Ubon Ratchathani - Come and Visit the No. 1 City in Isaan

[katareya2006]

Their is actually lots to do in Ubon Ratchathani.......

Thung Si Mueang (ทุ่งศรีเมือง) - is a landscaped public park in the heart of the city in front of the city hall. It houses an imitation carved candle sculpture, health park, and playground.

City Pillar Shrine (ศาลหลักเมือง) - At the southern corner of the field, the sacred pillar was built in 1972.

National Museum of Ubon Ratchathani (พิพิธภัณฑสถานแห่งชาติ อุบลราชธานี) - The single-storey hip roofed building, built in 1918, once served as the city hall before it was handed to the Fine Arts Department. The museum has exhibitions on local geography, history of the citys establishment, archaeological fine art objects, local handicrafts, and folk games.

The Golden Jubilee Art and Cultural Centre (ศูนย์ศิลปวัฒนธรรมกาญจนาภิเษก) - The 7-storey building in contemporary Isan architecture was built to commemorate the Golden Jubilee Celebrations of the king's accession to the throne. Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn presided over the opening ceremony on 11 December 2001.

Monument of Phra Pathum Worarat Suriyawong or Chao Kham Phong (อนุสาวรีย์พระปทุมวรราชสุริยวงศ์ หรือ เจ้าคำผง) - Phra Pathum Worarat Suriyawong was the founder of Ubon Ratchathani during 1778-1795.

Sculpture of Somdet Phra Maha Wirawong or Tisso Uan (ปฏิมากรรมสมเด็จพระมหาวีรวงศ์ หรือ ติสโส อ้วน) - a famous monk who was well versed in Sutra and Vipassana.

Monument of Goodness (อนุสาวรีย์แห่งความดี) - The monument was built by WWII PoWs to honour the generosity and goodness of the people of Ubon Ratchathani.

Sculpture of Harmony and Progress (ปฏิมากรรมร่วมใจก้าวไปข้างหน้า) - The sculpture represents the harmony of four countries: Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam.

Prasat Ban Ben (ปราสาทบ้านเบญจ์) - The Khmer sanctuary is a religious site comprising three brick prangs on separated laterite bases. The Fine Arts Department excavated the site in 1990 and found lintels featuring nine directional guardian angels and the God Indra on his Erawan heavenly elephant.

Wat Thung Si Mueang (วัดทุ่งศรีเมือง) The Buddha's footprint is housed in the ubosot which mirrors art blending between the early Rattanakosin era and that of Vientiane. Another important building in the temple is the Ho Trai, the Hall of Tipitaka scriptures. The wooden hall was built in the pond to protect the Tipitaka from insects.

Wat Si Ubon Rattanaram or Wat Si Thong (วัดศรีอุบลรัตนาราม หรือ วัดศรีทอง) - The ubosot houses a sacred Buddha image known as Phra Kaeo Butsarakham. The Buddha image, in the attitude of subduing Mara, is carved from topaz into the Chiang Saen style. Each year, in the Songkran Festival, people parade the Buddha image for the people to pay their respects to and bathe.

Wat Chaeng (วัดแจ้ง) - The ubosot, which was only completed 24 years later, is noted for its architecture and rare woodcarving. As a heritage site, the ubosot is well preserved in its original condition. It won a Certificate of Honour from Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn in the "Architect 87" Exhibition.

Wat Maha Wanaram (วัดมหาวนาราม) - It was at first only a "Samnak Song", a monastic residence, for Vipassana monks. According to a stone inscription found behind the principal Buddha statue, Phrachao Yai In Paeng, it was built in 1807. The stucco Buddha statue, in the attitude of subduing Mara, was built in the Laotian style.

Wat Burapharam (วัดบูรพาราม) - The temple once served as a residence for famous meditation monks. Today, the temple houses lifelike stone figures of these monks.

Wat Supattanaram Worawihan (วัดสุปัฏนารามวรวิหาร) - This is the first Dhammayutika temple of the province. The temple has a special ubosot designed by a royal highway engineer Luang Sathit Nimankan (Chuan Supiyaphan). It has a Thai-style roof, Western-style hall and Khmer-style base.

