Khon Kaen

Attractions and Travel Guide

Attractions

Ubolratana dam

Ubolratana dam is the largest multi-purpose dam in the Northeast. To get there, take Highway No. 2 (Khon Kaen-Udon Thani) for 26 kilometres, turn left and drive for 24 kilometres. The dam is across the Phong river at the pass connecting Phu Kao and Phu Phan mountains. The view at the dam is magnificent. Tourists regularly frequent the area to look at the lake and sample local delicacies, including the famous grilled fish famous here.

Bang Saen II and Hat Chom Thong

The beaches are in Ban Hin Phoeng, Tambon Tha Ruea, 53 kilometres from downtown Khon Kaen. As part of the lake over Ubolratana Dam, the beaches are quite picturesque particularly when the sun sets behind the mountain ranges. There are various water sports available such as water bicycle, banana boat, and scooter. Visitors can enjoy fish a menu of freshly caught from the lake. During the holidays, the beaches are always quite lively.

Prasat Pueai Noi

Prasat Pueai Noi is the largest Khmer sanctuary in the upper Northeast. The compound comprises 3 brick buildings built on the same laterite base. All face to the east. Each pagoda has a sandstone lintel with designs. Each pagoda has a smaller chapel and a lintel with clear, lovely designs. A laterite wall surrounds the compound and there is a pool just beyond it. From Khon Kaen, take Highway No. 2 for 44 kilometres to Ban Phai, then take Highway No. 23 for 11 kilometres to Borabu district, then take a right-hand road for 24 kilometres to Ku Pueai Noi.

Phu Wiang National Park

This national park always reminds tourists about dinosaurs. Indeed, nobody had formerly ever though the Isan plateau was once home of dinosaurs. Until 1976 when a uranium survey team discovered a piece of fossil, which was examined by French specialists and declared that it was a left knee bone of a dinosaur. After that, serious execration has never ended until now.

On the hill Pratu Ti Ma, which was the first site, geologists have found fossils of a dinosaur, 15 metres high with a long neck and tail. This is a kind of plant-eating dinosaur never found else where before, so it was named Phuwiangosaurus Sirindhornae to honour H.R.H Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn. In this site, over ten teeth of a meat-eating dinosaur have also been found. So geologists and scientists presumed that the long-necked dinosaur was prey for these teeths owner. Among these teeths, one is different. After a study, scientist found that it belonged to a new species of dinosaur never found before. So it was named Siamosaurus Suteethorni after the discoverer, Mr. Warawuth Suteethorn.
All the three sites are not far from the headquarters, and tourists can also visit the second and third sites nearby.

Fossils of Siamotyrannus Isanensis found here are the oldest ones, dating back 120-130 million years. This indicates that tyrannosaurus originated in Asia. These fossils are now displayed in the museum of the Department of Mineral Resources.

At the 8th site, there are 68 footprints of dinosaurs, dating back 140 million years ago. Most of them belong to the world's smallest species of meat-eating dinosaur, which walked on two legs. Among such footprints, there is one bigger footprint, assumed to belong to Carnosaurus.

These sites are 19 kilometres from the headquarters. It takes an hour to get there by car and four-wheel drive vehicle is recommended. In many sites, geologists found fossils of dinosaur babies, small crocodiles and mussels dating back to 150 million years ago.
 Besides fossils of dinosaurs, there are also traces of ancient civilizations in this area including a high relief of the reclining Buddha on the cliff, at the crest of Phu Wiang Mountain. The Buddha image was carved in the 9th century, mirroring an influence from Indian art. Nearby is Tham Famue Daeng, Dang, or Red Palm Cave, at Ban Hin Rong. The cave wall houses prehistoric paintings of cavemen's hands from sprays of red ochre.
 Natural attractions in the park include waterfalls and field of wild flowers. Namtok Thap phaya Suea is a small waterfall near to Tham Famue Daeang. Namtok Tat Fa is a 15-metre high waterfall that can be accessed by car. The waterfall is 18 kilometres from Amphoe Phu Wiang. Some 5 kilometres from Namtok Tat Fa is Namtok Tat Klang which is a 8-metre high waterfall. Savanna and rock plateaus are always blanketed with wild flowers in full bloom by the end of the rainy season.

Phu Wiang National Park acquires a total area of 380 square kilometres in Amphoe Si Chomphu and Amphoe Chum Phae.

How to get there: from downtown Khon Kaen, visitors can get there via Highway 12 and connect to Highway 2038, bound for Amphoe Phu Wiang. From Amphoe Phu Wiang, talk the Phu Wiang-Ban Muaeng Mai Road, passing the national park unit, Pak Chong Phu Wiang at kilometre 23. Turn left at kilometre 30 at Ban Pho Reservoir and the national parks headquarters is 8 kilometres away. The headquarters features an exhibition about the dinosaurs and fossils found in the area. For group tourists requiring a guide, contact the headquarters in advance at Tel. 0 4324 9052.

Pattaya II

The pond acquiring an area of 20 rai is at Ban Nong Kung Soen, 78 kilometres from Amphoe Mueang. The scenic pond with the backdrop of Phu Phan Mountain is a nice place where the locals love to relax. Besides delicious freshwater fish cuisine available around the pond, there are various water sports tourists can enjoy.
How to get there: from Amphoe Mueang, tourists can get there via Highway 12 and turn right on Highway 2038, continue for another 12 kilometres then turn right onto Kiatsuranond Road. Go for another 12 kilometres, then turn left to Ban Kho. Turn another left at Wat sopha Rattana Phatthanaram, go ahead and make a right turn.

Buffalo Conservation Village

Supported by the provincial livestock offices, villagers have kept lots of water buffaloes until the village was honoured as the centre to conserve and develop Thai water buffalo. For more information, call Nawa Subdistrict Administration Organisation at Tel. 0 4321 1466.

Phu Pha Man National Park

The obvious natural landmark of this park is the towering limestone cliff that looks like a huge curtain. Lush jungle and mixed forest keep this place cool almost all the year round. Acquiring a total area of 218,750 rai, the park covers areas in Amphoe Phu Pha Man and Amphoe Chum Phae of Khon Kaen as well as Amphoe Phu Kradueng of Loei.

Wat Sa Bua Kaeo

The temple is located at Ban Wang Khun. The mural and sculptural works of this temple is worth a visit. Crouching guardian lion replicas are on both sides of the stairway leading up to the Ubosot, ordination hall, with sculptures of men stretching their legs in front in front. Luangpho Phui, preceptor of the temple, created all of these sculptures. Murals on four walls of this concrete ordination hall, both exterior and interior, features the peoples' lifestyle, history of the Lord Buddha, heaven and hell and folklore. The pictures are separated by the so-called Sinthao line, a flash-shape pattern which is widely found in murals from the Ayutthaya and Rattanakosin periods, not in the Isan region. By the unique brushwork, the murals mirror freedom of the artist in expressing emotion into the pictures, trees and animals, like Western impressionists. The favorite colors include yellow, indigo, red ochre, green, blue and black.

Page ( 1 | 2 | 3 )