Kalasin Attractions and Travel Guide

Attractions

Lam Pao Dam
 
This dam can be reached by taking Highway No. 209 (Kalasin - Maha Sarakham) for 10 kilometres, turn right and drive for 26 kilometres. This earth dam is 33 metres high from water level and is 7.8 kilometres long. The dam is built across the Pao and Huai Yang rivers, creating a double reservoir. It was built to alleviate floods, help agriculture and is also used for fish breeding. The beach along the lake is a popular rest spot for locals.

Phu Thai Nong Hang Handicraft Centre

It is located in Ban Nong Hang, Tambon Nong Hang, approximately 10 kilometres from Kuchinarai district. Take Highway No. 2042 for about 2 kilometres, then turn left into the paved road and drive for another 6 kilometres. Local villagers of Nong Hang form a network to weave cotton, silk as well as bamboo woven in the textile’s ‘Khit’ pattern. Some of the beautiful basketry products include ‘Krato’ – a vegetable container, ‘Kratip’ – a sticky rice container, handbags and other containers.

Phutthasathan Phu Po

It is located in the compound of Wat In Prathan Phon, Tambon Phu Po, approximately 28 kilometres from Kalasin province. Travel along Highway No. 213 and then at approximately Km. 59, turn left to Ban Chot – Ban Na Chan – Na Khok Khwai for 16 kilometres. The site is where two ancient reclining Buddha images of the Dvaravati period carved on the cliff can be seen. They are the sacred images highly revered by the people of Kalasin and nearby provinces. The first image is at the foothill and the second one is on Phu Po. Apart from storing sacred Buddha images, Phu Po also features beautiful nature perfect for rest and relaxation. There is an annual ceremony to celebrate the reclining Buddha images in April every year. 

Sirindhorn Museum and Phu Kum Khao Dinosaur Excavation Site 
 
This archaeological museum is situated in the foothills of Phu Kum Khao Mountain in Sahatsakhan District, approximately 28 kilometres from Kalasin Town.
 
The Palaeozoic Era was two hundred million years ago, long before humans existed. Dinosaurs once lived in this area and we find their fossils underneath the sandstone bedding-plane. Hence, the museum is a research centre as well as being the most complete and largest dinosaur museum in Southeat Asia
 
The museum was named by Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn. A two-storey building, its interior is filled with mysterious walkways guiding visitors to travel back in time to the Palaeozoic Era. Walking through the tunnels, visitors reach various exhibition halls about Geology, the beginnings of the Earth and how it was formed, as well as the evolution of living creatures such as dinosaurs and humans.
 
The museum's outstanding exhibits include life-sized skeletons of the many significant dinosaur species discovered in this area, such as Phuwiangosaurus sirindhornae, Siamosaurus suteethorni and Siamotyrannus isanensis. In addition, also displayed in the museum, is the actual archaeological dig-site where fossils of six dinosaurs were unearthed from the same bedding-plane.
 
The museum is open every day from 8:30-17:30. Admission is free until the official opening is announced. For further information, call 0 4387 1014.

Wat Klang 

It is located near Phraya Chaisunthon Monument.  Wat Klang is a third-class royal temple. Within the temple’s compound, there is an Ubosot building, which was an extension from the old building. The Thai-style Ubosot is decorated with ‘Chofa’ (gable finial) and ‘Bai Raka’ (crockets).  The wooden doors are carved telling the life of the Lord Buddha; while the windows tell the Jataka stories.  There are stucco door guardians in the front and at the back. The Ubosot houses murals depicting the story of the Vessantara Jataka. Inside a pavilion or Sala near the Ubosot building is a black Buddha image, made from bronze with a lap of 20-inches wide. It is a beautiful Buddha image. The pedestal of the image bears an inscription in ancient Thai language stating that the image was built during the period of King Khu Na Kham. Phraya Chaisunthon took it to be the provincial image, which became highly revered by the local people. In any drought season, the local people would take the Buddha image in a procession to beg for rain. 
 Apart from the black Buddha image, Wat Klang also has a Buddha footprint, which is 20-inch wide and 80-inch long, made from laterite. It is believed to have been built during the Lawa period. Formerly, it was located on the bank of Lam Pao – the Pao River, near Kaeng Samrong. Later on, the bank of the river gradually collapsed, so the local people decided to relocate it to this temple.

Phu Faek Forest Park (Dinosaur Footprints)

Located at Mu 6, Ban Nam Kham, Tambon Phu Laen Chang, with alternate mountainous and hilly topography covered with a deciduous dipterocarp forest featuring various kinds of flora such as Makha Mong (Afzelia xylocarpa), Teng (Shorea optusa), Rang (Shorea siamensis) and rosewood; and it is easy to spot some wild animals such as squirrels, tree shrews, civets and hares. In November 1996, two girls were having lunch there with their parents and they noticed strange footprints in the middle of a rock terrace of Huai Ngao Du, at Phu Faek foothill, Phu Phan mountain range. They later informed geologists who came to survey the site. There, they discovered seven footprints of meat-eating dinosaurs, assumed to live there around 140 million years ago. At present, there are only 4 footprints that can be seen clearly. To get there: From Mueang district, take Highway No. 213 to Somdet district. Upon reaching Somdet district, turn right into Highway 2042 leading to Kuchinarai for 20 kilometres until you reach Huai Phueng. Turn left toward Na Khu along Highway No. 2101 for 10 kilometres, then turn left into Phu Faek Forest Park for 4.7 kilometres.

Namtok Tat Thong

It is located on the Khao Wong - Dong Luang – Mukdahan Road. It is a huge and beautiful waterfall with complex stone cliffs. It is most beautiful in the rainy season and is easily accessible by car. 

To get there: Take Highway No. 2291 until you reach Kut Pla Khao, then turn left into Highway 2287. The waterfall is at Km. 76 on the right.

Namtok Pha Nang Khoi

It is located in Tambon Bo Kaeo. It is a huge waterfall, beautifully cascading down from the Phu Phan mountain range. It is surrounded with abundant thick forest. There is water all year round, even in the dry season. 

To get there: Take Highway No. 2291 from Khao Wong Intersection, then go onto Ro Pho Cho Road where there is a signboard showing the way to Pha Nang Khoi for 13 kilometres. (Some parts are unpaved road).

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