Paasan (Chao Phraya River Landmark)
The landmark of the Chao Phraya River's source on the tip of Ko Yom, Nakhon Sawan, where the Ping and Nan rivers meet. Walk the curving 360° viewing walkway, see the Pak Nam Pho exhibition and watch the sunset over the water — free entry.
Before you goWhich of the next 7 days is best Best dayTuesday 20
Photo: Prasit Joe · Google Maps
- River levelNormal · 0.8×
- Severe weatherNone
- EarthquakesNone in 48 h
- Major disastersNone
- Site noticesNone
About
Overview · highlights · who it suits
Paasan is the landmark building marking the source of the Chao Phraya River, on the tip of Ko Yom in Pak Nam Pho, central Nakhon Sawan — right where the Ping and Nan rivers meet to form the Chao Phraya. Its sweeping copper-coloured curves represent rivers merging into one. It was designed by Kraipob Totubtiang and team and opened to visitors in 2019.
Inside there is an exhibition on Pak Nam Pho and the four rivers, and a wooden walkway leading to a viewpoint at the far end with kilometre marker 0 of the Chao Phraya. Behind the building is a Guan Yin shrine. Entry is free every day; the best time is from just before sunset into the evening, when the building is lit up.
Don't-miss highlights
Curving viewing walkway
A wooden walkway along the whole building with views of the rivers and the city in every direction
Kilometre 0
The viewpoint at the tip where the Ping and Nan merge into the Chao Phraya
Exhibition hall
The story of Pak Nam Pho, the four rivers and Nakhon Sawan culture
Guan Yin shrine
A shrine to Guan Yin behind the building
Riverside sunset
Evening light on the water and the copper-coloured roof; the building is lit after dark
Before you go
Before you go
Weather, haze and crowds before you set off
Best time of day — hourly
MoreWhat to bring · costs · crowds · travel warnings · detailed weather
What to bring —
Estimated costs
Crowds — estimate
Travel warnings
Best months
Tap a month to see weather, rain, haze and crowds
The cool season is cooler than the rest of the year with clear skies, so the curving walkway is comfortable. Arrive about an hour before sunset and stay until the building lights up after dark.
Mar – May is extremely hot in Nakhon Sawan — over 36°C by day with almost no shade on the walkway, so go only early or late. During Chinese New Year the Pak Nam Pho deity procession fills the whole town with people and traffic.
- Weather
- Rain
- Haze
- Crowds
See 10 years of real weather dataMonthly temperature, rainy days, clear days and haze
Past weather records
Check-ins & visitor photos
Location must be on and within 2 km · you can check in on every visit
History & stories
Legend · history · architecture
Paasan stands on the tip of Ko Yom in Pak Nam Pho subdistrict, Mueang Nakhon Sawan, exactly where the Ping and Nan rivers meet to become the Chao Phraya. Further upstream, the Wang has already joined the Ping and the Yom the Nan, so this is kilometre 0 of the Chao Phraya, which flows on for about 372 km to the Gulf of Thailand.
People have lived here since the Sukhothai era, when it was known as "Mueang Phra Bang", before it became "Nakhon Sawan" under Ayutthaya. The first trading community grew on the Nan River bank right at the river mouth, which is why locals call it "Pak Nam Pho" (the Pho river mouth), a river-trade hub between the North and the Central Plains. After about 1900 the town gradually shifted toward the Ping River and the west bank of the Chao Phraya, where it stands today.
Pak Nam Pho has an old Chinese community. More than a century ago a cholera epidemic swept the market and killed many people; the Chinese burned paper talismans from the shrines and drank water mixed with the ash, and when the outbreak ended they began parading the guardian deities around the market every Chinese New Year. The Pak Nam Pho deity procession celebrated its 102nd year in 2018. Its main shrine is the Chao Pho Thepharak–Chao Mae Thapthim shrine on the Chao Phraya bank opposite the market, and the golden dragon and lion dances are still the city's biggest event.
Read more history6 more paragraphs
The idea of a landmark for the river's source began in 2005, when Nakhon Sawan City Municipality, the Chao Phraya Source Conservation Club and local people pushed for a city landmark. Part of the roughly 3-rai site on Ko Yom was donated, and the club raised over 9.26 million baht to buy the rest.
The Association of Siamese Architects held a design competition that drew 99 entries. The winner was "Paasan" by Kraipob Totubtiang and team of Farm Studio. Construction, funded with 117.6 million baht from the Department of Tourism, began around 2016 and was finished in 2019; the building opened informally to visitors in March 2019.
The name comes from the Thai word "phasan", meaning to merge, with the added sense of bringing people together with place and time. The building's lines curve together like four rivers joining into two and then one. The arch is raised above flood level, and rowing boats can pass beneath it.
The main structure is steel, allowing wide, tall arches; the floors and interior walls are finished in wood, and the curved roof and sides are clad in copper-coloured metal. The usable area is about 1,892 square metres. Inside is an exhibition on the history, culture and attractions of Nakhon Sawan, and a long wooden walkway leads to the viewpoint at the tip with kilometre marker 0. Behind it are a Guan Yin shrine and two floating landings.
The municipality keeps developing the area around Paasan: Khlong Yuan Chuan Rak, a canal about 1 km long revived with treated water, won the ASEAN ESC Award for water in 2014; there is the "Angel Wings" sculpture by National Artist Kamol Tassananchalee; and plans include a cultural park with a 45-metre three-form Guan Yin and a pedestrian bridge linking Pak Nam Pho market to Paasan.
Raising Paasan's structure above flood level was no accident. Nakhon Sawan is where all the water from the North comes together: during the great flood of 2011 the Chao Phraya broke through the city's embankment around 10 October 2011 and flooded much of the town, and the city's river gauge is a figure the whole Chao Phraya basin watches every rainy season.
Location & getting there
Map · how to get there · costs
Directions use live traffic to estimate travel time
- Travel timeAbout 5–10 min from town
- RoadFlat town roads
- ParkingCar park in front of the building
- FuelPlenty of fuel stations in town
Suggested route
Paasan is at the tip of Ko Yom in Pak Nam Pho subdistrict, near the Pak Nam Pho market area in central Nakhon Sawan. Follow the "พาสาน" signs or search Google Maps, and park in front of the building.
Alternatively, take a hired boat across from the Pak Nam Pho riverside landing and see where the Ping and Nan meet from the water.
From Bangkok, take the Asian Highway (Route 32) and Highway 1 north for about 240 km — roughly 3 hours.
5 ways to get there
Follow the "พาสาน" signs from town to the tip of Ko Yom and park in front
Flat town roads, easy riding; park in front
Hail one at Pak Nam Pho market or in town; agree the fare first
Cross from the Pak Nam Pho riverside landing and see the confluence from the water
Drive Highway 32 and Highway 1 north for about 240 km, or take a coach to Nakhon Sawan bus terminal and continue into town
Prices and times are estimates and vary with season and traffic
Food nearby
Popular places within 5–10 km