments scattered throughout the site, fragments of a Vishnu statue wearing a distinctive headdress, Dvaravati-style Buddha images in the naga-protected posture, stone grinding tools, bronze gongs, and large stone bases for Buddha statues. Particularly notable are bronze Buddha images from the Lopburi period and sandstone Buddha images from the Dvaravati period. Among these, a remarkable standing Buddha image was discovered, depicted standing atop a mythical creature called Phanasabodi, a legendary being combining features of a Garuda, swan, and ox: a beak like a Garuda, horns like an ox, and wings like a swan. This unique statue was found in the southern city moat during the reign of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) and has since been named Phra Phanasabodi, becoming an emblem of Phanat Nikhom District.

 

The diversity of artifacts suggests that Phra Rot City had been continuously inhabited since the Dvaravati period, reaching a peak of prosperity during the Lopburi period. It likely served as a religious and administrative center for the eastern region of Thailand at the time. The mixture of Buddhist and Brahmanical imagery found at the site reflects the blending of religious beliefs characteristic of the Dvaravati era.

 

Phra Rot City was officially registered as a national archaeological site by the Fine Arts Department and announced in the Royal Gazette, Volume 52, Part 75, on March 8, 1935. The site was first surveyed in 1931, with subsequent surveys and excavations carried out in 1952, 1967, and 1985. This registration has helped protect the area and its artifacts, preserving them as a valuable cultural heritage and resource for historical and archaeological studies.

 

Today, Phra Rot City remains a significant destination for historical and cultural tourism. Visitors can experience the atmosphere of an ancient city, learn about its prosperous past, and view archaeological remains that reflect the artistry and wisdom of the people of the Dvaravati and Lopburi periods, which laid the foundation for the history of eastern Thailand.

 

Travel Directions From downtown Phanat Nikhom, head straight along Sukprayoon Road, which connects to Highway 315 toward Chachoengsao. After approximately 1 kilometer, or just past kilometer marker 27, there will be a left turn leading to Wat Na Phra That. Turn left and continue along the dirt road until reaching Wat Na Phra That. From there, drive past Na Phra That School, turn right at the junction, and continue straight to the area where the stupas and shrines are located.