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Introduction

Ubon Ratchathani has been a well established community for hundreds of years. Relatively unknown to the most tourists, the province boasts a number of natural wonders, cultural and historical attractions, national parks, silk producing shops, etc. Ubon Ratchathani Province

The province is renowned for its strong Buddhist tradition, particularly the practice of forest-dwelling monks and the ancient Buddhist temples, which can still be seen throughout the province today.

The provincial capital is approximately 630 kilometers northeast of Bangkok. The province is unique in its folk culture, which is expressed in the indigenous cuisine, handicrafts, such as silk and cotton products, basketry, and bronze-ware, and traditional events such as the Candle festival held every July. There are natural beauties and historical sites including the 4,000 years old rock formation, prehistoric rock paintings, national parks, waterfalls, and the two-colored river, etc.

Borders

North	: Amnat Charoen Province
South	: Cambodia
East	: Laos
West	: Yasothon and Sisaket Provinces

The distances from Amphoe Muang to other Amphoes are as follow :

From Ubon Ratchathani City of nearby Provinces
Amnat Charoen Province	: 75 kms.
Cambodia	: 67 kms.
Laos	: 361 kms.
Yasothon Province	: 98 kms.
Sisaket Province	: 61 kms.

From Ubon Ratchathani City to other districts
Amphoe Buntharik	: 87 kms.
Amphoe Det Udom	: 45 kms.
Amphoe Don Mot Daeng	: 35 kms.
Amphoe Khemarat	: 108 kms.
Amphoe Khong Chiam	: 110 kms.
Amphoe Khueang Nai	: 38 kms.
Amphoe Kut Khaopun	: 76 kms.
Amphoe Lao Suea Kok	: 27 kms.
Amphoe Muang	: 0 kms.
Amphoe Muang Sam Sip	: 34 kms.
Amphoe Na Chaluai	: 100 kms.
Amphoe Na Tan	: 93 kms.
Amphoe Na Yia	: 35 kms.


Amphoe Nam Khun	: 97 kms.
Amphoe Nam Yuen	: 110 kms.
Amphoe Phibun Mangsahan	: 45 kms.
Amphoe Pho Sai	: 99 kms.
Amphoe Samrong	: 28 kms.
Amphoe Sawang Wirawong	: 23 kms.
Amphoe Si Mueang Mai	: 83 kms.
Amphoe Sirindhorn	: 80 kms.
Amphoe Tan Sum	: 32 kms.
Amphoe Thung Si Udom	: 74 kms.
Amphoe Trakan Phuet Phon	: 50 kms.
Amphoe Warin Chamrap	: 2 kms.

How to get there

By Car

a)From Bangkok, take Highway No. 1 to Saraburi and Highway No. 2 to Nakhon Ratchasima, then use Highway No.226 and proceed to Ubon Ratchathani via Buri Ram, Surin and Si Sa Ket, for a total distance of 629 kilometers.

b)From Bangkok, take Highway No. 1 and Highway No. 2 unil arriving at Sikhio, then turn into Highway No. 24 and proceed to Ubon Ratchathani via Chok Chai, Nang Rong, Prasat, Det Udom and Warin Chamrap.

By Bus

Buses depart from Bangkok's Northern Bus Terminal (Mochit 2 Bus Terminal) to Ubon Ratchathani every day. Timetables

By Train

Regular trains depart from Bangkok's Hua Lamphong Railway Station to Ubon Ratchathani every day. Timetables

By Air

Thai Airways has several daily flights connecting Bangkok with Ubon Ratchathani. Air Asia operates two flights every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday to Ubon Ratchathani International Airport. The flight time is 1.05 hours. Timetables

Getting around the city

Getting around the city is easy with city buses. They usually run along the main avenues, from north to south of the town. The fare is only 5B.

Taking Samlor around the city would cost approximately 30B/kilometre

If you, however, choose to enjoy the ride of a rented car, there are several car rental companies, big names and local names, which provide this kind of service.

Getting to nearby provinces

By Bus
There are buses departing from a bus terminal located at Chayangkun Road to Ubons neighboring provinces and its own districts. They include: (please note that fares are subject to change without prior notice)

Buriram (ordinary 66B, air-con 148B), Kantharalak (for Khao Phra Viharn ordinary 20B), Khong Chiam (ordinary 40B), Khon Kaen (ordinary 66B, air-con 148B), Khorat (ordinary 149B, air-con 260B), Mukdahan (ordinary 55B, air-con 105B), Phibun Mangsahan (ordinary 22B), Prakhon Chai (for Phanom Rung, ordinary 84B), Roi Et (ordinary 61B, air-con 99B), Sakon Nakhon (ordinary 101B, air-con 1738B), Si Saket (ordinary 29B, air-con 60B), Surin (ordinary 72B, air-con 129B), That Phanom (ordinary 65B, air-con 140B), Udon Thani (ordinary 122B, air-con 219B), and Yasothon (ordinary 43B, air-con 76B),

Festivals & Events

Flower Festival (งานเทศกาลไม้ดอกไม้ประดับ)

Date : February
Held every February at Thung Kham Nam Saep Stadium, Amphoe Warin Chamrap, the festival features floral floats, decorative and flowering plant contests and fair.

Kaeng Saphue Songkran Festival (งานประเพณีมหาสงกรานต์แก่งสะพือ)

Date : April
Held every April in Amphoe Phibun Mangsahan, the festival comprises a beauty contest, fair, local sports, and local music contest.

The Candle Festival (งานประเพณีแห่เทียนพรรษา)

Date : July
The Candle Festival is the largest religious ceremony in Ubon Ratchathani. It is celebrated yearly by the City on Asalha Bucha Day and Khao Phansa (Buddhist Lent) Day. The ceremony is held at Thung Si Muang and Chaturamuk Pavillion.

There are two kinds of candle competitions; the sticker imprint candles and the carved ones. The procession, consisting of candle floats from the various temples, with a beautiful lady representing an angel for each candle, mves from the front of Wat Si Ubon Rattanaram along the road to Thung Si Muang.

At night, there is entertainment to celebrate the Lent candles. The reflection of lights on the candles creates a picturesque effect during the festival.

Illuminated Boat Procession (งานประเพณีไหลเรือไฟ)

Date : October
Held every October to mark the end of the Buddhist Lent, boats from different temples will illuminate the river near the Rattanakosin Bicentennial Bridge.

Traditional Boat Races (งานแข่งขันเรือยาวประเพณี)

Date : October
Several boat racing tournaments are held annually in October after the end of the Buddhist Lent. The Mueang Ubon Ratchathani Municipality's tournament is held near the Rattanakosin Bicentennial Bridge. Tambon Phibun Mangsahan Municipality's tournament is held near the Mun River Bridge, and Wat Pho Tak's tournament is held in front of the temple.

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