:: Nam Phong
Phra That Kham Kaen is in Wat Chetiyaphum, Tambon Ban Kham. It can be reached by driving for 16 kilometres on Highway No. 209 (Khon Kaen-Kalasin road) and going left for 14 more kilometres. This is Khon Kaen's main historical site. Legend has it that a dead tamarind stump miraculously grew branches and leaves again after a procession bearing the holy relics of Lord Buddha walked past. A pagoda was then built the area, and the name of the province was actually derived from this sacred place.
Ban Khok Sanga king cobras are at Tambon Sai Mun, 33 kilometres on the Khon Kaen-Udon Thani road and left onto Road No. 2039 (Nam Phong-Kranuan) for 14 kilometres. A 2-kilometre road leads into the village. The villagers here traditionally catch cobras for a living and put on occasional cobra shows to supplement their income. There is now a king cobra breeding house at Wat Si Thamma in the village. Visitors can view these reptiles and see an exhibition on them. In addition, there are local herbs for sale. Interested parties can contact the King Cobra Club of Thailand, 96 Mu 6, Ban Khok Sanga, Tambon Sai Mun, Nam Phong, Khon Kaen. Villagers here established the club.
:: Nong Ruea
Nam Phong National Park covers several districts in Khon Kaen and Chaiyaphum. The park headquarters is beside Ubolratana reservoir. To get to the park, take the Khon Kaen-Chumphae road to Km. 30 and turn right for 19 kilometres, totalling 49 kilometres. It is the watershed of the Chi and Phong rivers. The topography is mountainous and covered with hard timber and dry virgin forests. Numerous barking deer inhabit the park. Vantage points give great views of the reservoir. There is a natural rock pool that is shaped like a volcano cone.
Ubolratana dam is the largest multi-purpose dam in the Northeast. To get there, take Highway No. 2 (Khon Kaen-Udon Thani) for 26 kilometres, turn left and drive for 24 kilometres. The dams is across the Phong river at the pass connecting Phu Kao and Phu Phan mountains. The view at the dam is magnificent. Tourists regularly frequent the area to look at the lake and sample local delicacies, including the famous grilled fish famous here.
Non Muang archaeological site is where a city from the Dvaravati period was situated. It is at Ban Na Pho, 80 kilometres from Khon Kaen. Before getting to Chum Phae, there is a road on the left. Take that road and drive for 5 kilometres. The site is an egg-shaped earth mound with an area of 170 acres. Two city moats have been found, as well as sandstone heart-shaped temple markers and pieces of earthenware pottery with red designs like scratches and ropes. In addition, human skeletons were found buried with tools, which was according to ancient beliefs.
Tham Pha Phuang Forest Park is in Ban Dong Lan, Tambon Pha Nok Khao, 123 kilometres from Khon Kaen on the Khon Kaen-Chum Phae road by Highway No. 12 and 201. A 4-kilometre road on the right then takes you to the park. Tham Pha Phuang is a huge limestone cave. Inside is a large chimney-shaped rock and lovely stalagmites and stalactites.
Phu Wiang National Park has an area of 325 square kilometres. Shaped like a smokestack, the middle part is a plain surrounded by mountains. A hard timber forest is around the plain while a dry virgin forest is on a plateau. The park can be reached by taking Highway No. 12 (Khon Kaen-Chum Phae) for 48 kilometres, then turn right on Road No. 2038 and drive for 38 kilometres to the park headquarters.
Phu Wiang is where geologists looking for uranium first discovered dinosaur fossils in Thailand. Many more locations were later found in the park. Fossils of both large herbivorous and carnivorous dinosaurs have been unearthed here. Furthermore, dinosaur footprints are evident at Lat Pa Chat rock plateau, comprising over 50 prints of many kinds of small predator dinosaurs in the rock formation. These prints are around 140 million years old.
Pha Nok Khao is a high mountain on the bank of the Phong river, 125 kilometres from Khon Kaen city on Highway No. 2 and 201 (Khon Kaen-Wang Saphung). Visitors can easily see its resemblance to a bird if they view it from the wood sprout cultivation centre across the road. The mountain has a head, a crest, a beak, and two wings spread out.
Phu Pha Man National Park has an approximate area of 350 square kilometres. It covers a verdant forest area in Khon Kaen and Loei. Tourist spots in the park are scattered throughout and can be separated into 2 groups. The first group is in the southern part, comprising a mountain with a 90-degree cliff stretching out like a curtain. Caves large and small dot the cliff. In the evening flocks of bats fly out to hunt, forming a continuous line not unlike smoke from a mountain. There are also 2 nice waterfalls, which are Tat Yai and Tat Fa. The second group is in the north adjacent to Amphoe Phu Kradung. Tat Rong waterfall is the highlight here and there are also caves with stalagmites and stalactites. Phaya Nakharat and Lai Thaeng caves of prehistoric paintings.
To get to the park, take the Khon Kaen-Chum Phae-Wang Saphung route for 100 kilometres. Then take another road for 12 kilometres. The park headquarters is at Pha Nok Khao that is just past the Phu Pha Man district office on Road No. 201.
