Lak Muang (Lak Mueang) are City pillars found in most cities of Thailand. Usually housed in a shrine which is also believed to house Chao Pho Lak Mueang; the city spirit deity; it is held in high esteem by citizens. It was probably King Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke (Rama I); who erected the first city pillar on April 21; 1782; when he moved his capital from Thonburi to Bangkok. The shrine was actually the first building of his new capital; the Palace and other buildings were created later.

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.

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.