Northeast Thailand / Sakhon Nakhon, Kalasin
Sakhon Nakhon
Sakhon Nakhon, 647km (404mi) from Bangkok and on the shore of the Nong Han Lake, is the capital of Sakhon Nakhon Province. The Phu Thai tribe people living around the town are an interesting subject for the study of ancient customs. The town is known for its Wax Castle Festival held every October. As the name indicates the festival centers on castles made from wax.
Accommodation
Araya; 1432 Kamchadphai Rd, Tel 71-1224
55 rooms, sgl/dbl 100-200 (f, ac)
Charoen; Premprida Rd, Tel 71-2386
50 rooms, sgl/dbl 100-180 (f, ac)
Charoensuk; Charoen-Muang Rd, Tel 71-1540
40 rooms, sgl/dbl 80-160 (f, ac)
Dusit; 1782-4 Yuwa-Phattana Rd
Tel 71-1198, 71-2200 to 1
121 rooms, sgl/dbl 140-200 (ac)
Imperial; 1892 Suk-Kasem Rd, Tel 71-1119, 71-1887
106 rooms, sgl/dbl 180-350 (ac)
Kitti Hotel; Tambon Thatchoengchum Rd, Tel 71-1340
33 rooms, sgl/dbl 60-120 (f, ac)
Krongthong; 645/2 Charoen-Muang Rd, Tel 71-1235
36 rooms, sgl/dbl 60-180 (f, ac)
Kusuma; Charoen-Muang Rd, Tel 71-1112
20 rooms, sgl/dbl 60-100 (f)
Sakhon; 581/1 Charoen-Muang Rd, Tel 71-1113
23 rooms, sgl/dbl 60-80 (f)
Sirimit; 1750/1 Yuwa-Phattana Rd, Tel 71-1416
26 rooms, sgl/dbl 60-100 (f)
Somkiat; 1348 Kamchadphai Rd, Tel 71-1044
36 rooms, sgl/dbl 60-120 (f)
Somkiat Bungalow; Tambon Thatchoengchum
Tel 71-1740; 46 rooms, sgl/dbl 60-100 (f)
Suphon-Phakdi; 1266/1 Kamchadphai Rd
Tel 71-2161; 12 rooms, sgl/dbl 60-80 (f)
Places of Interest
Phra That Choeng Chum
This most revered Chedi of Sakhon Nakhon, at Wat Phra That Choeng Chum, is rectangular in shape and built of bricks to a height of 24m (79ft).
Phra That Narai Cheng Weng
This Khmer-style 12m (39ft) high pagoda is at the village of Ban That about 5km (3mi) from Sakhon Nakhon center.
Nong Han Lake
The shores of the 32sqkm (12sqmi) Nong Han Lake are popular for picnics. Boats can be rented to go the islands in the lake, especially to Don Sawan.
Nam Phung Dam
The dam, 40km (25mi) south of Sakhon Nakhon, is 1,720m (5,643ft) long and 40m (131ft) high and creates a lake covering an area of about 2,400 hectares (6,000 acres).
Phuphan Ratchanivet Palace
The Northeast residence of the Thai Royal Family is on the Phuphan mountain range, about 13km (8mi) from the town of Sakhon Nakhon. The palace is open to the public except when members of the Royal Family are there.
Wat Pa Suthavat / Achan Man Museum
In a museum at this Wat opposite the town hall are kept the worldly possessions and remains of the highly respected late Buddhist monk Phra Achan Man Bhuritatto who is seen as a Buddhist saint by many faithful Buddhists. It is regarded as a miracle that some of his bones allegedly became clear and glass-like during his cremation. The bones are on display in the museum.
Wat Pa Udom Somphon
At this Wat near Sakhon Nakhon lived another venerated monk and Buddhist teacher, Phra Achan Fan Acharo. Visitors pay respect to his life-size statue.
Huay Huad National Park
The park near Tao Ngoei, some 35km (22mi) south of the town of Sakhon Nakhon, is known for its Dusita flowers which enliven the scenery and are especially beautiful in the cold season. Accommodation is available at the Huay Huad Resort, Tel (042) 71-2676.
