Interesting Places of Udon Thani.

Udon Thani has many interesting places including history places, waterfalls, caves and many beautiful temples. (This page contains 10 images, please be patient.)

Guardian Spirit Shrine of Udon Thani

Located in the city park is Toong Sri Muang. This is the new Guardian Spirit Shrine was built over the old one. In front of the shrine, standing the God giant, Tao Vesuwan, stands the simbolic logo of Udon Thani Governor.

Udon Sunshine Fragrant Orchid Farm

This is the birthplace of unique Udon Sunshine orchid, which is sold over the world. The owner also makes perfume from this orchid. It is located about 2 kilometers from town along the bypass. From early morning until about 1 pm, the air in the farm is filled with the sweet fragrance of Udon Sunshine orchids. You can buy a bottle of Udon Sunshine perfume for your sweetheart here. Another amazing thing is the dancing tree. This small tree that dances when you sing or talk nicely to it. When you stop it will stop dancing and once you start it dances again. This is really cool. See it and you will love the tree.

Pu-Ya Shrine (Chinese GrandPa-GrandMa Srine)

A very Chinese style shrine. As the God and Goddess of Mercy, All chinese blood people in Udon Thani revere these two gods and believe that they will be blessed with what they wish for. In early December each year there is a celebration of this shrine and many activities. There will be Dragon and Lion Dance show here. Pu-Ya shrine is located near the railway to the east of the provincial town.

Ban Chiang Historic Place

Ban Chiang is located on Udon-Sakol Rd., about 60 Km from Udon Thani. You can see 4,000-7,500 years of ancient culture here. There is a museum where artifacts and pottery are stored and exhibited. And if you want to see the real site, you can visit the excavation pits within Wat Pho Si Nai nearby, where the skeletons, burial attributes and artifacts discovered.

Ban Chiang pottery, decorated with red spiral painted designs, are famous worldwide and believed by archaeologists to be the world’s oldest civilization. UNESCO declared Ban Chiang a world heritage site in December 1992

Wat Tum Klong Plane (Big drum cave temple)

Located on Udon-Loei Rd., about 20 Km from Udon Thani. You can see a monument of Loang-Poo-Kao. This famous monk is revered by the Thai people. This is one of the nicest and most peaceful in the world. The temple was built among the forest, which has a big cave that stores a big drum. The drum is used to tell the lunch time for all monk and people around the area. The low loud noise of the drum can be heard from far away. So people around this area use this symbol as the name of this temple.

Phu Phra Bat Historical Park

Located about 68 km. from Udon Thani. The park covers a vast area at the foot of Phu Phan Range and comprises several places of interest.The park contains Phra Phutthabat Bua Bok, caves with pre-historic paintings of human figures, hands, animals, and geometric designs, and an opening on which rocks of various shapes and sizes stand and had once cast inspiration for the romantic folktale of "Usa-Baros"(Miss Usa's Tower). Here, the evolution of nature and human civilization can be studied at the same time. Fragments of boundary stones and a Buddha's image in the Davaravati style is carved out of sandstone had also been discovered at rock shelters of Pho Ta Temple (father-in-law) and Luk Khoei Temple (son-in-law) within the park.

Nong Prajak (Prajak Silpakhom Lake)

Located in the city. The public park is used for exercising every morning and evening. It is actually a lake for storing water to make a water service system in Udon Thani but the goverment promotes it to be a public park by providing it with a variety of flowers and trees.

Ban Na Kha

Ban Na Kha is 16 kilometres far from the provincial town along the Udon-Nong Khai route (Highway 2). You can find the products called “Pha Khit”,hand woven fabric here. You can also find Thai Silk fabric here which some are already made as shirts and dresses for men and women. Price are moderate.

Yung Thong Waterfall

40 meters hight, cascades down a steep rock from Phu Phan and Phu Ya U ridges. Its rocky tiers, especially in rainy season, are breathtakingly beautiful among the verdant surroundings Yung Thong water fall is about 103 kilometers far from Udon Thani. To get there, drive from Udon Thai via Amphure Ban Phue and Amphur Nam Suem, then take a branch road at Ban Nam Sum for another 17 kilometers.

