DETAILS
1. Tat Ton National Park (อุทยานแห่งชาติตาดโตน), a national park of Chaiyaphum province, is a 3-time Thailand Tourism Award (Kinnaree Award) recipient (in Years 2013, 2015, and 2017) for the Hall of Fame Award: Natural and Ecotourism Attraction. The Park’s highlight includes many beautiful waterfalls; such as, Namtok Tat Ton, Namtok Tat Fa, and Namtok Pha Iang. In addition, there is a Chaopho Tat Ton (Pu Duang) Shrine located at Namtok Tat Ton, which is revered by the people of Chaiyaphum and other provinces nearby.
2. Phu Laen Kha National Park (อุทยานแห่งชาติภูแลนคา) occupies interesting geological attractions; for example, Hin Rong Kla Viewpoint, a wide large rock terrace with many cracked rocks featuring a rock cliff with an altitude of 700-800 metres above sea level. Pa Hin Prasat Viewpoint, a rock shaped-like castle, Pratu Khlong (a natural rock archway), large rock piles shaped like a gate surrounded with strange shaped stones alternating with deciduous dipterocarp forest, Pha Hua Nak Viewpoint, and Mo Hin Khao also known as the Stonehenge of Thailand consisting of 5 large white sandstone pillars. From evidence by the Department of Mineral Resources and Chaiyaphum province that conducted a survey in 2002, it was found that the order of rock layers and fossils are aged between 195-175 million years. Over the past 65 million years, the shift of the Earth’s plates and compression from the sides caused folds, breaking, decay and erosion horizontally and vertically, and created a group of stone pillars, a rock platform, and rock terrace in various shapes that are up to the imagination in the eyes of people who witness them; such as, a form of a mushroom, ship, elephant, turtle and pagoda scattered all over the hill.
3. Ban Khwao Silk Village (หมู่บ้านผ้าไหมบ้านเขว้า) is one of the national sericulture and silk cloth production centres. Visitors can observe the silk cloth making process from drawing the silk, cleaning and dyeing, ikat (matmi), weaving, colour painting and ironing silk cloth. All of these are the way of the local people and local wisdom. Ban Khwao Silk cloth was the national winner from the OTOP competition organised by the Community Development Department, Ministry of Interior. The pattern “Mi Khan Kho Nari” is the most exquisite design and one of a kind in the world.
4. Chulabhorn Dam (Nam Phrom Dam) (เขื่อนจุฬาภรณ์) (เขื่อนน้ำพรม) was built across the Phrom River on the Khun Phai Range on the area called “Phu Yuak”. It is a multi-purpose rockfill dam with a core of clay packed with stone and pebbles with a measurement of 700 metres long on the Dam’s ridge and 8 metres wide under the supervision of the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT). The Dam is used for generating electrical power and irrigation purposes.
Interesting places nearby include:
- The Replica of Phra Phutthasiri Sakkharat (Luangpho Chet Kasat), a revered Buddha image enshrined at the left side of the Dam, opposite Chulabhorn Dam’s Park.
- Chulabhorn Dam’s Park covers an area of 41 rai classified as a preserved forest with various plant species providing Sala Phrom Phitsamai, a pavilion for relaxation. The path through the Park is paved with natural stones.
- The 325-million-years Ancient Plants are plants in a grass family comprising of 2 main species; namely, Son Sam Roi Yot (Lycopodium) and Son Hang Ma or Ya Thot Plong (Horsetail or Equisetum).
- Lup Khuan View Pavilion is a viewpoint located at the altitude of more than 800 metres.
5. Phrathat Nong Sam Muen (พระธาตุหนองสามหมื่น) is one of the significant ancient monuments of the province. Named after a swamp situated to the northwest of the temple, this monument is considered to be one of the most beautiful and perfect stupas. It is assumed that the architectural art characteristics are a combination of Lanna, Lan Xang, and Ayutthaya styles and was built around the 16th-17th centuries in the reign of Phra Chai Chetthathirat of the Kingdom of Lan Xang. During the Songkran Festival, on 13-15 April, a Phrathat Bathing Ceremony is held annually.
6. Pha Koeng/Wat Chaiyaphum Phithak (ผาเกิ้ง/วัดชัยภูมิพิทักษ์) is a high cliff on the sideway stretching out that looks like a crescent moon. Hence, it is called by the local people as “Pha Koeng”, which means a moon cliff in Isan dialect. On the cliff is situated Wat Pha Koeng or Wat Chaiyaphum Phithak where the Chaiyaphum Phithak Buddha image is enshrined. It is a 14-metre high image made of brick and cement and wholly covered with golden mosaics in the attitude of giving a blessing. At the front of the Buddha image is the panoramic scenery of extensive paddy fields. Furthermore, the temple’s compound includes Phra Borommathat Pha Koeng and a museum collecting antiques.