Transportation
Bangkok - Sakhon Nakhon
Thai Airways has a daily direct flight from Bangkok to Sakhon Nakhon. Departure is on some days in the early morning, on others in the early afternoon. Though the flights are direct (no change of aircraft) they are not always non-stop but may pass by Udon Thani. While departure times might change every 6 months, the changes are likely to be minimal while the frequency is basically maintained. Flight time is around 1:35hr or 2hrs if there is a stop-over. The price of a one-way ticket is 1465 Baht.
Buses from Bangkok’s Northern Bus Terminal on Phahonyothin Road; 633km, aircon 215 Baht, 20:00, 20:30
Sakhon Nakhon - Bangkok
Thai Airways has one daily direct flight from Sakhon Nakhon to Bangkok. Departure is either in the mid-morning or in the mid-afternoon. Flight time is around 1:05hr. The price of a one-way ticket is 1465 Baht.
Provincial Flights
Udon Thani - Sakhon Nakhon
Thai Airways has four direct flight a week from Udon Thani to Nakhon Sakhon. Departure is in the morning. Flight time is around 30min.
KALASIN
Kalasin, 519km (324mi) from Bangkok, is the capital of the comparatively small Kalasin Province. The province was once even relegated to the status of a district.
Accommodation
Kalasin; 208/5 Phirom Rd, Tel 81-1583
11 rooms, sgl/dbl 80-200
Kalasin Bungalow
Pradit Rd, 15 rooms, sgl/dbl 150-250
Mit Wattana; Amphoe Muang Rd
25 rooms, sgl/dbl 100-200
Phaibun; 125/1-2 Somphamit Rd, Tel 81-1661
46 rooms, sgl/dbl 150-200
Saengthong; 100-102 Kalasin Rd, Tel 81-1555
31 rooms, sgl/dbl 100-200
Saithong; Phirom Rd, Tel 81-1661
28 rooms, sgl/dbl 100-150
Saithong Bungalow; Somphamit Rd, Tel 81-1611
16 rooms, sgl/dbl 100-200
Suphak; 81/7 Saneha Rd
Tel 81-1315, 81-1051, 81-1595
52 rooms, sgl/dbl 150-500
Yenchai Bungalow; Chanaphon Rd, Tel 81-1508
16 rooms, sgl/dbl 80-150
Places of Interest
Phra Phrom Bhumipalo
Phra Phrom Bhumipalo, on Mount Phu Singh near Sahatkhan, 32km (20mi) from the town of Kalasin, is a Buddha image in the Manwichai posture with a knee-spread of 10.5m (34ft).
Phra Buddha Saiyat Phu Khao
6km (4mi) from Sahatkhan Market, this reclining Buddha image (built around 1692) differs from others in that the figure reclines on the left-side instead of the normal right-side.
Wat Klang
The Wat houses an famous black bronze Buddha image of fine craftsmanship. Regarded as the principal image of the province, it is carried around in a procession to plead for rain during any dry spell in the region. At the base of the image are inscriptions in ancient Thai letters.
In addition to the black Buddha, Wat Klang also has a replica of a large holy Buddha footprint in sandstone. The replica was molded during the reign of the Lawa several hundred years back from a footprint on the bank of the Lam Pao River. The replica was done because the bank eroded. (For the religious significance of Buddha footprints and other relics, see the chapter Religion.)
Lam Pao Dam
The dam across the Lam Pao and Huay Yang rivers, 35km (22mi) from the town of Kalasin on the Kalasin - Yang Talat highway, forms a reservoir as beautiful as any natural lake. Along the bank of the reservoir with a capacity of 1,260,000,000cum (44,523,000,000cuft) is an open zoo, the Lam Pao Wildlife Park, which is a major attraction for the locals. It has an area of 227 hectares (568 acres) and is a little north of the dam. Dok Ket Beach at the dam’s site is popular for picnics.
Phu Phra Forest Park
Inside the forest which covers 10,384 hectares (25,960 acres), near Tha Khan Tho, is a rock garden with beautiful stones of different shapes.
Transportation
Bangkok - Kalasin
Buses from Bangkok’s Northern Bus Terminal on Phahonyothin Road; 513km, non-aircon 97 Baht, 20:40, 21:50, 22:10; aircon 177 Baht, 20:30, 21:30, 21:45
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