Kalasin, the land of Pong Lang music and the famous
Phrae Wa cloth, is 519 kilometres from Bangkok. It
is the site of the ancient city of Fa Daet Song Yang
and one of the largest concentrations of dinosaur
fossils in northeastern Thailand.
Kalasin has an area of 6,946 square kilometres. It is
divided into 18 districts (Amphoe): Mueang
Kalasin, Yang Talat, Kamalasai, Sahatsakhan, Kuchi
Narai, Tha Khantho, Somdet, Khao Wong, Huai Mek,
Kham Muang, Nong Kung Si, Na Mon, Huai Phung, Rong
Kham, Na Khu, Sam Chai, Don Chan and Khong Chai.
Arts, Culture and Tourism Promotion Centre
This
is an information centre in Thirawat Hospital and
provides knowledge to those interested in local arts
and culture of Kalasin. There are displays of the
way of life of locals and people in the Northeast,
as well as local products for sale.
Phraya Chai Sunthon Monument
This
monument is in front of the post office in the city.
Phraya Chai Sunthon or Thao Somphamit evacuated
people from the left bank of the Mekong River to
settle along the Pao River over 200 years ago.
Wat Klang
This
temple has an important artefact, which is the Ong
Dam Buddha image. This bronze image has beautiful
features. It is 20 inches wide. The base has an
inscription in ancient Thai. It is said that the
image can grant seasonal rainfall. The temple also
has a replica of Lord Buddha’s footprint made from
old laterite.
Wat Si Bun Ruang
This
temple is an old temple in the municipality. Some
heart-shaped stones that marked the limits of a
temple in Fa Daet Song Yang are kept here, the most
beautiful being the one with an angel flying above a
castle and a king and his family portrayed in the
lower part. This is traditional northeastern art.
Yang
Talat
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.
Suan Sa-on
This is a nature and wildlife education centre to
the east of Lam Pao dam. Suan Sa-on is a natural
open zoo with plenty of wildlife, including the
rare red gaur, which is the symbol of the park.
Kamalasai
Fa Daet Song Yang
This ancient town is a on Highway No. 214
(Kalasin-Roi Et). From Kalasin, drive for 13
kilometres to Kamalasai, then turn right and
drive for 6 kilometres. The present location is
Ban Sema, Tambon Nong Paen. There is evidence of
a settlement in prehistoric times, the area
flourishing during the Dvaravati period circa
the 13th-15th Buddhist century. The layout of
the town is like a heart-shaped stone that
defines a temple’s boundary. There are two rows
of moats. Ruins have been found inside and
outside the town area. The most complete ruin is
Phra That Yakhu, a brick pagoda.
Sandstone temple markers with and
without designs have been found here and are now
housed in Wat Pho Chai Semaram in the village
and in the Khon Kaen National Museum.
In addition, amulets and tobacco
pipes made of fired clay and bronze were
unearthed here.
Sahatsakhan
Phu Kum Khao
This mountain can be reached by taking Highway No.
227 for 30 kilometres, turn right to Wat
Sakkawan 1 kilometre away. Phu Kum Khao has the
largest concentration of dinosaur fossils in
Thailand. Numerous fossils were found in rock
layers. The Department of Mineral Resources has
excavated some areas where entire skeletons are
now clearly visible. Most are Sauropods, large,
long-necked, plant-eating dinosaurs which lived
about 130 million years ago.
Phu Sing
Phu Sing is 32 kilometres to the north of Kalasin
on Highway No. 227. Visitors can either drive to
the top or ascend the 104 steps. The hill is
where Phra Phrom Phumi Palo is located. It is a
large image in the Man Wichai (demon defeat)
that is 10.5 metres wide and is clearly visible
from below. The surrounding area is shady and
offers a lovely panoramic view.
Reclining Buddha at Phu Khao
This Buddha Image is in Wat Phuttha Nimit, Ban Na
Si Nuan, Tambon Non Sila, 39 kilometres from
Kalasin on Highway No. 227. There is a
6-kilometre road on the left from the highway.
This ancient reclining Buddha image was carved
under a cliff. This image is unusual to other
reclining images in that it is leaning on its
left hand rather than on its right hand. It was
built in 1692.
Kuchi Narai
Ban Phon Phrae Wa Silk
This village is located 70 kilometres from
Kalasin. It is famous for beautiful woven cloth.
The cloth is made of Mat Mi silk and shows
exemplary workmanship. It is unique to the Phu
Thai tribe whose ancestors migrated from the
city of Thaeng in Vietnam. Nowadays many colours
are used other than the traditional red.
Somdet
Namtok Kaeng Ka-am
This waterfall is 55 kilometres from Kalasin on
the Kalasin-Sakon Nakhon route on Highway No.
213, 300 metres from the highway on the left.
This is a small waterfall cascading down a long
row of rocks and has a wide, open rock plateau
suitable for relaxation.
Kham
Muang
Ban Khok
Kong Phu-Thai Village
The Phu-Thai is an Isan tribe which has its own
culture, language and now gives you the
opportunity to visit the village and stay for a
night or two in the houses of the villagers.
Food is included (its traditional Lao food but
with choice of more western one). You can watch
the show that all the villagers participate in
traditional “monkey dancing” by the children and
Phu-Thai music and dances performed by the women
of the village. The ways of weaving and crafting
are also on display. Two minutes walk from
village’s centre is a forest park with
waterfalls and streams.
Getting There:
Ban Khok Kong is 15 kilometres east of
Kuchinarai district. The village can be reached
by a bus from Khon Kaen or by cantacting the
village itself.
Public Transport
:
1. From Bangkok, travel by by or train to Khon
Kaen, then take the bus which runs to Mukdahan
and tell the driver to stop at Ban Na Krai and
then motorbike taxi to the village, or
2. From Bangkok’s Mochit Bus Terminal, take the
Bangkok-Mukdahan bus and go down at Ban Bua
Khao, then take big pick-up (Song Thaeo in Thai)
or motorbike taxi to the villang.
For more information, contact E-mail:
Eran777@yahoo.com or Tel: 0 4385 2003 to ask for
Khun Soen.
Nong Kung Sri
Koh Maharat
a public parks and recreation on
shore reservoir Khuean Lam Pao opposite Laem non
wonderful, Amphoe sahatsakhan can sit in the
ship or of a motor ferry for the ferry to each
other in the island (Naret a pavilion at rest,
which is suitable for the rest.
Kaowong
Phanangkhoi
a major tourist destinations, has
just discovered when not long ago, is a large
waterfall Flows From Phu Phan stratify is the
most beautiful Forest around the green fertile
and characteristics is a 3Km throughout the year
even in the dry season
Tadthong
in the district Khao Wong on the road Khao Wong
Dong Luang-Mukdahan a waterfall that is the most
beautiful in the Rocky Mountains in the rainy
season is the most beautiful waterfall Tad gold
will arrange for a job every year in the last
October car can travel to access Waterfall is
convenient manner.