7. Phraya Phakdi Chumphon (Lae) Monument and Chaopho Phraya Lae Festival (อนุสาวรีย์พระยาภักดีชุมพล (แล) และงานเจ้าพ่อพญาแล), located at the Government Complex Circle, was built in 1975 to commemorate the first governor of Chaiyaphum, who is called by the locals “Chaopho Phraya Lae”. King Rama III granted Ban Luang to be Chaiyaphum town and appointed Khun Phakdi Chumphon (Lae) as the first governor. The celebration of the Chaopho Phraya Lae Monument is held annually during 12-20 January at the field in front of Chaiyaphum City Hall and at the Chaopho Phraya Lae Monument Intersection. The festival features a monument worshipping parade, an elephant offering procession, and other parades from many districts including trade fair, exhibitions by government agencies, and competitions of agricultural products.
8. Hae Nak Hot Festival (งานประเพณีแห่นาคโหด) is a sixth lunar month festival, annually held in May at Ban Non Salao-Non Than, Tambon Nong Thum, Amphoe Phu Khieo. It is a grand merit-making festival for people who have faith in Buddhism with an idea that before becoming a monk, one has to be ordained and been through many obstacles. This tradition has been held for more than 100 years. The procession begins with parading around the village from the to-be-ordained person’s own house to go around the village. Young men who are not ordained of each village will join and carry a bamboo carriage with “Nak” or a person to be ordained on top and parade around the village; meanwhile, they will fiercely shake the carriage as a test whether Nak has patience and willing to become a monk or not. Nak has to balance himself and try not to fall from the carriage. If he falls to the ground, he will be disqualified and cannot be ordained. With more than 3 kilometres of the village route, the parade takes about 4 consecutive hours and continues walking 3 times around the ordination hall.
9. Komgrish Ancient Textile Museum (พิพิธภัณฑ์ผ้าโบราณชัยภูมิ KOMGRISH) Visitors can see prototypes of the Khit design and ancient silk textiles of Chaopho Phraya Lae’s descendants. It comprises different beautiful patterns; such as, Mi Ieo Yieo Khwai, Fong Nam, Kho, Thon Son, Soi Dok Mak, Mak Chap, Hang Krarok, Mak Chap Wan, Lai Mak Chap Chum, Khao Lam That, Kho Yai, Mi Khan Kho Nari, etc.
10. Hom Bun Ok Phansa or “Hae Krathup” Festival or End of Buddhist Lent Festival (งานประเพณีโฮมบุญออกพรรษา "แห่กระธูป") is held 3 days before the End of Buddhist Lent Day in front of the Nong Bua Daeng District Office. It is the biggest ceremony of the Nong Bua Daeng people as the offerings to the Lord Buddha when he came back to the Earth after preaching to his mother in the Trayastrimsa Heaven, by lighting ‘Krathup’ representing a Jambolan tree, the symbol of the tree of Jambudvipa. It was recorded in the Phra Malai Sut Buddhist scripture as quoted “Krathup tree is approximately 50 yot tall with 4 large branches stretching into 4 directions for extensively 100 yot wide. It implies that when lighting this tree, the scent of the tree will spread in all directions and rejoice all humans who smell it; as a result, they will be delighted and happiness comes into their mind”.
The model of a Krathup tree is created from local materials consisting of Om leaf and Niam leaf, which are herbal plants, mixed with coconut peat. Wrap it with paper to be a long shape like an incense stick. Then decorate it with colourful paper, and tie with “stars” made from a bamboo fly rod that looks like a fishing rod, then pierce into a 3-5-metre high bamboo trunk built like an umbrella shape before bringing it in the parade and lighting. Meanwhile, Luk Dum Ka, a fruit similar to an orange but having a hard shell will be cut off into two pieces. Then pour vegetable oil and douse threads to use as a wick for lighting under the Krathup tree. Finally, decorate it beautifully and take it to a candlelight procession on the End of Buddhist Lent Day. After that, it will be lit for worshipping Buddha images in different spots in the temple compound in Amphoe Nong Bua Daeng, Amphoe Kaset Sombun, and Amphoe Phu Khieo.
