Udon
Thani, a northeastern province covering an area of
11,730 square kilometers, is a prime business center of
I-San. Located 564 kilometers from Bangkok, it the world
heritage site for the prehistoric culture of Ban Chiang.
Udon Thani is probably best known for its archaeological
wonders, paramount among them the hamlet of Ban Chiang
where the world's first Bronze Age civilization is
believed to have flourished more than 5,000 years ago.
Udon Thani borders Nong Khai to the north, Khon Kaen to
the south, Sakon Nakhon to the east and Nongbualamphu
and Loei to the west. The province is located on a
plateau which is approximately 187 metres above sea
level. Most of its areas are covered with rice fields,
forests and hills, with the Phu Pan mountain ranges and
the Songkhram River are the province’s 2 main natural
resources.
The locals are mainly engaged in agricultural activities,
with particular rising in wholesale and retail trading
activities. That is why Udon Thani is an agricultural
market hub or neighboring provinces.
Udon
Thani’s provincial seal depicts God Wetsuwan, King of
the giants and keeper of the Northern Heavenly Gate.
The
Past
The
Vietnam War transformed the sleepy provincial city of
Udon Thani into a booming support center for a nearby
American airbase. Since the withdrawal of American
troops in 1976, it has continued to grow as an
industrial and commercial center within the region.
The
Present
Today,
Udon Thani is the transportation and communications hub
of the upper Northeast with several tourist destinations
and facilities.
Administratively, Udon Thani is divided
into the following districts: Mueang, Kumphawapi, Nong
Han, Phen, Ban Phue, Ban Dung, Si That, Nam Som, Nong
Wua So, Kut Chap, Non Sa-at, Wang Sam Mo, Chai Wan, Nong
Saeng, Sang Khom, Thung Fon, Na Yung, Phibun Rak, Ku
Kaeo and, Prachaksinlapakhom.
Ban Na Kha
This
village is situated 16 kilometers from town on the Nong
Khai route. It is a center of cotton, silk, and khit
silk trading. To get there from the Udon Thani’s city,
take the buses operated on route Udon Thani – Na Kha
which leave from the stops in front of the Rajabhat Udon
Thani Institute and Rangsina market.
Huai Luang Reservoir
This
reservoir is located on the Udon Thani-Nong Bua Lam Phu
Highway. Approximately at the km. 15 marker, get onto
the road which leads directly to the reservoir and
proceed for approximately 10 kilometres. With an area of
20,000 rai of land, the reservoir was built for
agricultural, fishery, and electricity generation
purposes. Activities for tourists include rafting,
fishing, and canoeing. For those nature lovers wishing
to relax amidst scenic backdrop, you can charter a boat
that will take you to see interesting spots of the
reservoir.
The huge reservoir under the oversight of the Irrigation
Department offers beautiful scenery. Call tel. 0 4224
5540 or 0 4224 2141 for more information.
Krom Luang Prachaksinlapakhom Monument
This
monument, built to commemorate the founder of Udon Thani,
is located in the center of the town.
Nong Prachak
This is a lake located within the province with an
islet landscaped with a great variety of trees and
flowers as a public park in the center. It is a
popular place for recreation among the townspeople.
San Chao Pu –Ya
This is
a Chinese-style shrine located near Nong Bua Market
within the provincial town. It is a large beautiful
Chinese shrine nearby the pond. The shrine houses a 99
meter-tall replica of a golden dragon, which is used in
the annual festival at Thung Si Muang in December.
The City Pillar
Located
in the Tung Sri Muang field, in middle of the city, San
Lak Muang was established in 1999. The place is where
the city’s guardian deity is believed to reside. Built
in contemporary Isan style of architecture, the compound
also houses God Wetsuwan, the province’s protecting God
(as depicted in the provincial seal), along with the
city pillar which is highly respected by the
townspeople.
Udon Sunshine Orchid Garden
This is
located in Soi Kamol Watthana on Udon Thani-Nong Samrong
route (Highway No. 204). The garden produces and sells a
new species of Thai scented orchid called “Udon
Sunshine”. It is the only known vanda hybrid which is
fragrant between the early morning hours and about 2
p.m., and it is the first orchid in the world to be made
into a perfume. Please call 0 4224 2475 for more
information.
Wat Ban Tat
This
temple is located off of the center of the province.
Take Highway No. 2 (Udon Thani-Khon Kaen) and make a
right turn at Ban Kong Keng and proceed for 9
kilometers. The temple is teeming with trees and small,
wild animals. It is here that one of Thailand’s most
revered monks, Luangta Maha Bua, resides. As the place
is set in a tranquil ambience conducive for practicing
meditation, a numbers of Thais practice insignt
meditation (Vipassana) at this temple.
