UBON RATCHATHANI

Ubon Ratchathani is a major tourist attraction of the lower I-San located 629 kilometres from Bangkok. The province borders to the Mekong River in the east and features superb scenic view of Ubon Ratchatthani.

The province covers 15,517 square kilometres and is divided into the following districts: Muang, Warin Chamrap, Det Udom, Buntharik, Na Chaluai, Nam Yun, Phibun Mangasahan, Khong Chiam, Si Muang Mai, Trakan Phutphon, Khemmarat, Muang Samsip, Khuang Nai, Kut Khao Pun, Tan Sun, Pho Sai, Samrong, Sirindhorn, Don Mot Daeng, Thung Si Udom, Na Yia, Na Tan, Lao Sua Kok, Sawang Wirawong and Nam Khun.

Thung Si Muang is a wide-open ground in the middle of the city used as a recreation and testival celebration area for the townspeople. Monument of the founder of Ubon Ratchathani is also located here.

Wat Thung Si Muang is Located on Luang Road in the municipal area. The temple was built during the reign of king Rama III and is has a beautiful ordination hall in the northeastern architectural style. Its scripture hall is located in the middle of a pond, its roof shows the Burmese architectural style while its lintel is carved in Location architectural art. Mural paintings in this temple feature the civilizations and cultures of the people of Ubon Ratchathani over 200 years ago.

Wat Si Ubon Rattanaram is a royal temple on Upparat Road beside the City Hall. The ordination hall is in the same style as the Marble Temple in Bangkok. the Topaz, Buddha image, the town's sacred image is kept here.

The Ubon Ratxhathai National Museum is on Khuan Thani Road. The building built in 1918 was once used as the City Hall. It is known as the museum with the best arrangement and display artefacts from all districts in the province. Inside, there are displays of prehistoric events, history, and cultures of the natives of Ubon Ratchathani. The Museum is open Wednesday-Sunday from 9:00 a.m. - 4.00 p.m.

Wat Chaeng is on Sappasit Road in the municipal area. It is a well-preserved ordination hall, in perfect northeastern style, one of the oldest ordination halls in the provinces.

Wat Maha Wanaram located on Sappasit Road, is an ancient temple of the city. The holy Buddha image much revered by the people of Ubon Ratchathani and nearby provinces is "Phra Chao Yai Indra Plaeng". There is also stone engraved tablet interred behind the pedestal of the Buddha image.

Wat Burapharam in Amphoe Muang was once the residence of many famous monks in the field of meditation. their statues, carved from stones from various rivers, are kept here fro the people to pay respect to.

Wat Supattanaram is a royal temple of the Dhammayut Sect in the northeast, built in 1853. The temple is on the bank of the Mun River, surrounded by beautiful and tranquil scenery. The Thai-Chinese-European styled ordination hall, which houses the principal serene Buddha image of the temple, is the most worth seeing.

Hat Wat Tai is a sandy island in the middle of the Mun River. The island becomes larger than usual in summer. It is also used as a recreation place by townspeople.

Wat Ban Na Muang is 5 kilometres from town. It has a very beautiful ordination hall built of ceramics in the shape of the Suphannahong Royal Barge.

Wat Nong Bua is on the outskirts of Ubon Ratchathani on Highway 212 (Ubon-Amnat Charoen). at the third kilometre of highway, 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 of India.

Ban Kan Luang Archaeologicaal Site is situated in Wat Ban Kan Luang, 3 kilometres from the town along Highway 212. Turn right onto Highway 2050 for 2 kilometres. The Fine Arts Department in 1992 excavated the site. Discoveries include artefacts, implements, ornaments, beads, pottery and iron axes. It is believed that this settlement dates back at least 2,000 years.

Had Khu Dua is a sandy river shore on the Mun river's bank about 12 kilometres from town. There are varieties of local food sold along the shore.

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 the track for another 3 kilometres. It is one of the oldest villages in Ubon Ratchathani. According to history, the villagers migrated fromVientiane, Laos during the reign of King Siri bun San. The village is over 200 years old and has a special identity of its own which has been handed down from its ancestors such as the craft for making bronzeware and weaving beautiful silk.

Wat Nong Pa Phong is a mediation centre. The atmosphere is quiet and peaceful. It is on highway 2178 about 6 kilometres from the city. A number of foreigners practice Buddhism here.

Kaeng Saphu is the most beautiful cataract in Ubon Ratchthani. It is in the Mun River near the district office of Phibun Mangsahan, about 45 kilometres form Ubon Ratchathani city centre, on the left-hand side of Highway 217. This beautiful cataract of natural rocks can be seen for half the year during the dry season.

