5 Cool Places Worth Visiting In Amnat Charoen

Amnat Charoen is a province with over 100 year history.  It is a small and quiet city but owns interesting places such as temples, natural places, and handicraft community.

Phu Sing - Phu Pha Phueng Forest Park

Phu Sing - Phu Pha Phueng Forest Park (วนอุทยานภูสิงห์ - ภูผาผึ้ง)  Located at Mu 7, Ban Pa Charoen, Tambon  Nok Tha, features stone mountains under the area of the Pa Dong Hua Kong - Pa Dong Bang I National Reserved Forest with an area of approximately 16 square kilometres. It combines the deciduous dipterocarp and mixed deciduous forests as well as is a watershed of Huai Si Tho.

Interesting in the viewpoint  and cycling route.

To get there: From Amphoe Mueang Amnat Charoen, follow Highway No. 202 (Amnat Charoen - Khemmarat) for about 20 kilometres, then turn left onto the rural Highway O Cho 3024 toward Ban Ba Charoen for about 4 kilometres to the Forest Park.     


Phuttha Utthayan and Phra Mongkhon Ming Mueang

Phuttha Utthayan and Phra Mongkhon Ming Mueang are located on Khao Dan Phrabat, which is 3 kilometres from downtown. The temple’s physical surrounding is natural shale under the shades of a variety of plant species that has been renovated to become a “Buddha Park”. Meanwhile, Phra Mongkhon Ming Mueang or Phra Yai is a large Buddha image in a subduing Mara posture with a measurement of an 11-metre-wide span lap and 20-metre height from the ground to the top of the halo flame. It is built in the Northern Indian influenced Pala art style that extended to Thailand’s Northeastern region more than 1,000 years ago.


Wat Tham Saeng Phet

Wat Tham Saeng Phet located at Mu 10, Amnat Charoen - Khemmarat Road, Tambon Nong Masaeo, is a spacious temple comprising a wihan on the mountaintop, a stupa and a beautiful reclining Buddha image. To the north of the wihan is a large cave housing the beautiful characteristic Buddha image. The name Tham Saeng Phet came from the sparkling rocks when reflecting the sunlight, which makes it look like the sparkles of a diamond or Phet in Thai. This temple is the fifth branch meditation practice centre of Wat Nong Pa Phong under the Phra Achan Cha Suphattho School.

To get there: From Amphoe Mueang Amnat Charoen, take Highway No. 202 (Amnat Charoen - Khemmarat route)


Huai Si Tho Reservoir

Huai Si Tho Reservoir is mainly used for agricultural purposes. Located 15 kilometres from town, the reservoir originates from two mountain ranges, featuring a deep basin. Having a pleasant atmosphere both in the morning and evening, the reservoir serves as a recreational place for the people of Amnat Charoen.

To get there: Take the Amnat Charoen-Khemarat route,


Wat Phra Lao Thep Nimit

Wat Phra Lao Thep Nimit  was built about 1720 during the reign of King Phrachao Thai Sa; formerly named “Wat Si Pho Chayaram Khammawadi” but later changed to “Wat Lao Thep Nimit”.

The ubosot of the temple was built in the Lanna architectural style and enshrines a principal Buddha image, Phra Lao Thep Nimit, which is a lacquered and gilded stucco figure in a subduing Mara posture with a measurement of 2.7 metres high and 2.85 metres wide across the lap. The Buddha characteristics were built in the Lan Xang art style under the Vientiane artisan school that was influenced by the Lanna style during the 16th -17th centuries. However, it was assumed that the Buddha image was built a little while after that period since it showed a lot of local artisan’s influences; for instance, a facial shape, a stretching halo flame, and a proportion of the lap and feet, which were similar to the Buddha’s characteristics in that group of wooden and bronze Buddha images built during the 18th - 19th centuries. “Phra Lao Thep Nimit” is considered to be the province’s main Buddha image with the most beautiful appearance in the Northeast.