Isaan Travel and Destination Guide

Attractions in Isaan

Northeastern Thailand, or Isaan, was once the centre of an ancient civilization and even today, many of the original customs and practices are still followed, some of them dating back thousands of years. The Khom people once owned this part of the world, even before the Khmer and heir temples and monuments still stand, giving the whole region an air of grand antiquity.

Ancient sites

  • Phra That Phanom in Nakhon Phanom province is revered as the most sacred ancient monument in Isaan and revered by both the Thais and the Laotians that live in the regions that flank the mighty Mekong River. Although the site began to degenerate several years ago, it was recently restored to its former glory and offers an incredible insight into the strength and ingenuity of a lost civilization.

  • Phimai  sits approximately 50km northeast of Nakhon Ratchasima city and is also justifiably famous for its ancient buildings, which historians have dated to be about a thousand years old. The buildings are made of hand-made brick or stone, with the older Brahmanic structures characterized by multi-storey foundations, topped with majestic spires. The later Buddhist structures generally have a lower base and less prominent spires. The main sanctuary at Phimai known as Prasat, a large tower surrounded by four chambers. In recent years, scientists have not only disagreed as t the date of construction but argued over the way in which Phimai was destroyed - either during one significant catastrophy or being left to disintegrate when it lost its powers a religious site.

  • Ku Puai Noi in Khon Kaen Province is a large stone castle with walls that enclose a central compound known locally as Tat Ku Tong. The large, sandstone Chedi, although visibly old, remains in near-perfect condition and is made all the more impressive thanks to a series of beautiful stone carvings.

  • Ban Chiang village is located 50 km east of Udon Thani. This is the site of the earliest confirmed human settlement, which experts estimate existed as long as than 7,000 years ago. Copper bells and beads excavated close to Ban Chiang have also been unearthed in North and Central America where the Mayan and Aztec civilizations used them as currency. This gave rise to theories that between 5,000 to 4,500 BC, the people of Ban Chiang may have had trade contacts with the Indians in North and Central America.

Natural attractions

  • Phu Kradung National Park in Loei is one of Thailand’s most beautiful protected forest areas and is located of a lone, steep-sided mountain crowned by a lush and fertile plateau with an elevation of 1,325m (4349ft). The plateau drops steeply into the valley in many places, exposing broad panoramas of the surrounding lowlands and the Phetchabun mountains. The extraordinary flora that flourishes in the cool mountain climate includes pine trees and several other Himalayan species such as oak, beech and hornbeam trees, not to mention two species of the Australasian conifer. Wild flowers, including rhododendrons, can be seen in full bloom during March and April.

  • Also in Loei, Phu Luang Wildlife Sanctuary covers four districts. Its abundant flora and fauna and different types of landscape make it popular with visitors in search of natural wonder. Places of interest include the cliffs at Pha Kob and Pha Loan Tae and the waterfalls at Tad Loei, Than Thong, Tad San Loei Nga and Nam Kho. Phu Luang is the highest peak in the province rising 1,570 metres above sea level.
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