The Sirindhorn Dam is about 70 kilometres from the city centre on Highway 217. Turn right at kilometre 71 for about 500 metres. The dam is built to generate electricity and facilitate agriculture.

Chong Mek Border - the boundary between Thailand and Laos marks the end of Highway 217, which is 89 kilometres long. This highway will be connected to a 38 kilometre road in Laos leading to Pak Sae, which is a part of the Asian Highway.

Kaeng Tana National Park can be reached by two ways. One is by Highway 2222. Along this route visitor will get a beautiful sight of Kaeng Tana, the other way is the route to the National Park Office along Highway 217 (Phibun Mangsahan-Chong Mek route) and then turn left to Highway 2173 for another 13 kilometres.

Tat Ton Waterfall is on Highway 2173, which is about 6 kilometres off Highway 217. This beautiful waterfall is created from Tat Ton Brook flowing past a stone platform and plunging onto the pain forming a basin large enough to swim in. Forest and flowering shrubs surround the area.

The Bi-coloured River or the Mun River's alluvium is the place where two rivers join: the brown Mekong and the Blue Mun River. It is located in Khong Chiam district about 84 kilometres from Ubon Ratchathai city centre.

Pak Mun Dam is constructed from stone reinforces with clay soil with a width of 17 metres and a length of 300 metres. The dam facilitates agriculture and generates far from the area where the Mekong River meets the Mun River. It is possible to travel along the top of the dam wall as a short cut from Klong Chiam district to Amphoe Sirindhorn without driving back to Phibun Mangsahan district. Cruising along the beautiful Mun River is possible from the end of the dam to the Bi-coloured River, where the Mun River joins with the Mekong river.

Pha Taem National Park covers an area of 140 square kilometres, plateaux and hills dominate the park's landscape. There are sheer cliffs, which are a result from earthquakes. Most trees are of the deciduous dipterocarp forest. Irregular shaped sandstone is found scattered in the area. Beautiful flowering plants grow among the rocky ground. Traveling can be made from Klong Chiam district along highway No. 2134, followed by highway No. 2112, and ten turn right for another 5 kilometres, places of interest within the park are:

Sao Chaling is on Highway 2112, about 11 kilometres from the office on the route to Pha Taem. Sao Chaliang is a natural formation of rocks sitting one upon another formation a mushroom-like shape. Fossils of sea shell, pebbles, and grains can be seen in big stone slabs believe that about a million years ago area must have been a sea bed.

	Pha Taem and Pha Kham located near the national park headquarters. On the cliff's surfaces, there are prehistoric paintings dating back to 3,000-4,000 years ago reflecting the ancient way of life of the people who once lived in the area, such as fishing and rice farming. Figures of people, animals, hands and geometric designs were also depicted.
	Soi Sawan waterfall is 30 kilometres from Khong Chiam district. It is a big waterfall cascading from two sides of steep cliffs about 20 metres high.
	Saeng Chan Waterfall ์ is only 1 kilometres from Thung Na Munng Waterfall. It is a very beautiful waterfall with a special characteristic of its own-that is the water will fall down throungh a rock pie looking like the full moon shining onto the world.

Phu Chong-Na Yoi National Park covers an area of 686 square kilometres of, the area features scenic viewpoint overlooking Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia. It has many shady tress and many kinds of flowers. At night, Wildlife such as tigers and seer can be seen.

It is located on Ubon Ratchthani-Warin Chamrap-Det Udom-Nam Yun-Na Chaluai Highway. The Park is on Highway 2248 and about 20 kilometres from Na Chaluai district.

Interesting attractions in the National Park are Huai Luang Waterfall, Kaeng Sam Phan Pi, Natural Walking Track and some other interesting attractions. To visit those attractions, one needs an official permission from the national park's headquarters.

The Candle Festival is the largest religious ceremony in Ubon Ratchcthani. It is celebrated yearly on Asalha Bucha Day and khao Phansa (Buddhist Lent) Day. The ceremony is held at Thung Si Muang and Chaturamuk Pavillion. At night, there is entertainment to celebrate the Lent candles. The reflection of lights on the candles creates a picturesque effect during ht festival.

Kaeng Sa Phu Songkarn Festival is held yearly in April, villagers well splash water to each other and swim in the Mun River. The festival also features local sports and northeastern folk music.

The local products of Ubon Ratchathani are Khit-designed pillows, Pha Khao Ma or loincloths, Silk, fold up mats, Knit-designed cloth, basketry and pork sausages. The products can be bought at souvenir shops around Khuan Thani Road near the Ratchathani Hotel, or from the market in town.