Tourism

The Candle Festival (Poang Lang)
Held on Khao Phansa Day( beginning of the Buddhist Rain Retreat in July ) at the Toong sri Muang ground. Wax Candles fashioned in artisticstyles are displayed in various temples at night huge candles are on display around Toong sri Muang. The following morning the colorful  Wax Candle Procession is held.

You can see a video of the Wax candle festival of 2007 on YOUTUBE by clicking HERE.

Thung Sri Muang
This is a wide open ground in the middle of the city very much like Sanam Luang in Bangkok. It was formerly reserved as a place for the governor (Chao Muang) to perform a rice growing ceremony. Later, King Rama V put a stop to the ceremony to keep it as a recreation and festival celebration area for the townspeople. A city-pillar shrine is located to the south of the field.

Ubon National Museum: the single-storied building, built in 1873, was formerly the Governor's office. The former governor, Lieutenant Danai Ketsire established it as a provincial national museum, which is accepted as one of the best in Thailand.
The Museum once the province's City Hall, puts on exhibition the province's history, geological features of the Northeast, discovered artifacts, and local handiworks like basketry, brass, traditional hand-woven fabric, and local musical instruments. The museum is open daily except for Mondays and Tuesdays.

Khong Chiam
Khong Chiam is an Amphoe overlooking the Mekhong River and is located 80 kilometers from Ubon Ratchathani. A hired boat is available here to go to Kaeng Tana cataract and to go sightseeing at Mae Nam Song Si or the bicolour river where the Mekhong and Mun Rivers meet.

Wat Buraparam, in Amphoe Muang, was once the residence of many famous monks in the field of miditation such as Achan Sithachayaseno, Achan Man Purittatathera, Achan Li Thammatharo, Achan Saokantasilo and Achan Sing Kantayakamo. At present their statues, carved from stones from various rivers, are kept here for the people to pay respect to.

 Wat Toong Si Muang
 Located on Luang Road, Wat Toong Si Muang was built during the reign of King Rama lll  by Chao Ariyawongsajan, then the head of the provincial clergy. As he had once attended religious studies at Wat Saket in Bangkok, he took back with him a replica of the Holy Footprint and enshrine it at a hall built speacially to house it.The hall today serves as the Ubosot, the convocation hall, and is of the early Rattanakosin style combined with Vientianne influence. Each wall is adorned with murals which were painted at the same time as the construction.

Another important structure in thetemple is the Scripture hall. A woodenbuilding, it is sited in center of a pond to prevent ants or termites to get at the scripture. Of Thai-Burmese-Laotian style, the actual building is of Thai appearance divided in to four sections. Within the chamber housing the scripture cabinets, each side is painted gold and lacquer.The roof are of a combined Thai-Burmese art with Choh Fah Bai Raka traditional decorative pieces. The over-lapping roofs refect Burmese architectural style transmitted through Laotian Lan Xang art.The patterns and carving over the two gables are of high Laotian style,displaying the different animal signs according to traditional astrology as well as various designs based on plantlife.

Wat Si Ubon Rattanaram is a royal temple on Uparat Road beside the City Hall. The ordination hall is in the same style as the Marble Temple in Bangkok. The Topaz Buddha image, the town's sacred image brought from Si Sattanakanahut, Laos, is kept here.

Kaeng Tana National Park
The largest rapids of the Mun River is Kaeng Tana in Amphoe Khong Chiam, thirteen kilometers off Highway No. 217 opposite the entrance of the side-road to Sirindhorn Dam. Although the access road is not in good condition, it is worth visiting nevertheless during the dry season.\

Handicraft of Ban Pa-Ao villages
The 200 yearold brassware villages of Ban Pa-Ao is located at TambonNong Khon, Muang  district, about 21 kms. from the provincial town of Ubonratchatani along Highway #23  including a three khm. stretch of side-road leading to the hamlet. In addition to weaving, the  village also produces brass utensils for daily usage and as souvenirs employing the so-called, original Lost Waxing method.

Examples of work at Ban Pa-Ao.

 Pha Taem National Park  and  Pha Dong Na Tam forset  
The 212,500 Rai Pha Taem National Park coversareas in Khong Chiam, Si Muang Mai and Pho Sai districts bordering on Laos with the Mekhong River as demarcation line. To reach the park headquarters, at the Pha Taem area, Ban Nong Phue Noi, Khong Chiam district, about 19 kms. from the district town,take Highway #217 from the provincial town to Phibun  Mangsahan district, then turn on to Highway #222 to Khong Chiam.

Wat Nong Pa Pong
 Located in Tambon Noan Noan, Varin-Chamrab district, about 8 kms. from the provincial town on Highway #2178 towards Kantrarak district. With a total area of over 186 Rai, it was once an abandoned temple and served as a cemetary. The terrain in genneral is wetlands oversgrown with reeds in 2497 B.E.(1954), the highly venerated monk Luang Pu Cha initiated a project to turn it into a site suitable for meditation sessions and a monk's residence was established which later became a monastery. The atmosphere is serene and tranquil inducive to the practice of meditation. An interesting structure is the Phra Photiyan Museum housing  the spartan personal articles of use and Luang Pu Cha's wax figure. Another is Chedi Si  Photiyan where his royally-sponsored cremation took place.

 Wat Pa Nanachat
 Wat Pa Nanachat, meaning the international Temple in the Forest, is located at Ban Boong Wai, Tambon Boong Wai of Varinchamrab district, about 14 kms. from town on Highway #226 towards Si Saket. Sereral foreign monks are usually in residence to study Budhist teaching and meditation.Most of them speak fluent Thai and capable of delivering sermons in Pali. Strict in their observance of the Dharma, they are respected by all Thai Buddhists.

Chong Mek Point-Gateway to Indochina
 About 90 kms. from the provincial town along Highway #217 in Sirinthon district. Chong Mek  is a permanent crossing-point between Thailand and Laos,leading to Champasak province  which is a major desiination in Southern Laos.Apart from being the locations of various official offices, it is also an extensive border market with duty-free facilities with in Laotian territory accessible to tourists.

Among the major attractions in Champasak province are the town of Pak Se, the capital  province. Champasak, the former capital of the province which in itself is an old community;  the Prasat Hin Wat Phu, an ancient Khmer temple; the Si Than Don confluence where the Mekhong River extends to a width of 7 kms. creating large number of isles and rapids and probably the most interesting are the Li Phi and Khon Phapheng waterfalls.

Foreigners entering Laos at Chong Mek require a Laotian entry visa (new in 2007-2008). Thais can use border Passes which could be issued within three days by the Ubonratchatani provincial administrative office.

Tourism Authority of Thailand, 4 Ratchadamnoen Nok Avenue, Bangkok 10100, THAILAND.
Tel. : (66 2) 281-0422 (20 Lines), E-mail : tat@cs.ait.ac.th

: Tourist Service Center (TAT and Tourist Police), Tel. 1155
: Tourism Authority of Thailand Tourist Service Center
: TAT Northeastern Office : Region 1
2102-2104 Mittraphap Rd., Tambon Nai Muang, Amphoe Muang, Nakhon Ratchasima 30000
Tel.: (66 44) 213-666, 213-030; Fax: (66 44) 213-667
Area of Responsibility : Ubon Ratchathani, Amnat Charoen, Si Sa Ket and Yasothon