Mukdahan is
a peaceful province located on the bank of the Mekong
River, opposite Sawannakhet in Laos. The ancestors of
the Mukdahan people migrated from Laos to establish the
city in the late Ayutthaya period. The province has
always been an interesting mixture of cultures from
various tribes since ancient times. Moreover, it is a
land of fantastic natural rock parks and is a major
gateway to tourism in Laos and Vietnam. The province is
renowned for its sweet tamarind fruit and features many
natural attractions.
Mukdahan has an area
of 4,339 square kilometres and is divided into the
following districts: Muang,
Kham Cha-I, Nikhom Kham Soi, Don Tan, Dong Luang, Wan
Yai, and Nong Sung.
Chao
Mae Song Nang Phi Nong Shrine
Chao Mae Song Nang Phi Nong Shrine is
on Samran Chai Khong Road, next to Mukdahan
immigration checkpoint. No records exist of its
origin but it is regarded to be as sacred as the
Mung Muang Shrine. The locals hold a celebration to
pay homage to both shrines in May every year.
Chao Pho Chao Fa Mung Mueang Shrine
Chao Pho Chao Fa Mung Mueang shrineis on Song Nang Sathit Road. It is here that
the city shrine is located. It is believed that the
shrine was built at the same time as the founding of
the city. The people of Mukdahan regard the shrine
as a sacred place that preserves the city’s
happiness.
Ho Kaeo Mukdahan
Ho Kaeo Mukdahan is a
65-metre-high tower, 2 kilometres on the
Mukdahan-Don Tan route. The lower floor features an
exhibition on Mukdahan’s history, another on the
arts and culture of various tribes and the way of
life along the Mekong River from past to present.
The topmost part is an observation room where
visitors can enjoy panoramic views of the Mekong
River, Sawannakhet and Mukdahan.
Mukdahan
National Park
Mukdahan National
Park (Phu Pha Thoep) is 17 kilometres from the
city on the Mukdahan-Don Tan Road. To get to the
park, turn right at the 14-15 km marker and
drive for 2 kilometres. The park has an area of
48.5 square kilometres and consists mainly of
many high mountains connected together like Phu
Manorom, Phu Nang Hong, Phu Pha Thoep, Phu Tham
Phra, Phu Lak Se, Phu Rang, Phu Pong, and Phu
Kham Mak Mi. The highest peak is Phu Chom Si,
which is 420 metres above sea level. The forest
is a hardwood forest and is the source of
several waterways.
Some parts of the park are steep cliffs and wide
rock plateaus. The most striking of these is Phu Pha Thoep where rocks of peculiar
shapes abound. It is believed that this area was
once a dirt mountain that eventually eroded due
to rain and wind. Around the end of the rainy
season in October, flowers of different colors
bloom from the rocks, giving the park
magnificent colors.
Other places of interest
include Phu Tham Phra, the largest
mountain in the park. Visitors can find a waterfall
and a cave where hundreds of small wooden Buddha and
animal images are placed. Another site is the
Tham Fa Mu Daeng on Phu Pha Thoep where
numerous prehistoric drawings of hands and people
can be seen. Drawn with red paint, the drawings are
estimated to be older than 5,000 years.
Sawannakhet
Sawannakhet Province,
Lao People’s Democratic Republicis
opposite Mukdahan. The second largest city to
Vientiane, the province has routes linking Laos to
Danang in Vietnam. To enter Laos, foreign travelers
must have a valid passport and obtain a visa from
either a Lao embassy or the Lao consulate in Khon
Kaen.
Wat Si Mongkhon Tai
Wat Si Mongkhon Tai is
near the immigration checkpoint. The temple houses
an important Buddha image of the province, Phra Chao
Ong Luang, an image built before the city’s
founding. This brick image is 2.2 metres wide and 2
metres high. According to legend, the first lord of
Mukdahan discovered it while he was overseeing the
city’s construction. In addition, another image made
of steel was found under a Bodi tree with only its
top part protruding from the ground.
Nikhom Kham Soi
Wat Phu Dan
Tae
Wat Phu Dan Tae,or Wat Phutto Thammatharo, is on Highway
No. 212 at the 134-km marker at Ban Chai
Mongkhon, Tambon Chok Chai, about 15 kilometres
from town. The temple is on a rock plateau and
houses a large standing Buddha image with a halo
on top. The image is clearly visible from a
distance.as
Don Tan
Klong
Mahorathuk
Mahorathuk drum
is kept at Wat Matchimawat (Wat Klang), not
far from Don Tan District Office. This
ancient artifact is over 3,000 years old. It
is a single-sided bronze drum with a
diametre of 86 centimetres and a length of
90 metres. The drum face has a sunrise
design and the drum case has drawings of 4
frogs. The Kha and ancient Khmer people
loved to collect drums. This drum was
discovered in 1938 on the Mekong bank at Ban
Na Tham in Laos.
Phu Mu Forest Park
Phu Mu Forest
Park can be reached by taking Highway No.
212 to the 128-129 km. markers, then take a
left-hand road for 12 kilometres. Phu Mu
(Pig Mountain) is 353 metres above sea level
and has a mountaintop plateau with an area
of 4 square kilometres. Wild boars used to
roam the area, hence, the name given by
villagers. The summit has 3 vantage points,
100 metres, 400 metres and 800 metres from
the park office, respectively. Visitors can
have great views of Mukdahan from all 3
points.
Nong
Sung
Namtok Tat
Ton
Tat Ton Waterfall is
to the south of Nong Sung and west of Kham Cha-I
on Highway No. 2030, 18 kilometres away between
the 67-68 km markers. The waterfall is 7 metres
high and 30 metres wide. A pool here is suitable
for swimming.
Wan Yai
Kaeng
Krabao
Kaeng Kabao is an
islet that parallels the Mekong River. A wide
rock plateau on the bank is popular for
villagers seeking relaxation. Islands and
beaches emerge in the middle of the river in the
dry season, making the area more picturesque
than in other seasons. To get there, take
Highway No. 212 (Mukdahan-That Phanom) for 20
kilometres and turn right to Wan Yai and drive
for 9 kilometres. Kaeng Kabao is 9 kilometres
north of the district office.
Wat Ban Song Khon
Wat Ban Song Khon
church is the largest and most beautiful
Catholic church in southeast Asia. Situated on
the Mekong bank 6 kilometres from Wan Yai, or 25
kilometres from Mukdahan, the church was built
to honor 7 Christians who sacrificed their lives
to protect the religion. The wax figures of the
7 martyrs with their ashes inside are on display
in the rear of the church.
Wat Mano Phirom
Wat Mano Phirom is
at Tambon Chanot. This old temple was built by
Vientiane architects. A fire caused extensive
damage to the temple in 1904, but it was fully
renovated in 1911. The temple has buildings of
interest such as the chapel and convocation
hall, as well as Buddha images and a stairway,
all reflecting beautiful local art.