Wat Nong Pa Phong (วัดหนองป่าพง) - The temple is in a lush forest of Tambon Non Phueng. Monks study and practice Vipassana meditation there. The temple has the Phra Phothiyan Thera Museum that displays the eight requisites and wax model of Luangpu Cha.

Wat Pa Nana Chat (วัดป่านานาชาติ) - Numerous foreign monks study and practice Vipassana meditation here; most of them can speak Thai fluently and pray in Pali.

Wat Sa Prasan Suk or Wat Ban Na Mueang (วัดสระประสานสุข หรือ วัดบ้านนาเมือง) - The temple houses a special ubosot in the shape of the Suphannahong Royal Barge decorated with mosaics. The abbot is Achan Bunmi.

Wat Phukhao Kaeo (วัดภูเขาแก้ว) - The temple has an ubosot delicately decorated with a tiered roof covered with terracotta tiles and supporting a golden spire in the middle. Inside is a high-relief regarding important phrathats, relic-containing pagodas, of Thailand.

Wat Thung Si Wilai (วัดทุ่งศรีวิไล) - The temple houses Luangpho Wiset, the principal Buddha image carved from laterite seated beneath the Naga's hood. The Buddha image from the Dvaravati period is considered a sacred icon for the village. The temple is surrounded by several enclosures of Sima stones that mark the temples consecrated boundary.

Wat Tham Kuha Sawan (วัดถ้ำคูหาสวรรค์) - The temple was built by Luangpu Khamkhaning Chulamani to be a place for meditation practice where he also resided. After Luangpu's death his body, which did not decompose, was put in a glass coffin and is considered sacred.

Wat Phu Anon (วัดภูอานนท์) - The temple has interesting attractions including a rock terrace with large footprints, nature-made stone jar, and cave painting.

Library, Tung Sri Muang temple, illustrates typical Isan-style.

Hat Wat Tai (หาดวัดใต้) - A beach in the middle of the Mun River. During the dry season, its white sandy beach is a tourist destination.

Hat Khu Duea (หาดคูเดื่อ) - This beach on the Mun River is 12 km (7.5 mi) from downtown Ubon Ratchathani via Highway 24.

Kaeng Saphue (แก่งสะพือ) - The rapids in the Mun River. "Saphue" derives from the word "Samphuet" in the Suai ethnic language meaning "large serpent".

Sirindhorn Dam (เขื่อนสิรินธร) - Called Khuean Dom Noi by the people of the area, the rockfill dam with a clay core was constructed across the Lam Dom Noi, a tributary of the Mun River. The hydroelectric dam is 42 metres high and 940 metres long.

Ban Kan Lueang Archaeological Site (แหล่งโบราณคดีบ้านก้านเหลือง) - An archaeological site which can be dated back to 2,800-2,500 years ago. In 1996, the Fine Arts Department found a number of artefacts such as beads, pottery, bronze bells, iron axes, and chaff.

Ban Pa-ao (บ้านปะอาว) - This ancient village is in Tambon Nong Khon. Two centuries ago, the villagers immigrated from Vientiane during the reign of King Siri Bunsan. The village produces brass work in an ancient style.

Chong Mek (ช่องเม็ก) - The permanent Thai-Lao border pass is 90 km (56 mi) from downtown Ubon Ratchathani. The pass is a land bridge to Champasak Province.

Annamese Lion Pulpit at Ban Chi Thuan (ธรรมาสน์สิงห์ศิลปะญวนที่บ้านชีทวน) - The Buddhist pulpit is placed at Wat Sinuan Saeng Sawang Arom. The concrete pulpit itself is unique, with a lion sculpture carrying the pulpit with decorative stucco, multi-layer wooden roof, and painting in the Annamese style.

Maenam Song Si (แม่น้ำสองสี) - At the mouth of the Mun River, Ban Woen Buek. The Mun River runs into the Mekong, so we can see two rivers, in two different colours. "Song si" means "two colours", blending together. The Mekong River is reddish brown, while the Mun River is rather blue.

Sao Chaliang (เสาเฉลียง) - Carved by wind and water for millions of years, the mushroom-like stone towers are scattered around the area containing shell fossils, sand and gravels in their texture. Geologists think that over a million years ago this area was a sea.[citation needed]

Pha Taem and Pha Kham (ผาแต้มและผาขาม) - The towering cliffs house groups of prehistorical paintings which date back 3,000-4,000 years. There are over 300 paintings in five categories including animals, geometrical motifs, rice farmers, hands, and "tum", or fish trap.