Kham Chanote

A sacred place where villager in the vicinity pay their homage to. It is said that the place is an entrance of the underground world, residence of serpent kings according to the belief of northeast Thai people and Laos people. There was a big news about 10 years ago that a film entertainment company named Cham Chan was hired to show the movies, byt the ghost, in such area thus causing a large number of people who have such faith and interesting tourists to visit the place at present. The 20 rais area is thickly covered with Chanote trees which feature mixes between sugar palm and coconut palm. It, then, makes the atmosphere very cool. There is also a shrine and a sacred pond for homage paying in the area too.

To reach there, one has to travel 93 kilometers from Udon Thani along Udon Thani - Sakon Nakhon route where left turn is to be made at Nong Meg to Bandung district being the distance of 84 kilometers plus another 9 kilometers to reach Kham Chanote at Ban Wang Thong.

Than Ngam Waterfall

This fall is located in the vicinity of Thab Kung Subdistrict, Nong Saeng District through Udon Thani - Nong Bua Lamphu route making left turn to reach Nong Saeng District being a distance of 45 kilometers and continuing by foot trip of five kilometers to the fall. Than Ngam is medium sized waterfall where one can swim in its. Reservoir and a foot trip can be made from the reservoir to reach the watershed.

Map Udonthani

Udon Thani Golf Society

Udon Thani has �ts own ex-pat golf society which was founded by 16 ex-pats during 2002 and now has over 70 members. Society days are held each Monday, Wednesday and Friday at the golf clubs listed above, visiting golfers are welcome to join in for a round of social golf, and Tee off time is around 8.30am. Society times and dates can be seen on the notice boards of the golf clubs mentioned above. Or you can contact the chairman, Malcom Mackenzie on 042-300192 or mobile 09-5773623 for more information.

Gyms

The best gym with all modern facilities can be found at the Ban Chaing hotel (Map I11) there you will find a fully equipped gym with aerobics area exercise machines and weights, below is a spa with sauna. The Napali and Charoensri Grand hotels also have gyms but facilities maybe not quite as good.A private gym with decent facilities can be found opposite Nong Sim lake Map O6

Tennis courts

Tennis courts are available at the Physical Education centre Map C12, Rajaphat Institute Map M14 and on Soi Phompakhai leading away from the airport Map E16.

Badminton Courts

Decent indoor and outdoor badminton courts can be found on Asawamit road Map J15

Ten Pin bowling

Udon has 2 modern and smart 10-pin bowling alleys. The first is located at Big C Shopping centre (Map X18) called UFO and the second is located on the top floor of the Charoensri shopping centre called Majorplex bowling (Map O11)

Pool & Snooker

Pool tables can be found at the Aussie Pub (Map O12), Horseshoe Bar (Map N12), and the UFO bowling centre (Map X18)

There is a large snooker hall next to the Udon Hotel (Map K9) and at the western bus terminal (Map C9)

Information : http://www.udonmap.com

Activities and things to do in Udon Thani.

Running & Walking

There are plenty of places to run or walk around Udon Thani, the most popular being Nong Prjak Park Map ref P6. There is also an Olympic style running ground at the Physical Education College Map ref C12.Nong Bua Lake Map ref R13 is also another area used for running and walking and is much quieter that the other parks. Most locals exercise a few hours before sunset when it's cooler and more comfortable.

Swimming

Most major hotels such as Napali (Map E11), Charoen (Map O13) and Charoensri Grand (Map O11) have decent size swimming pools but make sure you get there early to beat the crowds. Most of these pools have daily, monthly and annual rates.
For decent lap swimming head to the Physical Education College on the western ring-road (Map C12) they have a nice size 50m swimming pool. Costs to use this pool are 30bt per swim. There is also a 50m pool at the Satreeratchunatit Girls School on Sri Chomchun Road Map H11
Bar Berry club and restaurant has a good decent size pool, Thomas resort (Map Y18) is home to a smaller attractive pool and the Bamboo garden (Province Map G8) has a nice and quite pool amongst beautiful gardens. There is also a nice pool at Sonmangorn restaurant on the eastern ring road.

