Ubon Ratchathani has been a well established community for hundreds of year. It is where the traditional and colorful Candle Precession is held. Ubon is 629 kms. from Bangkok.

 

What to see and what to do in Ubon Ratchathani?

 

Wat Thung Si Muang is renowned for a traditional wooden Ho Trai scripture repository, with an intricately carved gable, in the middle of a pond. The monastic hill of Wat Thung Si Muang houses beautiful mural paintings depicting episodes from Buddhist literature and scenes of local every day life.

Wat Supattanaram, the first Buddhist monastery of the Dharmanyuthi sect in Northeastern Thailand, is situated on the bank of the Mun River not too far from town center. It was built in 1853 with an initial royal donation by King Rama IV. Its principal image, the Phra Sapphanyu Chao, is greatly revered by both local people and visitors alike.

Wat Pa Nanachat, some 15 kilometers from the province on Ubon - Si Sa Ket route, is renowned for its meditation with a large number of foreign monks practising there.

Wat Nong Bua is located in the suburbs of town on the way to Amnat Charoen province. It is the only Buddhist monastery in the country with a Buddhagaya - style stupa and has an extensive structure. Within the stupa are several important Buddhist images.

Kaeng Saphu rapids south of Amphoe Phibun Mangsahan market is 45 kilometers from Ubon. Splashing currents during dry season make a beautiful scene over rocks and outcrops. They are completely immersed during the rainy season.

Kaeng Tana National Park is located in Amphoe Khong Chiam, 13 kilometers off Highway No. 217, opposite the entrance of the sideroad to Sirindhorn Dam. There is accommodation for tourists. Attractions in the park include. Kaeng Tanais the largest rapids of the Mun River. There is a big stone platform lying across the Mun River, causing the water which flows through Kaeng Tana to take the form of beautiful waterfalls.

Tat Ton Waterfall is created by Tat Ton brook flowing over a stone platform and plunging to form a basin large enough for swimming. The area is surrounded by a forest and flowering shrubs.

Pha Taem National Park is located 14 kilometers from Amphoe Khong Chiam.

Attractions in the park include:

Sao Chaliang, 11 kilometers from Amphoe Khong Chiam on the Highway 2112, is scattered with natural mushroom-like piles of stone slabs with a large amount of shells stuck in their texture. The area is believed by geologists to be a long dried sea.

Pha Taem and Pha Mon, located 3 kilometers beyond Sao Chaliang, are two steep cliffs overlooking Mekong river with a clear view of Laos on the other side. On the cliffs' surface, there are prehistoric paintings dating back 3,000 to 4,000 years. They reflect ancient ways of life of the people who once lived in the area. These include Buk fishing (Buk is a species of large scaleless fish found in the Mekong river ) and rice farming. Figures of people, animals, hands and geometric designs were also depicted.

Candle Festival is held annually at the beginning of Buddhist Lent in July at Thung Si Muang. The festival's planned activities include the competition of "the candle tree" which is divided into moulded and carved categories. All candle "trees" will be lit up by the lights from many diverse activities organized to celebrate them.