Amnat Charoen Amnat Charoen Amnat Charoen Wat Phra Lao Thep Nimit CONTENTS HOW TO GET THERE 8 ATTRACTIONS 9 Amphoe Mueang Amnat Charoen 9 Amphoe Chanuman 14 Amphoe Pathum Ratchawongsa 18 Amphoe Phana 19 Amphoe Lue Amnat 22 Amphoe Hua Taphan 23 MAJOR EVENTS 25 LOCAL PRODUCTS AND SOUVENIRS SHOPS 27 SUGGESTED ITINERARY 28 MAPS 30 USEFUL CALLS 34 TOURIST INFORMATION CENTERS 35 Huai Si Tho Reservoir Amnat Charoen Wat Tham Saeng Phet Thai Term Glossary Tuk-Tuks : Three-wheeled motorized Amphoe : District taxis Ban : Village Ubosot or Bot : Ordination hall in a temple Hat : Beach Wihan : Image hall in a temple Khuean : Dam Wat : Temple Maenam : River Note: English spelling here given tries to Mueang : Town or City approximate Thai Pronunciation. Posted signs Phrathat : Pagoda, Stupa may be spelled differently. When seeking help for Prang : Corn-shaped tower direction, point to the Thai spelling given after or sanctuary each place name. SAO : Subdistrict Administrative Organization Amnat Charoen, situated in the Northeast of Soi : Alley Thailand, covers an area of approximately 3,161 Song Thaeo : Pick-up trucks but with square kilometres. The town was established in a roof over the back the reign of King Rama III of the Rattanakosin Talat : Market period. First, it was attached to Khemmarat city Tambon : Subdistrict but later to Ubon Ratchathani province, from Tham : Cave which it was separated and announced as the 75th province of the country on 1 December, 1993. Amnat Charoen 7 In spite of being a small quiet town, Amnat No. 202 via Yasothon and Amphoe Pa Tio Charoen features wonderful attractions to Amnat Charoen. This route is totally 585 including beautiful temples and nature as well kilometres. as handicrafts by the local people. By Bus: From the Northern Bus Terminal With one side adjacent to the Mekong River as a Chatuchak (Kamphaeng Phet II Road) in 38-kilometre-long border with the Lao People’s Bangkok. There are many bus to Amnat Charoen Democratic Republic in Amphoe Chanuman, everyday. For more information contact: the province consists of seven districts; namely, - The Transport Co., Ltd. Tel. 1490, 0 2936 Amphoe Mueang Amnat Charoen, Amphoe 2852-66, Amnat Charoen Branch Tel. 08 Senangkhanikhom, Amphoe Chanuman, 8366 4185 www.transport.co.th. Amphoe Pathum Ratchawongsa, Amphoe - Nakhon Chai Air Co., Ltd. Tel. 1624 www.nca. Phana, Amphoe Lue Amnat and Amphoe Hua co.th. Taphan. For more information, please contact Amnat Charoen Bus Station Tel. 0 4545 2511 Distances from Amnat Charoen to nearby provinces By Train: A train service is available from the Mukdahan 88 kilometres Bangkok Railway Station (Hua Lamphong) to Ubon Ratchathani 75 kilometres Ubon Ratchathani Railway Station everyday. For Yasothon 54 kilometres more information, Tel. 1690, 0 2220 4334, 0 2220 4444 www.railway.co.th. And Ubon Ratchathani Railway Station Tel. 0 4532 1004. Distance from Amphoe Mueang Amnat Charoen to other districts By Air: There are many airlines operating flights Amphoe Chanuman 81 kilometres from Bangkok to Ubon Ratchathani Airport, as Amphoe Hua Taphan 38 kilometres follows: Amphoe Lue Amnat 22 kilometres From Donmueang International Airport Amphoe Pathum Ratchawongsa 33 kilometres - Nok Air Tel. 1318, 0 2900 9955, website : Amphoe Phana 42 kilometres www.nokair.com Amphoe Senangkhanikhom 22 kilometres - Thai Air Asia Tel. 0 2515 9999, website : www. airasia.com HOW TO GET THERE - Thai Lion Air Tel. 0 2529 9999, website : www. lionairthai.com By Car: From Bangkok, take Highway No. 1 From Suvarnabhumi International Airport (Phahonyothin Road) and get into Highway - Thai Airways International Tel. 0 2356 1111, No. 2 (Mittraphap Road) at Saraburi, drive website : www.thaiairways.com through Nakhon Ratchasima. After that take - Thai Smile Airways Tel. 1181, 0 2118 8888, Highway No. 226, Nakhon Ratchasima-Surin, website : www.thaismileair.com then take Highway No. 214, Surin-Amphoe For more information contact Ubon Ratchathani Suwannaphum, turn right into Highway Airport Tel. 0 4524 5612. 8 Amnat Charoen Tourist who travels by airplane or train can head ATTRACTIONS for Ubon Ratchathani first, then take bus to Amphoe Mueang Amnat Charoen Amnat Charoen, 75 kilometres away. Phuttha Utthayan and Phra Mongkhon Ming Mueang (พุทธอุทยาน และ พระมงคลมิ่งเมือง) Local Transportation are located on Khao Dan Phrabat along Highway The Amnat Charoen Bus Terminal provides Song No. 212 (Amnat Charoen - Yasothon), Tambon Thaeos (pick-up car) running around Amphoe Bung, which is 3 kilometres from downtown. Mueang and van services to other districts. The temple’s physical surrounding is natural shale under the shades of a variety of plant species that has been renovated to become Transportation from Amnat a “Buddha Park”. Meanwhile, Phra Mongkhon Charoen to Nearby Provinces Ming Mueang or Phra Yai is a large Buddha The Amnat Charoen Bus Terminal also provides image in a subduing