Judging from archaeological finds and other historical evidence, it is safe to say that Buddhism first reached Thailand when the country was inhabited by a racial stock of people known as the Mon-Khmer who then had their capital, Dvárávati, at a city now known as Nakon Pathom about 50 kilometers to the west of Bangkok. The great pagoda at Nakon Pathom, Phra Pathom Chedi and other historical findings in other parts of the country testify to this fact as well as to the fact that Buddhism, in its varied forms, reached Thailand at four different periods, namely: I. Theraváda or Southern Buddhism II. Maháyána or Northern Buddhism III. Burma (Pagan) Buddhism IV. Ceylon (LankavaÃsa) Buddhism.
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