The 20-m tall Phra Mongkol Ming Muang,
commonly referred to as Phra Yai (Big Buddha) and
considered the town’s most sacred Buddha image,
is located in the Buddha Park. The gold-plated,
northern Indian-style Buddha image is in the sitting
position with the ‘touching the earth’
gesture, the most commonly gesture among Buddha
images. Shady trees around the park enhance the
air of calmness and tranquility prevalent.
The vast temple complex of Wat Thum Sang Petch
(Cave of Diamond Sparkles), or Wat Sala Pan Hong
(1,000 Room Pavilion), has a chapel perched on the
hilltops. North of the chapel, lights reflecting
off the stalactites and stalagmites of the large
and beautiful cavern makes the inside sparkle like
diamonds. Visitors pay respect to the large, exquisite
Buddha image housed within the cave. A number of
foreign monks study the Dharma here.
The unique Wat Phra Lao Thep Nimit contains a Lanna-style
(northern Thai) hall which houses a large, 281-year-old
Buddha image that is regarded as the most regal
and graceful looking Buddha image of this region.
The place to see silk weaving and the production
of silk cloth is at Soi Village (Necklace) in Phana
District. Villagers united to form a silk producing
co-operation unit with a comprehensive supply and
manufacturing process. They grow their own mulberry
trees whose leaves are fed to silkworms, tend to
the cocoons, harvest the cocoons and gather the
silk threads, dye the silk threads for used in weaving
and market their silk products themselves.
The area of Phu Sa Dok Bua National Park (Lotus
Pond Hill) covers 3 provinces:
Mukdahan,
Amnat Charoen, and Yasothon. The park consists of
many peaks, overlapping each other; a large, stony
plateau; wild forests; and prehistoric colored paintings
on the face of a cliff. The highlight is located
at the peak of the mountain where 5 stony basins,
of unknown origin, with widths of 2-5 meters contains
water throughout the year. Various forms of lotus
grew naturally in those basins, providing a colorful
spectacle.
Chanuman is a district about 80 km. from the provincial
town where the land runs alongside the Mekong River
for a distance of some 38 km, affording a wonderful
view of the natural scenery of both sides of the
river. Rapids which emerge during the dry season
(February-May) such as Kaeng Hin Khan (13 kms. south
of Chanuman) are quite exciting and eye-catching.
For a picturesque sunset view of the Mekong River
and the Laotian banks, visit the area in front of
the Chanuman District Office.
Located on the outskirts of Amnat Charoen near
the Chit Sakon Resort, the Chit Sakhon Agro-Park
is a garden of flowering plants, notably the marigolds.
Located on the Hua Taphan-Amnat Charoen Highway,
the Ban Kham Phra Handicraft Center is a facility
that exhibits and sells handicraft products made
by housewives groups. Items available include the
Khit fabric and items made from Khit materials.
The Don Chao Phu community park is home to a large
groups of monkeys.
Wat Pho Sila houses ancient, sandstone Sema stones
(usually heart-shaped pieces placed along the top
of the walls around a temple to mark its perimeters)
with delicate floral etchings. Unlike the normal
heart-shape, these unique Semas have a more tapered
shape, with a spear tip-like end. The entire design
is influenced by the Dvaravati style of the Central
Region.
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