Sunday, September 03, 2006

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