Mara posture with a public van and bus services to nearby provinces; measurement of an 11-metre-wide span lap such as, Ubon Ratchathani, Mukdahan, and and 20-metre height from the ground to the Yasothon. top of the halo flame. It is built in the Northern Phuttha Utthayan and Phra Mongkhon Ming Mueang Amnat Charoen 9 Indian influenced Pala art style that extended were found in a swamp in 1962 during area to Thailand’s Northeastern region more than development for weir building. It is believed 1,000 years ago. that the Buddha images can give good fortune for people who come to make a wish. In 1965, Jitr Buabusya, a national artist, designed and built a reinforced concrete image to cover the former Buddha figure and City Pillar Shrine (ศาลหลักเมือง) decorated the exterior with golden mosaics located in the Ming Mueang Chaloem Phrakiat to become an atheistically characteristic Public Park on Chayangkun Road, was built Buddha figure of the Northeast. Behind Phra from well-selected and flawless auspicious Mongkhon Ming Mueang features two unusual wood - Cassia fistula in the Tako Thong Garden, characteristic Buddha images in yellow robes, Amphoe Mueang Nakhon Ratchasima. It is which are called according to the ancient believed that the City Pillar Shrine is a residence Buddha appearance as “Phra Lahai” or as the of gods who protect the city and an anchor of locals call “Phra Khilai” meaning not pretty. They the people of Amnat Charoen. Phra Phuttha Angkhirot Buddha Image Hall, Suan Si Mueang 10 Amnat Charoen Phuttha Utthayan Reservoir Phuttha Utthayan Reservoir (อ่างเก็บน�้า ornamental plants; for example, marigolds, พุทธอุทยาน) roses, etc. The types of planted flowers will be opposite to Phra Mongkhon Ming Mueang, is rotated per each season. Open daily from 7.00 a main water resource for agriculture and fish- a.m. - 8.00 p.m. Restaurants are also available. ery as well as a recreational site for the locals. Contact Tel: 0 4551 1500-1, 08 1977 5111. Various accommodation is located nearby this area. Wat Tham Saeng Phet (วัดถ�้าแสงเพชร) located at Mu 10, Amnat Charoen - Khemmarat Chitsakon Agricultural Centre (สวนเกษตร Road, Tambon Nong Masaeo, is a spacious temple comprising a wihan on the mountaintop, ชิตสกนธ์) a stupa and a beautiful reclining Buddha located in the same area as the Chitsakon image. To the north of the wihan is a large Flowerland and Hotel at 42 Mu 3, Arun Prasoet cave housing the beautiful characteristic Road, Tambon Bung, is a more than 80-rai Buddha image. The name Tham Saeng Phet agricultural garden featuring flowering and Amnat Charoen 11 came from the sparkling rocks when reflecting Huai Si Tho Reservoir (อ่างเก็บน�้าห้วยสีโท) the sunlight, which makes it look like the is mainly used for agricultural purposes. sparkles of a diamond or Phet in Thai. This Located 15 kilometres from town, the reservoir temple is the fifth branch meditation practice originates from two mountain ranges, featuring centre of Wat Nong Pa Phong under the Phra a deep basin. Having a pleasant atmosphere Achan Cha Suphattho School. both in the morning and evening, the reservoir To get there: From Amphoe Mueang Amnat serves as a recreational place for the people of Charoen, take Highway No. 202 (Amnat Charoen - Amnat Charoen. Khemmarat route) for about 16 kilometres past To get there: Take the Amnat Charoen-Khemarat the Ekawan Vocational College, then go straight route, the same one to Wat Tham Saeng Phet. for 1 kilometre to the junction and make a left The reservoir is 2 kilometres from Wat Tham turn. Follow the route to go up the mountain Saeng Phet. for about 2 kilometres. Wat Tham Saeng Phet 12 Amnat Charoen Huai Si Tho Reservoir Amnat Charoen 13 Phu Sing - Phu Pha Phueng Forest Park Phu Sing - Phu Pha Phueng Forest Park Taphap Hin is shaped like a soft-shelled turtle (วนอุทยานภูสิงห์ - ภูผาผึ้ง) situated on an approximately 10-metre wide situated at Mu 7, Ban Ba Charoen, Tambon rock terrace. Sang Nok Tha, features stone mountains under To get there: From Amphoe Mueang Amnat the area of the Pa Dong Hua Kong - Pa Dong Charoen, follow Highway No. 202 (Amnat Bang I National Reserved Forest with an area Charoen - Khemmarat) for about 20 kilometres, of approximately 16 square kilometres. It then turn left onto the rural Highway O Cho combines the deciduous dipterocarp and mixed 3024 toward Ban Ba Charoen for about 4 deciduous forests as well as is a watershed of kilometres to the Forest Park. Huai Si Tho. Interesting attractions in the Forest Park include: Amphoe Chanuman Lan Khwai Tu is a wide rock terrace comprising Mekong Scenic Point (จุดชมทิวทัศน์ริมโขง) natural sandstone sculptures of unusual shapes. Amphoe Chanuman covers an about 38- The stone shapes were a result from the erosion kilometre border area along the Mekong River, of sunlight, wind and water. which is a breathtaking scenic route of both 14 Amnat Charoen sides of the Mekong River.