Wat Matchimawat
This is
a temple, which houses a white rock Buddha image that
was renovated in the reign of King Rama V. The monastery
is located in Tambol Mak Kaeng, Amphoe Mueang, Udon
Thani.
Wat Phothisomphon
This
temple, which is located within the province, was built
at the end of King Rama V era (around the early of 20th
century).
Nong Han
Ban Chiang
Archaeological Site
This
archaeological site is considered to be cultural
property of outstanding universal value and was
nominated as a World Heritage Site in December 1992. The
Site is located at Ban Chiang, Amphoe Nong Han, 55
kilometers from the province on Highway No. 22 (Udon
Thani-Sakon Nakon). Turn left at the 50-km marker to
Highway No. 2225 and proceed for 6 kilometers.
Ban Chiang National Museum located at Ban Chiang, Tambon
Ban Chiang, Amphoe Nong Han, is comprised of two parts.
The first part stores antiques. Inside the building, old
artifacts, ancient Ban Chiang culture, tools and
utensils that showcase ancient technology and
surroundings, as well as earthenware pots from 4,000 to
7,500 years old, are displayed. The second part is an
open museum in the compound of Wat Po Si Nai. The Fine
Arts Department has retained the conditions of
archaeological excavations to illustrate how earthenware
pots and other items were buried along with the dead.
Ban Chiang National Museum is considered the first open
museum in Thailand. As for the “Ban Chiang” earthenware
pots, they are known world-wide because “Ban Chiang” was
the origin of a pre-historic civilization.
Archaeologists believe the designs on Ban Chiang
earthenware are the oldest pot designs in the world.
Traveling to Ban Chiang National Museum is very easy. It
is only fifty-six kilometers from Muang District. The
route runs along Highway 22 and turns left onto Highway
2225 at kilometer 50, where a road sign indicates the
way to Ban Chiang which is six kilometers away. The
museum is open to the general public every day, except
Mondays and Tuesdays, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. with an
admission fee of 20 baht. The museum has a parking area
with toilets and village shops located nearby.
On the
way to Ban Chiang, visitors can stop at several villages
where handicrafts are made. Ban Kham O located along the
Udon Thani-Sakon Nakhon Road is a Ban Chiang pottery
sculpture center while Ban Pu Lu is a pottery-painting
place.
Wat
Pho Si Nai
is the site of the open museum section of the Ban Chiang
National Museum where the conditions of the
archaeological excavations have been maintained in order
to illustrate how earthenware pots and other items were
buried along with the dead.
Ban Phu
Ban Phue
This
district, which is 42 kilometers north-west of Udon
Thani, has an unusual mix of pre-historic cave
paintings, fantastic geological formations and Buddhist
shrines, the bulk of which are at Phra Phutthabaat Bua
Bok, 12 kilometers outside of Ban Phue on Phra Bat hill.
The area
has been declared Phu Phra Bat Historical Park where
nature-loving trekkers may take a hike around the area,
which takes around two hours.
Phra Phutthabat (Holy Footprint) Bua Ban
is located on the Phu Phan hill, approximately 12
kilometres south of Phu Phra Bat Historical Park. Also
discovered and unearthed here at the sight are
battlements carved in Dvaravati and Lop Buri arts.
Phra Phutthabat Bua Bok
This is
where the Buddha’s Holy Footprint was found along side
with various Buddha images of Lanchang style that can be
dated back to 2025 Buddhist Century. Later in 1920, the
Chedi resembles to Phra That Phanom was built on top of
the footprint.
Nature-loving trekkers may take a hike around the area,
which takes around two hours. The Park is located on the
Udon Thani-Nong Khai Highway. Turn left at the 13-km.
marker to Highway No. 2021, which leads to Ban Phu and
proceed for 42 kilometers and along Highway No. 2348 for
12 kilometers. There is a right-entrance that leads
directly to the site. It takes approximately 2
kilometres.
Phu Phra Bat Historical Park
Situated
in Ban Phue District, this archaeological site features
a large number of ancient buildings and ancient objects
of both prehistoric and historic times. They are mostly
of Dvaravati, Lop Buri, and Lanchang style.
The site
is located in a thriving forest called Pa Khua Nam. In
addition, within the site are many rocks of peculiar
shapes which resulted from glacial movement millions of
years ago. It can be seen that most of the ancient
buildings and objects found in this area were modified
from what was naturally available and not built entirely
by human beings. For instance, a rock was decorated to
make a stupa or was chiseled into the shape of a foot.
The site
was declared a historical park by the Fine Arts
Department in 1991. Archeological evidence found at the
site includes Phra Phuttabat Bua Bok, Phra Phuttabat
Lang Tao, Phra Phutta Bat Bua Ban, religious buildings
modified from rocks, sandstone bai-sema (leaf-shaped
stones marking the limits of a Buddhist temple),
sandstone images and idols, cave paintings and stone
axes.
