Non Muang
Location: Amphoe Chumpae This ancient Chumpae site,85 kilometres
from the Khonkaen, is believed to have been inhabited from prehistoric times
until at least the 10th century AD. Human skeletons and 3,000-Phra That
Kham Kaenyear-old bronze tools have been discovered in the area.
Location: Amphoe Pueai Noi This Khmer complex, 76 kilometres
from the provincial in Puay Noi district, is the largest Khmer complex in
Khonkaen. Three brick pagodas, a laterite palace and beautifully carved
doors are of particular interest. This is a 19-metre high at Wat Jediyaphum
Location:
Amphoe Pueai Noi Prasat Puei Noi is the largest Khmer sanctuary
in the upper Northeast. Although it is not as big as Prasat Hin Phimai,
it is one of the most complete ruins in the region. The compound consists
of 3 brick buildings built on a laterite base in 10th – 11th century A.D.
(16th – 17th Buddhist century) Its art and architecture is the combination
between Khmer’s Babuan and Ankor Wat styles. It was built as a sacred temple
in Hinduism.
Opening Hours: Daily
Admission:
Free
How to get there: take Highway No.2 from Khon Kaen for
44 km to Ban Phai, then take Highway No. 23 for 11 km to Amphoe Borabu,
then take a right-hand road for 24 km to Ku Pueai Noi.
Wat
Udom Khongkha Kiri KhetLocation: Amphoe Mancha Khiri
is an elegant hill-top temple in Mancha Khiri district. It is know
for its ornate gold coloured roof and beautifully decorated doors. The temple
is 67 kilometres from town on Highway 2149, has a display of the belongings
of Luang Poo Pharng ,a monk revered by I-San people.
Location: Amphoe Mancha Khiri The Phrathat is now well renovated
and landscaped. A celebration is held annually on the full moon day of the
6th lunar month. Phrathat Kham Kaen is 12 kilometres from downtown Khon
Kaen. Visitors can get there via Highway 209 (Khon Kaen-Kalasin route).
After crossing the Nam Phong River, turn left and keep going for another
14 kilometres.
Khon
Kaen National MuseumLocation: Amphoe Mueang
The museum contains a large collection of artifact, particularly from the
Northeast, including those discovered at major archaeological sites such
as Ban Chiang, where the world's first Bronze Age civilization was believed
to have flourished more than 5,000 years ago.
Location: Amphoe Mueang This museum is situated by the Kaen
Nakhon Lake in the town.
Hong: means a tower for
keeping treasures. Hong Mun Mang is a tower where accumulated historical
articles of Khon Kaen are preserved. It is a museum which reflects the way
of life of Khon Kaen people from the past to the present.
The museum
is open daily, except Mondays, from 12 noon - 08.00 p.m. Entrance fee is
90 baht. For more information please contact The Town Council Office of
Khon Kaen, Prachasamran Road, Mueang District, Khon Kaen Province, Tel.0
4327 1173, 04322 4032 during office hours.
Phu Kao-Phu Phan Kham National
ParkLocation: Amphoe Mueang The 320 square-kilometre
area covers part of Ubonrat district and extends into the neighbouring province
of Udon Thani. Deciduous and evergreen forests offer ample trekking opportunities.
The park may be reached by following the route from Khonkaen to Ubolrat
Dam to Non Sang.
Location: Amphoe Chumpae
Hin Chang Si viewpoint is located in the ridge of Soaktae Forest Mountain in the north of Nam
Phong National Park Office. It is the point that visitors can witness spectacular sunrise and
sunset. On the viewpoint, there is a huge rock ground with a skull-like rock located solely
on the top. From the viewpoint, a panoramic view of verdant forest and Ubonrat Dam in the
west can be seen in a far distance with Phu Viang and Phu Kao Mountain Range as a backdrop.
In particular, during the winter time, the mists and fogs floating above the surface of the
water provide a scenic vista. The geometric paintings from prehistoric period are found in
this area.
How to get there: Take Highway No.12 from Khon Kaen town centre then turn right at km 30
marker and continue for 19 km. The National Park Office is located on the hill on the right.
The total distance is 49 km. Once there, the viewpoint can be reached on foot. It takes
approximately 3 hours to walk along the ridge of the mountain. Alternatively, you can
reach the viewpoint from the other side of the National Park Office by driving to Ban
Kham Ya Daeng and walking for about 10 minutes.
Location: Amphoe Phu Wiang The pond acquiring an area of 20
rai is at Ban Nong Kung Soen, 78 kilometres from Amphoe Mueang. The scenic
pond with the backdrop of Phu Phan Mountain is a nice place where the locals
love to relax. Besides delicious freshwater fish cuisine available around
the pond, there are various water sports tourists can enjoy. How to get
there: from Amphoe Mueang, tourists can get there via Highway 12 and turn
right on Highway 2038, continue for another 12 kilometres then turn right
onto Kiatsuranond Road. Go for another 12 kilometres, then turn left to
Ban Kho. Turn another left at Wat sopha Rattana Phatthanaram, go ahead and
make a right turn.
Location: Amphoe Phu Wiang
rocks is 125 kilometres west of the provincial capital along Highway 201
in a mountainous area extending into Loei province. The Nam Pong River and
Loei's Phu Kradung, a scenic national park, can be seen from this vantage
point.