Golf

Golfers are well catered for in Udon Thani, there are 4 9-hole courses and one nearer Nong Khai which is an 18 hole course. Prices start at 120bt and a little extra for a caddy tip which you usually pay at the end of your round. Some courses have their own driving ranges, there is also a driving range in Udon Thani on a small road leading off Phosi road Map V19 next door to Dutch Milk shop.

Information : http://www.udonmap.com

Information Udothani.

Udon Thani (know simply as Udon) is approximately 560 km from Bangkok, the province covers an area of 15,589 sq. km., with its boundary stretching to Nong Khai in the north, Khon Kaen in the south, Sakon Nakhon in the east, and Nong Bua Lam Phu in the west. Udon Thani is situated on a plateau with mountains and forested area in the west.

Udon Thani was once an important US military base during the Vietnam war, so it retains reminders of that time, with bars, coffee shops, and hotels. Today, there are a large number of retired US servicemen who have settled there. There is also an Udon branch of the US veterans of foreign war association, along with a relay station of VOA. The main reason to come to Udon Thani is its access to Thailand's premier bronze age excavation at Ban Chiang, the world-renowned archaeological site. Ban Chiang is located 47 km east of Udon's city centre. Although there is little attraction to see in the city for most travellers, there are a few quite interesting temples.

General Information
Location : 560 km from Bangkok
Postage Code : 41000
Tel Area Code: 042
Population (1993) : 1,398,991
Total Area (sq.km): 11,756
Population/sq.km. : 119
% in Urban Centers: 5.75%
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Environment

Udon Thani, a province on the northeastem plateau of Thailand, covers an area of 15,589 square kilometers, with its boundary stretching to Nong Khai in the north, Khon Kaen in the south, Sakon Nakhon in the east, and Nong Bua Lamphu in the west.

Topography : Udon Thani is situated on a ;lateau with mountains and forested area in the west stretching southwards along the provincial border from Amphoe Nam Som and towards the southeast near Kalasin and Sakon Nakhon provinces. The plateau gradually slopes down along Huai Luang stream th the Mekong river th the province’s northeast. The area covering Amphoe Muang, Amphoe Kumphawapi, Amphoe Nong Han, Amphoe Phen, and Amphoe Ban Dung, is thus a fertile plain best for rice farming.

Administrative Jurtsdiction
Udon Thani is divided into 18 Amphoes (District) and 2 King Amphoe (Subdistrict) as following:
- Amphoe Muang
- Amphoe nong Wua So 39 Km.
- Amphoe Nong Han 35 Km.
- Amphoe Ban Phue 55 Km.
- Amphoe Ban Dung 84 Km.
- Amphoe Kumphawapi 43 Km.
- Amphoe Non Sa-ard 53 Km.
- Amphoe Kut Chap 24 Km.
- Amphoe Wang Sam Mo 96 Km.
- Amphoe Sang Khom 68 Km.
- Amphoe Thung Fon 65 Km.
- Amphoe Chai Wan 62 Km.
- Amphoe Nong Saeng 35 Km.
- Amphoe Phen 43 Km.
- Amphoe Narm Som 110 Km.
- Amphoe Na Yung 129 Km.
- Amphoe Sri That 72 Km.
- Amphoe Phi Bun Rak 63 Km.
- King Amphoe Ku Kaew 65 Km.
- King Amphoe Prajak Sillapakhom 36 Km.
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Festivals

An annual homage paying ceremony from the 13th nights of the third lunarmounth (generally late February) an annual homage paying ceremony is held at Pha Buddha Bat Bua Bok.

Khit Fabric Annual Fair on December at Thung Sri Muang Annual December 1-12

Banchiang World Heritage Fair : Annual December.

Pu Ya Celebration : Annual December 5

Welcome to Udonthani.