Namtok Soi Sawan (น้ำตกสร้อยสวรรค์) - Two streams, Huai Soi and Huai Phai, combine and plunge 20 metres down to the pond below, making the waterfall look like a necklace "soi" in Thai.

Namtok Thung Na Mueang (น้ำตกทุ่งนาเมือง) - The medium-sized waterfall cascades down a 25-metre cliff through flowerbeds which are in full bloom from October to December.

Namtok Saeng Chan or Namtok Ru (น้ำตกแสงจันทร์หรือ น้ำตกรู) - The tiny cascade is special as the stream falls through a hole, "ru", down to the pond below. At noon, sunshine through the hole makes the waterfall look like a ray of moonshine, "saeng chan".

Dong Na Tham Forest (ป่าดงนาทาม) - From September to November is the best time to visit as flowers are in full bloom. There are waterfalls and fogs over the Mekong River. From January to March the forest changes its hue, with trees shedding their leaves, and cruises in the Mekong run from Ban Pak La to Khan Tha Kwian.

Phu Lon (ภูหล่น) - The mountain is in Tambon Song Yang, 20 km (12 mi) north of Amphoe Si Mueang Mai. It has a cave where monk Phra Achan Man Phurithatto practiced his Vipassana.

Phu ChongNa Yoi National Park (อุทยานแห่งชาติภูจอง-นายอย) - The park covers a total area of 686 km2 (265 sq mi). Its boundary connects to Lao PDR and Cambodia in the area called the Emerald Triangle.

Pha Taem National Park (อุทยานแห่งชาติผาแต้ม) - The park features plateaus, undulating hills, and towering cliffs with strange sandstone formations scattered around. The park is covered mostly by deciduous dipterocarp forest and wild flowers can be found on the rock terrace.

Kaeng Tana National Park (อุทยานแห่งชาติแก่งตะนะ) - The park features plateaus and undulating hills with deciduous dipterocarp forest and grassland.

Namtok Kaeng Lamduan (น้ำตกแก่งลำดวน) - These falls are in the compound of the Ubon Ratchathani Wildlife Reservation Promotion and Development Station. The waterfall runs over a rock terrace and through the shady forest of Lamduan trees.

Namtok Huai Sai Yai or Kaeng I Khiao (น้ำตกห้วยทรายใหญ่ หรือ แก่งอีเขียว) - The waterfall is in the BuntharikKhao Yot Mon Wildlife Sanctuary. The waterfall runs over the rock terrace in a shady environment.

Adrien (Me)

[canathai8]

Thanks for taking the time to do this!

I've been all over Thailand - north, central and south - even the deep south - all over EXCEPT for ISSAN that is..

I guess that gives a fairly good indication that my wife's not from Issan..

Not that there's anything wrong with that ( Issan, that is)

[rhodie]

Nice list. Thanks. Some interesting places like the beach.

Looks like a trip to Ubon is on the cards.

[MeMock]

Thanks for taking the time to do this!

He didn't.

Copied it all from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ubon_Ratchathani_Province without any acknowledgement.

[DILLIGAD]

+ 2 McDonalds!

[uli65]

no thanks, prefer to stay in Korat,

[KarenBravo]

The list pretty much confirms what I already thought about Isaan.

Boring place.

Wats, statues, water-falls and national parks are all over Thailand, not just in Isaan.

I'll stay in Phuket where there are lots of choices to DO things, rather than just see things.

[sabang]

The people are nicer in Isaan, more friendly, honest, curious and accommodating. I have a feeling that would only be compromised by a massive influx of tourism- so I reckon it works well the way it is, let those that want to come, come. It's off the beaten track in a tourism sense, and frankly that makes for a better grade of tourist. Most casual visitors to Ubon are on their way to Laos, and stop over for a night or two.

[katareya2006]

A City of Beautiful Lotuses, a Two-colored River, Delicious Fish, Beaches and Rapids, Thai Scholars, Devout Buddhists, Finely Carved Candles, and Pre-historical Rock Paintings.

