Located 564 kilometers from Bangkok, Udon Thani was once a flourishing community dating back to prehistoric times. Nowadays, it stands as a hub of transport and communications for the upper Northeast with several tourist destinations.

 

What to see and what to do in Udon Thani?

 

Nong Prachak is a lake with an islet public park having a great variety of trees and flowers. It is a popular place for recreation among the townspeople.

Udon Saeng Tawan (Sunshine) Orchid Garden is located in Soi Kamol Watthana on Udon - Nong Samrong route. The garden produces and puts on sale a new species of Thai scented orchid called "Udon Sunshine".

Phra Phutthabat (Holy Footprint) Bua Bok
Enshrined at the foot of the Khao (Mount) Phu Phan ten kilometers west of Amphoe Ban Phu, it is some fifty kilometers from Udon proper. It is greatly revered by the people. Celebrations are held from March 11 to 15 each year to pay respect to the 40- meter tall pagoda housing the Holy Footprint and a piece of Holy Relic.

Phu Phra Bat Historical Park covers the entire area of the Phra Phutthabat Bua Bok which is around 1,200 acres. Rocks of different sizes and shapes dot the beautiful landscape. There are also caves and caverns. Pre - historic paintings over cliff faces have been discovered, although many leave only the faintest of traces. Nature loving trekkers may take a hike around the area which takes around two hours.

Ban Chiang National Museum located at Ban Chiang, Tambon Ban Chiang, Amphoe Nong is comprised of two parts. The first part stores antiques. Inside the building, old artifacts, ancient Ban Chiang culture items, tools, utensils of ancient technology and earthenware pots 4,000 to 7,500 years old are displayed. The second part is an open museum in the compound of Wat Po Si Nai. The Fine Arts Department has retained the conditions of archaeological excavations to show how earthenware pots and other items were buried along with the dead. Ban Chiang National Museum is the first open museum in Thailand. As for the "Ban Chiang" earthenware pots, they are known world-wide because "Ban Chiang" was the origin of a pre-historic civilization. Archaeologists believe the designs on Ban Chiang earthenware are the oldest pot designs in the world.

Travelling to Ban Chiang National Museum is very easy. It is only six kilometers from Amphoe Muang. The route runs along Highway 22 and turns left onto Highway 2225 at kilometer 50. There, a road sign indicates the way to Ban Chiang which is six kilometers away. The museum is open to the general public every day (except Mondays and Tuesdays) from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The museum has a parking area. Toilets and village shops are located nearby.

More about Ban Chiang Culture, historical notes, and images of Ban Chiang pottery and artefacts.