Phu Phra
Bat Historical Park covers the entire area of the Phra
Phutthabat Bua Bok which is around 1,200 acres. In
addition to the beautiful landscape, caves and caverns,
rocks of different sizes and shapes dot the area.
Moreover, pre-historic paintings over cliff faces have
been discovered, although many leave only the faintest
of traces.
Visitors
are recommended to explore Tham Non Sao Ae, Tham Woa
Daeng, Tham Chang, and Tham Sung to see the paintings
that depict the livelihood of pre-historical community
which can be traced back to approximately 2,500-3,000
years ago.
The
sandstone bai-sema, sandstone images and idols of
Dvaravati era are also discovered at Poeng Hin Po Ta –
Luk Koei.
Tham Erawan
This is
a large cave high up on the side of a limestone mountain
at the back of Wat Tham Erawan. This temple is 2
kilometers north of a turn-off between Km. 31 and 32
markers on Route 210 - near the village of Ban Hong Phu
Thawng, west of the town of Na Klang.
Ban Dung
Ban Kham Chanot –
Wang Nakhin
Located
in Ban Muang, Tambon Wang Thong, approximately 93
kilometres from Udon Thani’s town is an area called
“Wang Nakhin” (Naga Palace) – a place believed and
regarded by the locals as a mystical and holy place
where the door to the underworld of Naga is located.
Covering an area of over 20 rai of land, Wang Nakhin
(locally dubbed as Dong Chanot) is nothing but an islet
surrounded by water. It is teemed with dense palm trees
called Chanot. Traveling to the place is easy by Udon
Thani – Sakon Nakhon route. At Ban Nong Mek, turn left
and proceed approximately 84 kilometres to Ban Dung, and
another 9 kilometres to Ban Kham Chanot.
Nam Som
Na Yung Nam Som
Forest Park
Yung
Thong Waterfall located at Ban Sawang, Mu 2, Tambon Na
Yoong, King-Amphoe Na Yung is a waterfall on the ridge
of Phu Phan and Phu Ya Ou, where a stream flows through
the steep rock cliff. Yung Thong Waterfall is three
metres high and composed of water beautifully cascading
amongst the stones, especially during the rainy season
when it thunders down in torrents among the lush, green
flora. Located 103 kilometers from Amphoe Mueang, the
route to the waterfall passes through Amphoe Ban Phue
and Amphoe Nam Som. Upon reaching Amphoe Nam Som, there
is a junction from Nam Suem Village, proceed on that
route for seventeen kilometers in order to reach the
junction that leads to the Reserve Park. The route is
part of the project of the Office of Accelerated Rural
Development, aimed at speeding up the development in the
rural area which is in good condition and can be used
all the year round.
Yung
Thong Waterfall
is 103 kilometers from the province. Located in Na Yung
Nam Som National Park, it is a three-layer waterfall
surrounded by number of trees and valleys.
Nong Saeng
Phu Foi Lom
Phu Foi
Lom is an eco-tourism tourist destination which provides
unique soft-adventurous activities for nature lovers.
With an area of approximately 192,356 rai of Phu Phan
Noi mountain range, Phu Foi Lom is part of the Pan Don –
Pa Ko National Reserved Park. Rare flora and fauna can
be spotted here. As the place boasts diverse ecological
systems, tourists can enjoy trekking along the provided
trails. Phu Foi Lom is located approximately 35
kilometres from Udon Thani’s town. Traveling there is
not complicated, use Udon Thani – Loei route, at km 9
marker, turn to Ban Lao and proceed for another 48
kilometres.
Than Ngam Waterfall
A
medium-sized waterfall situated amidst lush and pristine
forests, the waterfall is more than perfect for swimming
and relaxation. Traveling to the site can be done via
Udon Thani – Nong Bua Lam Phu or Udon Thani – Khon Kaen
route. For the first route, travel along the highway for
approximately 45 kilometres, turn left to Nong Saeng
District and proceed for another 5 kilometres. For the
second route, travel along the highway for approximately
55 kilometres, turn right to Nong Saeng District and
proceed for another 25 kilometres.
Na Yung
Wat Pa Phu Kon
A
Buddhist park located in Ban Na Kham, Tambol Ban Kong,
the temple covers an area of 1,000 rai of teeming
forests. The place is perfect for practicing Buddhist
meditation. Located next to the temple is the Prathom
Rattanamahaburaphachan Chedi where the holy Buddha
relics are enshrined. The chedi is of Lanka style, is 25
metre high and is decorated with golden mosaic.