Dong Mae Nang Mueang Ancient City (Thanya Puri)

Open Days: Daily

Opening Hours: 08:30 – 16:30

 

Dong Mae Nang Mueang Ancient City, also known as Thanya Puri, is one of the most important archaeological sites in Banphot Phisai District, Nakhon Sawan Province. It is a valuable destination for travelers interested in Dvaravati culture, ancient settlements in the Upper Chao Phraya Basin, and the history of communities that flourished before the rise of Sukhothai. The site is notable for its rounded rectangular city plan, double moats and earthen ramparts, Buddhist archaeological remains, inscriptions, artifacts, and human burials that reveal the long development of this ancient settlement.

 

The importance of Dong Mae Nang Mueang lies in its long occupation history. Evidence indicates that the area was inhabited from the late prehistoric period and continued through the late Dvaravati and early Lopburi periods, around the 14th to 18th Buddhist centuries. Archaeological surveys by the Fine Arts Department found no Sukhothai-period artifacts, making the site especially important for understanding pre-Sukhothai urban development in what is now lower northern Thailand.

 

The ancient city has a rounded rectangular layout measuring approximately 500 x 600 meters. It is surrounded by 2 layers of moats and earthen embankments and is located in a strategic riverine landscape. The Ping River lies to the west, while the Choeng Krai River lies to the east and eventually joins the Nan River. This location, about 50 kilometers north of Pak Nam Pho, reflects the role of the settlement as part of a wider network of river-based communities in the upper Chao Phraya region.

 

Unlike some ruined cities where brick mounds rise clearly above the surface, many remains at Dong Mae Nang Mueang lie beneath the ground. This makes the site more subtle but also more rewarding for visitors who enjoy reading the landscape. The ancient moats, embankments, agricultural fields, and temple area all help form a picture of a once-significant settlement. Some remains have been damaged by illicit digging and land use, but the overall archaeological value of the site remains highly significant.

 

Important finds include Buddhist monuments, bronze Buddha images, late Dvaravati sandstone Buddha images, Lopburi-style clay votive tablets, Sangkhalok containers, stucco decorations, inscriptions, and low-relief slate Buddha images. Human skeletons were also discovered, including some unusual burials that appear to show signs of restraint. These discoveries make Dong Mae Nang Mueang an important site for studying belief systems, burial practices, religious development, and cultural transitions in central Thailand.

 

The inscription found at the site is especially important because it mentions the year corresponding to 1167 CE, or 1710 BE, and connects the site with the name Thanya Pura or Thanya Puri. This gives the ancient city a clearer historical identity beyond its modern local name. For travelers and history enthusiasts, Dong Mae Nang Mueang is therefore not just a quiet rural archaeological site, but a key point in the historical geography of Nakhon Sawan and the upper Chao Phraya Basin.

 

Getting There is easiest by private car. From the new market area of Banphot Phisai on the eastern bank of the Ping River, follow the Banphot Phisai–Nong Ta Ngu road for about 8 kilometers, then turn left onto a local road for another 3 kilometers to reach Wat Dong Mae Nang Mueang near the village entrance. Public transport is limited, so visitors should arrange a private vehicle or local transfer. The site is best visited slowly, with attention to the surrounding landscape, moats, embankments, and temple area.

 

 

A: It is located at Ban Dong Mae Nang Mueang, Ta Sang Subdistrict, Banphot Phisai District, Nakhon Sawan Province, near Wat Dong Mae Nang Mueang.

 

A: It is an important pre-Sukhothai ancient city with evidence from the late prehistoric, late Dvaravati, and early Lopburi periods.

 

A: Thanya Puri or Thanya Pura is associated with inscriptional evidence found at the site, giving the ancient city a clearer historical identity.

 

A: Visitors can observe the ancient city landscape, moats, embankments, temple area, and the broader archaeological setting connected with Dvaravati and Lopburi-period evidence.

 

A: Travel from Banphot Phisai new market along the Banphot Phisai–Nong Ta Ngu road for about 8 km, then turn left for another 3 km to Wat Dong Mae Nang Mueang.

 

A: Yes. It is suitable for travelers interested in archaeology, ancient cities, Buddhist history, and lesser-known cultural destinations in Nakhon Sawan.