[anotheruser]

The three best things to see in Ubon are the airport, bus station and train station. These modern gems allow you to leave Ubon before you go crazy from boredom.

[tonray]

I have been to Ubon and while the local people were nice.....cannot hold a candle to Kohn Kaen. Ubon is very spread out...no real city center unless you call old town near the park...but the real hub of activity seems to be around the new Big-C and of course a new Makro on the highway, etc etc. A city that has forsaken its culture for modern suburban sprawl retail. No thanks. Go to Kohn Kaen...the food is outstanding and a great songtaew system that is easy to decipher. When I asked about this in Ubon I just got blank stares.

[katareya2006]

A Lao-speaking granny rises before dawn to prepare food for ochre-robed monks on alms round. In a hut overlooking their paddies, farmers break for a midday meal of sticky rice with chilli paste. Young people lounge beside the Moon River after dark, discussing possibilities that their grandparents could never have imagined. In Ubon Ratchathani, the soul of Isaan keeps one foot in the past, as the other steps into the future.

[balo]

What about go go bars ?

[katareya2006]

Balo. They had one here which is now closed. They have many Farang places that have "Ladies" in now and there is always Soi Standard which is called Little Pattaya

[Michael Hare]

The standard of written English has fallen substantially in this thread.

First of all resturaunt is spelt restaurant.

Then their should be there.

I can guess that the writer’s first language is not English. However, that is no real problem as we understand the meaning. But all the same, it would be nice to write English correctly, given that this is an English language website.

[TEFLKrabi]

The list pretty much confirms what I already thought about Isaan.

Boring place.

Wats, statues, water-falls and national parks are all over Thailand, not just in Isaan.

I'll stay in Phuket where there are lots of choices to DO things, rather than just see things.

Enjoy Phuket. We're happy for you to stay there too.

[TEFLKrabi]

If you're a fan of live sports, nothing can compare to Buriram, the new best city in Isaan.

[katareya2006]

The standard of written English has fallen substantially in this thread.

First of all resturaunt is spelt restaurant.

Then their should be there.

I can guess that the writers first language is not English. However, that is no real problem as we understand the meaning. But all the same, it would be nice to write English correctly, given that this is an English language website.

Now their is no need for Rascism Michelle ?

[KarenBravo]

The list pretty much confirms what I already thought about Isaan.

Boring place.

Wats, statues, water-falls and national parks are all over Thailand, not just in Isaan.

I'll stay in Phuket where there are lots of choices to DO things, rather than just see things.

Enjoy Phuket. We're happy for you to stay there too.

A TEFLer, eh? Says it all really....

[katareya2006]

Isaan is a fantastic place. Culture, Food and pure relaxation......In Ubon, it's more developed than other parts of Isaan. Pretty much why it's confirmed as "The Heart of Isaan."

[KarenBravo]

Isaan is a fantastic place. Culture, Food and pure relaxation......In Ubon, it's more developed than other parts of Isaan. Pretty much why it's confirmed as "The Heart of Isaan."

So, where did you copy that statement from?

Isaan sucks. Hot and dusty for the most part with bugger-all to do. It's only redeeming feature, in my eyes at least, is the people. Nicest in the country, on the whole..

[katareya2006]

555 From the Book of Expeditions - Isaan is great.....I'm sorry you haven't lived

[Top man]

If people really knew about the airport at ubon rathacthani, then they might want to, shall we say ! Pay their respects! If you come out of the terminal and go left, its where they used to bring all the body bags back from the war.

[katareya2006]

They have completely re-developed the Airport now. It's pretty exciting these days.....Still got a few Stiff's around Ubon though lol

[Top man]

Forgive me I mean't the falling.

It's very eerie

[katareya2006]

That's Dead Boring 555

[AliasJohn]

The standard of written English has fallen substantially in this thread.

First of all resturaunt is spelt restaurant.

Then their should be there.

I can guess that the writers first language is not English. However, that is no real problem as we understand the meaning. But all the same, it would be nice to write English correctly, given that this is an English language website.

Now their is no need for Rascism Michelle ?

I don't see any racist comments in the above ....and just for the record Adrian, his name is Michael not Michelle as you wrote.

[KarenBravo]

Probably cut and pasted the wrong sentence.......

[metisdead]

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