Sights in Khon Kaen & Roi Et Provinces
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Wat Pho Ban Nontan
Just off the lake, this peaceful tree-filled temple pre-dates the city and has a săh·lah like no other in Thailand. The ground floor is covered with ingeniously sculpted trees, animals and village scenes of people acting out old Isan proverbs.
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Ku Phra Koh Na
Fifty kilometres southeast of Roi Et town are the minor Khmer ruins of Ku Phra Koh Na , an 11th-century Hindu shrine. The Baphuon-style temple comprises three brick prang facing east from a sandstone base surrounded by a sandstone-slab wall that once had four gates. The middle prang was replastered in 1928 and Buddha niches were added. The attached Buddha footprint shrine is fronted by original naga sculptures. The two other prang have been restored (though they still look like they might tumble any time) in their original forms. The northern prang has a reclining Phra Narai (Vishnu) lintel over the main door while the lintel above the northern false door of the other …
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Phu Wiang National Park
Uranium miners discovered a giant patella bone in this region in 1976. Palaeontologists then unearthed a fossilised 15m-long herbivore later named Phuwianggosaurus sirindhornae (after Her Royal Majesty, Princess Sirindhorn). More remains were uncovered and Phu Wiang National Park was born.
Enclosed excavation sites including one with a partial skeleton of Siamotyrannus isanensis, an early ancestor of Tyrannosaurus rex – can be easily reached by trails from the visitor centre or nearby parking areas.
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Sala Mai Thai
The Sala Mai Thai is a silk-weaving museum on the campus of Khon Kaen Industrial & Community Education College where you can learn about the entire silk-making process, and even take a turn at a loom. Besides showing the simple wooden contraptions devised to spin, tie, weave and dry silk, there’s an exhibition hall upstairs that catalogues traditional mát·mèe patterns and a couple of typical northeastern wooden houses. It’s 1km west of town on Rte 229.
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Wat Neua
This temple in the northern quarter of town has a peaceful ambience. It's known for its 1200-year-old brick chedi from the Dvaravati period, which has an unusual four-cornered bell-shaped form that's rare in Thailand. Also inside the central compound are some old Dvaravati săir·mah and a giant bodhi tree.
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Nam Nao National Park
One of Thailand’s most beautiful and valuable nature preserves, Nam Nao National Park covers nearly 1000 sq km at an average elevation of 800m, across the border of Chaiyaphum and Phetchabun Provinces, just beyond Khon Kaen Province. Although it covers remote territory Hwy 12 makes access easy. Temperatures are fairly cool year-round, especially nights and mornings, and frost occasionally occurs in December and January.
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Wat Burapha
The enormous standing Buddha towering above Roi Et's squat skyline is Phra Phuttha Ratana Mongkon Mahamuni (Luang Po Yai for short), the main attraction at this temple. Despite being of little artistic significance, it's hard to ignore. Head to toe he stands 59.2m, and from the ground to the tip of the ùt·sà·nít it's 67.8m.
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Khon Kaen National Museum
This interesting collection of artefacts spans prehistoric times to the present. Highlights are Ban Chiang pottery and a beautiful Dvaravati săir·mah (temple boundary marker) depicting Princess Pimpa cleaning Lord Buddha's feet with her hair. The household and agricultural displays shed light on what you'll see out in the countryside.
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Phra Mahathat Kaen Nakhon
Down at the south end of the lake is Khon Kaen’s one must-see, Phra Mahathat Kaen Nakhon, a gorgeous nine-storey chedi at the heart of Wat Nong Wang. Inside you’ll find enlightening murals depicting Khon Kaen history, various historical displays and a staircase to the top.
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Roi Et National Museum
This interesting museum gives equal billing to ancient artefacts and Isan culture. The 3rd floor features silk weaving, including a display showing the materials used to produce natural-dye fabrics.
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Phu Wiang Museum
The Phu Wiang Museum, 5km before the park, has geology and palaeontology displays, including full-size models of the dinosaur species that once lived in the area. Kids will love it.
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Art & Culture University Museum
The focus of Khon Kaen University's cultural showcase is the two-storey art gallery, which features monthly installations of both student and professional work. The Educational Museum upstairs and in the back provides a brief intro to Isan culture, but only if you can read Thai.
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Khon Kaen City Museum
Inside the amphitheatre, the well-done Hong Moon Mung museum provides a good introduction to Isan with dioramas and displays going back to the Jurassic period.
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Mhesak Spirit House
Head north along the shore and you’ll pass the Mhesak Spirit House, a Khmer-style prang dedicated to the Hindu god Indra.
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Roi Et Aquarium
This little aquarium with a walk-through tunnel houses fish found around Isan.
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Wat That
Head north along the shore and you’ll pass Wat That, which has a soaring bòht and chedi.
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Wat Jeen Beung Kaen Nakhon
Wat Jeen Beung Kaen Nakhon is Khon Kaen’s biggest and most beautiful Chinese temple.
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Wat Tham Uthayan
This peaceful temple, 10km north of the city, has many beautiful monuments, including a 23m-tall white walking Buddha image, spread across its vast grounds. It has become a well-known meditation centre because rather than teaching a formal method, Luang Po Gluai encourages people to find their own path to inner peace. Take sŏrng·tăa·ou 4 (15B) fron Na Muang or Prachasamoson streets.
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Wat Nong Wang
Down at the south end of the lake, Phra Mahathat Kaen Nakhon, the stunning stupa at the heart of this important temple, is Khon Kaen's one must-see. It features enlightening murals depicting Isan culture; various historical displays, including a collection of rare Buddha images on the 4th floor; and a 9th-floor observation deck.
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Sanjao Bueng Tao Gong Ma
Sometimes called Sanjao Bueng Kaen Nakhon, this is Khon Kaen's biggest and most beautiful Chinese temple. There's a large Guan-Im (Chinese Goddess of Mercy) statue in the park across the street.
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Rim Bueng Kaen Nakhon Market
This fun little market, in the shadow of the soaring bòht and chedi of Wat That, features food, shopping and paint-your-own pottery stalls. During the day there are paddleboats for hire (30B per half-hour).
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One Pillar Pagoda
This replica of Hanoi's iconic temple was built by Khon Kaen's sizeable Vietnamese community. It's a good sunset-watching spot.
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Mahesak Shrine
This modern Khmer-style prang is dedicated to the Hindu god Indra. It's almost spooky at night.
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Bueng Phlan Chai
Walking paths criss-cross the attractive, shady island in Bueng Phlan Chai and attract the usual crowd of doting couples, students, joggers and picnickers. The beloved walking Buddha statue is on the north side and the lak meuang (city pillar) is to the south.
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Prasat Puay Noi
The 12th-century Prasat Puay Noi is the largest and most interesting Khmer ruin in northern Isan. About the size of Buriram’s Prasat Meuang Tam, but far less intact, the east-facing monument comprises a large central sandstone sanctuary surmounted by a partially collapsed prang and surrounded by laterite walls with two major gates. It has some good lintels left.
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