Location: Amphoe Phu Wiang Phu Wiang is the name of the national park
and a district. The National Park covers an area of 325 sq km which is a highland
and valley. It is surrounded by 2 ring-shape mountains. Some areas have steep cliffs.
Dinosaur fossils, dinosaurs’ footprints were found in some area in this Park. Besides,
the trace of ancient civilisation was also found such as iron equipment and
pre-historic human skeletons. A large area of the park is dipteracarp and dry
evergreen forest.
Plants that grow in the Park are redwood, Para wood, sandalwood, ferns, bamboos,
rattan and bananas. It is a habitat of barking deer, antelope, foxes, civet,
tiger cats, squirrels, porcupines, flying lemur, monkeys, flying squirrels and
many more.
Address: P.O.Box 1, Nai Muang, Phu Wiang, Khon Kaen 40150
Tel: 043 358 073, 085 852 1771
How to get there: Take Highway No.12 (Khon Kaen – Chumpae) towards Chumpae.
After passing Non Rua, turn right to Highway No.2038 to Amphoe Phu Wiang and
continue for 4 km to Pak Chong Range Station of the National Park.
Location: Amphoe Mueang This popular lakeside recreation center
in the southern part of the city is well-known for its many footstalls selling
popular local specialties, particularly som tam (spicy raw papaya salad)
and kai yang (barbecued domestic chicken).
Location: Amphoe Ubolratana The beaches are in Ban Hin Phoeng,
Tambon Tha Ruea, 53 kilometres from downtown Khon Kaen. As part of the lake
over Ubolratana Dam, the beaches are quite picturesque particularly when
the sun sets behind the mountain ranges. There are various water sports
available such as water bicycle, banana boat, and scooter. Visitors can
enjoy fish a menu of freshly caught from the lake. During the holidays,
the beaches are always quite lively.
Location: Amphoe Ubolratana
Ubolratana
dam is the largest multi-purpose dam in the Northeast. To get there, take
Highway No. 2 (Khon Kaen-Udon Thani) for 26 kilometres, turn left and drive
for 24 kilometres. The dam is across the Phong river at the pass connecting
Phu Kao and Phu Phan mountains. The view at the dam is magnificent. Tourists
regularly frequent the area to look at the lake and sample local delicacies,
including the famous grilled fish famous here.
Chang Kra
Location: Amphoe Mancha Khiri aving grown wild over a century
ago in Wat Pa Mancha Khiri, over 4,000 Chang Kra orchid-Rhyncostylis gigantean
(Lindl.) are in full bloom on the branches of some 280 trees every year
during January and February. These wild orchids always fill the whole area
with their mild fragrance.
Tradition
entertainment
Location: Amphoe Mueang A few days
in Khonkaen can be a combination off seeing some of the best Tourist attractions
and playing the finest golf courses in the northeast. The sunshine almost
never lets you down or upsets your holiday plans. So choose your own way
of discovering the most beautiful golf course in Khonkaen. The experience
will be most memorable And if you are not too tired, Khonkaen offers you
a different kind of swing in its many night clubs and dicos at night. Ubolrat
Golf course is 50 kilometres from Khonkaen.
Location: Amphoe Mancha Khiri
The
villagers keep a large amount of tortoises as their mutual pets. The brownish
yellow shelled tortoises, called Tao Phek in local dialect, always travel
around in the village to be fed.
How to get there:
from downtown Khon Kaen, motorists can drive via Highway 12 (Khon Kaen Chum
Phae) for ten kilometres then turn left to Highway 2062 (Khon Kaen-Mancha
Khiri) for another 54 kilometres. The entrance to the tortoise village is
on the left at Ban Kok, two kilometres prior to Amphoe Mancha Khiri. It
is easy to notice with two tortoise replicas on the roadside opposite to
Wat Si Sumang. Turn left through Ban Kok, the tortoise village is 50 metres
away.
Hin Chang Si Viewpoint
Location: Amphoe Chumpae
Hin Chang Si viewpoint is located in the ridge of Soaktae Forest Mountain in the north of
Nam Phong National Park Office. It is the point that visitors can witness spectacular
sunrise and sunset. On the viewpoint, there is a huge rock ground with a skull-like rock
located solely on the top. From the viewpoint, a panoramic view of verdant forest and
Ubonrat Dam in the west can be seen in a far distance with Phu Viang and Phu Kao
Mountain Range as a backdrop. In particular, during the winter time, the mists and
fogs floating above the surface of the water provide a scenic vista. The geometric
paintings from prehistoric period are found in this area.
How to get there: Take Highway No.12 from Khon Kaen town centre then turn right at
km 30 marker and continue for 19 km. The National Park Office is located on the hill
on the right. The total distance is 49 km. Once there, the viewpoint can be reached
on foot. It takes approximately 3 hours to walk along the ridge of the mountain.
Alternatively, you can reach the viewpoint from the other side of the National
Park Office by driving to Ban Kham Ya Daeng and walking for about 10 minutes.
Pha Ya Nakarach Cave
Location: Amphoe Chumpae
Pha Ya Nakarach Cave is the most beautiful cave in Phu Pha Man National Park. The cave is pit dark
and divided into different rooms. Each impresses visitors with glittering stalagmites and stalactites
in particular in the big hall which has a curtain of stalactites hanging and expanding horizontally
on the high ceiling.
How to get there: Take Highway No.201, turn left at km 112 -113 marker and continue for 5 km to
the National Park Office.
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