Thailand Guides - Ubon Ratchathani

Ubon Ratchathani, or Ubon as it is affectionately known, is the major commercial and agricultural centre of the lower northeast. The province lies 630 kilometres from Bangkok and borders the Mekong River.

Overview

Ubon Ratchathani is a large provincial capital with a population of 92,000 and is the main educational, financial and agricultural centre in the lower Issan region. The area has a long and turbulent history and has at various periods in time been ruled by the Khmer, Laos and old Siam. The Ubon National Museum houses many treasures charting Ubon Ratchathani’s interesting history. The area also has many temples of note.

During the Vietnam War, Ubon was a major US air base and used to launch bombing missions over Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia.

Attractions

Thung Si Muang is a large recreational space in the centre of town and often used for festivals and celebrations. A monument to the founder of Ubon Ratchathani is also located here.

Wat Thung Si Muang is a temple built during the reign of King Rama III and features a beautiful ordination hall. The scripture hall is located in the middle of a pond and displays a combination of architectural influences including those from Laos and Burmese.

Ubon Ratchathani National Museum is one of the best in the region. Built in 1918 it was once the City Hall and houses a fine collection of artifacts relating to local and northeastern history.

Pha Taem National Park covers an area of 140 square kilometres and is dominated by a combination of hills and plateaus. The park also features sheer cliffs and deciduous forest. Several sites of interest are located within the park including, Sao Chaliang, an area of unusual rock formations and Pha Taem and Pha Kham, a cliff surface displaying superb examples of prehistoric rock paintings dating back over 3,000 years.