Thung
Si Muang
This is a wide open ground in the middle of
the city very much like Sanam Luang in Bangkok. It was
formerly reserved as a place for the governor (Chao
Muang)
to perform a rice growing ceremony.
Later, King Rama V abolished to the ceremony to deep it
as a recreation and festival celebration area for the townspeople.
A city pillar shrine is located to the south of the field.
Thung
Si Muang Temple
The
temple is on Luang Road in the municipal area.
Built during the reign of King Rama III, it has a
beautiful ordination hall in the northeastern architectural
style with some influence from Bangkok. Its
scripture hall, showing the most beautiful and perfect
northeastern architectural style, is located in the middle of
a pond. Mural paintings in this temple show the civilisations
and cultures of the people of Ubon Ratchathani over 200 year
ago.
Wat
Supattanaramworawihan
a royal temple and the temple of the dharmayuthi
Sect in the Northeast, was built in 1853 by Phra Prom
Ratchawongsa (Phra
Upart Ku Thong),
who was Governor of Ubon Ratchathani during the reign of King
Rama Iv of the Chakri Dynasty.
The temple is on the bank of the Mun River, surrounded
by beautiful and tranquil scenery.
Two life-like lions stand in front of the Tha-Chinese-European
styled ordination hall which houses the principal serene
Buddha image of the temple.
Wat
Si Ubon Rattanaram (Wat
Si Thong)
is a royal temple on Uparat Road beside the
city Hall. The
ordination hall is in the same style as the Marbel Temple in
Bangkok. The Topaz Buddha image, the town’s sacred image
brought from Si Sattanakanahut, Laos, is kept here.
Wat
Buraparam
was once the residence of many famous monks in the
field of meditation such as Achan Sithachayaseno, Achan Man
Purittatathera, Achan Li Thammatharo, Achan Saokantasilo, and
Achan Sing Kantayakamo. At
present, their statues, carved from stones from various
rivers, are kept here for the people to pay respect to.
Wat
Maha Wanaram
located on Sappasit Road, is an ancient temple of
the city. Its
former name was Wat Luang Mani Choti Sisawat; later on, the
name was changed to Wat Pa Yai and then to its present name.
The holy Buddha image much revered by the people of
Ubon Ratchathani and nearby provinces is “Phra Chao Yai
Indra Plang”. There
is also a stone engraved tablet interred behind the pedestal
of the Buddha image.
The
National Museum
is on Khun Thani Road. It
is a one-storey Panya style building built in 1918.
It was once used as the City Hall.
Later, it was offered to the Department of Fine Arts to
be used as the National Museum of the city.
It is known as the museum with the best arrangement and
display of artifacts from all districts in th province.
Inside, there are displays of prehistoric events,
history, and cultures of the natives of Ubon Ratchathani.
The Museum is open every day from 09:00-16:00 hrs.,
except Mondays, Tuesdays, and holidays.
Wat
Tai Beach
is a sandy islet in the middle of the Mun River,
located at the end of the town near the Provincial Electricity
Authority of Ubon Ratchathani.
During the dry season, the islet is covered with shady
green tree. It is
used as a recreational area for the poeople especially in the
evenings when people come for picnics and swimming.
Wat
Chaeng
is on Sappasit Road in the municipal area.
Its wellpreserved ordination hall, in perfect
northeastern style, is one of the oldest ordination halls in
the province.
Wat
Ban Na Muang
has a very beautiful ordination hall built of
ceramics in the shape of the Suphannahong Royal Barge.
Acharn Bun Mi, the abbot, is very much respected by the
local people and those of the nearby provinces.
Wat
Nong Bua
is on the outskirts of Ubon Ratchathani on Highway 212
Ubon-Amnat Charoen. At
the third kilometre of thehighway, there is an 800 metre side
road leading to the temple.
It is the only temple in this province that has a
rectangular chedi built in an imitation of Chedi Buddhakhaya.
Khu
Kua Beach
a large sandy beach about 12 kilometres from the
city, is located on the bank of the Mun River.
There are many food stalls along the beach to provide
services to tourists.
Ban
Pa Ao
is situated
at Tambon Nong Khon, 18 kilometres from the city on Highway
23. At kilometre
marker 273, turn right and travel along a laterite track for
another 3 kilometres. It
is one of the oldest villages in Ubon Ratchathani.
According to history, the villagers migrated from
Vientiane, Laos during the reign of King Siri Bun San.
They gradually moved from Nong Bua Lamphu, Nakhon Khuan
Khan Kap Kaco, Bua Ban, ect.
Until they reached Ban Pa Ao.
Therefore, the village is over 200 years old and has a
special identity of its own which has been handed down from
its ancestors; the craft of making bronzeware and weaving
beautiful silk.
Ban
Kan Luang Archaeological Site
is situated in Wat Ban Kan Luang, 3 kilometres from
the town along Highway 212 Turn right onto Highway 2050 for 2
kilometers the sitewas excavated by the Fine Arts Department
in 1992. Discoveries
include artifacts, implements, ornaments, beads, pottery and
iron axes. It is believed that this settlement dates back at least 2,000
years.
|