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The rocky Phu Pha Taem perch
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Sunset over the Mun River
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Prehistoric paintings at Pha Taem
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Huai Lak Khon Waterfall flowing over sandstone
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Field of flowers
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Ubon Ratchathani, furthest east of the country, is the first province in the kingdom to greet the sunrise. This third largest province in Thailand, 620 kms from Bangkok, is part of the Korat Basin situated in the southern-half of northeastern Thailand.
Its rugged but extraordinary landscape is punctuated by craggy cliff-faces, rocky terrain dotted with towering columns, odd-shaped rock formations, and torrential cataracts along the stretch of the Mekong River. It is home to two national parks - The Pha Taem National Park and Kaeng Tana National Park. Both offer excellent vantage points for viewing a spectacular sunrise or sunset against a magnificent backdrop that extends for miles. |
| Fields of colourful wild flowers add a curious contrast to the province's awe-inspiring geographical landscape and diversity. A true miracle of nature. |
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| Pha Mon Tower viewed from Pha Taem |
Mushroom-shaped rocky columns or
Sao Chaliang, Pha Taem |
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| Scenic vantage point at Pha Phueng |
Sedimentary rocks eroded by the
Mun River. Potholes are a natural occurrence.
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Coloured paintings depicting
bantengs against rice-fields |
"Tum", traditional wickerwork fishing
utensils are still in use today. |
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Line patterns depicting the waves
of the Mekong River |
Painting of "Pla Beuk" or the Mekong
giant catfish, a sacred fish in ancient times |
Home to one of the world's oldest agrarian communities, Ubon Ratchathani is also the 'cradle of northeastern civilisation'. Recently-discovered archaeological evidence suggests that humans settled in the region between 14,000 to 6,000 years ago. Cave drawings and paintings have been found at Ban Sai Ngam, Amphoe Khemarat district and near the Mekong, with the most extensive site being at Pha Taem. Numerous prehistorical cave paintings offer insight into the way of life that existed during the pre-historic days. The paintings which feature a vast range of subjects such as people, human hands, creatures such as elephants, fish, the Pla Buek or Mekong giant catfish, dogs, bantengs, buffaloes, fishing utensils and geometric patterns have a reddish tinge to them from the hematite and take the form of outlines filled with solid colour.
It is also a centre of Buddhism and the regional administrative centre for northeastern Thailand, Ubon is a melting pot of multi-cultural and multi-ethnic groups.
- CRUISING ALONG THE MEKONG RIVER
The best time of the year to embark on a river-cruise on the Mekong is between November to April. (Note: The water-level is too high in the rainy season and is not a good time for cruises.)
MEKONG CRUISING ROUTES
- The Pha Taem Route
This cruise sets out from the Khong Chiam district office to Hat Wichittra. The cruise ends at Pha Taem, the stop-off point to view the prehistoric cave paintings.
- The Khong Chiam Temple - Mun Route
- The Two-Coloured River Kaeng Tana - Ban Woen Buek Route
This is a  hour trip that offers a glimpse of the way of life along the rivers.
- Ban Pak La - Ban Khan Tha Kwian Route
A 30-minute cruise.
- FOREST TREKKING
Misty Dong Na Tham Forest
Greeting the first sunrise of the land
Dong Na Tham Forest to the north of Pha Taem National Park is the easternmost point of the country along the Mekong River and the first place in the kingdom to be bathed by the first rays of sunrise. At dawn, a sea of mists floats over the riparian side of the Mekong River.
It covers an area of 88 sq. kilometres. Typographically Pa Dong Na Tham is a plateau with alternating sandstone hills with the highest peak at 510 metres above sea-level. Towering cliffs rise above the Mekong.
Deciduous Dipterocarp forests blend with timber and dry evergreen forests. Wild flowers bloom in the rainy season and in winter, breaking the monotonous rocky terrain. In the summer, larger plants emerge.
Recommended Nature Study Trails
2-Days/1-Night
Route 1
The route starts from Wat Tham Patihan Temple to Huai Phok Waterfall - Mekong River covering a distance of 16.4 kms including a 30-minute barge ride.
Route 2
The route from Ban Thung Na Mueang to Huai Phok-Huai Phok Waterfall and onto the Mekong River covers a distance of 18.6 kms plus a 30-minute barge ride.
For information, please contact the "Or Bor Tor" (the Office of the Village Administration Organisation) of the Ban Na Pho Klang, Khong Chiam District, Ubon Ratchathani Province. Phone (045) 249-002.
- CULTURAL EXPLORATION
Follow the trail of pre-historic man. There are a total of 32 pre-historic sites along the route.
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The national park takes its name from a rocky cataract in the Mun River, Kaeng Tana. A unique characteristic of the cataract is that it is the only body of water flowing through barren country called "Thung Kula Rong Hai" or the 'Weeping Prairie'. The name may be deceptive as the terrain is a sheer miracle of nature born of the Mun River and the Phanom Dong Rak mountain chain south of the river which forms the border of Thailand in the northeastern corner. As it crosses the landscape, the Mun River gives rise to several cataracts known as "Kaeng" in Thai, the best known being Kaeng Saphue and Kaeng Tana, a rocky cataract in the middle of the Mun River.
The Mun River originates from the San Kamphaeng mountain range in Nakhon Ratchsima province and flows towards Ubon Ratchathani province to join the Mekong River. At Khong Chiam district, the aquamarine Mun River flows into the rust-coloured Mekong River to form the "Two-coloured River". The contrast is most distinctive in April and the best vantage points to view the phenomenon is by the mouth of the Mun River at Ban Woen Buek, by the Pak Mun Dam, the stretch of the Mekong in the front of Khong Chiam Temple, or at Ban Huai Mak.
Kaeng Ta-na National Park stretches across a mountainous area of approximately 80 kms extending across the districts of Amphoe Sirindhorn and Khong Chiam with a plateau sloping down to the Mekong and the Mun rivers. Forest coverage features Dipetrocarp with sparse Savanna forests. The best time to visit is from January to May. Lodging is available.
Contact the Kaeng Tana National Park office.
Phone: (045) 249 802, 442 202
CAMPING
At Phu Samui
Watch the sun set behind the cliff-faces of Pha Taem National Park.
Another beautiful camping site is by the Namtok Saeng Chan Waterfall, a medium-sized waterfall. The water flows through an opening in the rock plunging to a lower platform hence it is known to the locals as "Nam Tok Long Ru" waterfall. Light reflects of the shaft of water creating a mesmerizing sight.
NATURE STUDY TRAILS
Amnat Charoen province is known for its golden Dao Ruang flowers.
MOUNTAIN-BIKING
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Mountain-biking either along the Mekong River or Pa Dong Na Tham (Dong Na Tham Forest) trail is an exhilirating experience. Most of the terrain covered is undulating and occasionally trails take bikers over rocky mounds. |
Homestay options are available at Ban Khun and the Phu Thai Village at Amphoe Chanuman district
Some of the province's agrotourism highlights worth exploring are organic agriculture at Pho Sai and fishing at Pa Chon.
Golfing at Sirindhorn Dam
Contact information:
TAT Northeastern Office - Region 2
Tel: +66 (0) 4524 3770, (0) 4525 0714
Fax: +66 (0) 4524 3771
E-mail: tatubon@tat.or.th
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