Khon Kaen Attractions
Khon Kaen
The town of Khon Kaen about 380 km (236 mi.) north-east of Bangkok is in the area where the relatively infertile limestone of the Khorat Plateau gives way to the green belt in the north. It is north-eastern Thailand's second most important center for trade and administrative services after Nakhon Ratchasima, and has the only university in the region. Khon Kaen's economic progress owes much to the Friendship Highway (Highway 2), put in by the Americans as an important supply route for their troops stationed in north-eastern Thailand during the Vietnam War. Its main attraction is its famous museum, apart from which it has little else to offer.
By car: highways 1/2 from Bankgkok (440 km (273 mi.)); from Nakhon Ratchasima 190 km (118 mi.)); Route 12 from Phitsanulok (300 km (186 mi.)).
By train: station on the Bangkok-Nakhon Ratchasima-Udon Thani line (7 hours, 450 km (280 mi.) from Bangkok).
By air: daily flights from Bangkok.
The town of Khon Kaen about 380 km (236 mi.) north-east of Bangkok is in the area where the relatively infertile limestone of the Khorat Plateau gives way to the green belt in the north. It is north-eastern Thailand's second most important center for trade and administrative services after Nakhon Ratchasima, and has the only university in the region. Khon Kaen's economic progress owes much to the Friendship Highway (Highway 2), put in by the Americans as an important supply route for their troops stationed in north-eastern Thailand during the Vietnam War. Its main attraction is its famous museum, apart from which it has little else to offer.
By car: highways 1/2 from Bankgkok (440 km (273 mi.)); from Nakhon Ratchasima 190 km (118 mi.)); Route 12 from Phitsanulok (300 km (186 mi.)).
By train: station on the Bangkok-Nakhon Ratchasima-Udon Thani line (7 hours, 450 km (280 mi.) from Bangkok).
By air: daily flights from Bangkok.
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National Museum
The National Museum displays important finds from Ban Chiang dating from between 4500 and 3500 B.C.
Ubol Ratana
A long lake, stretching for 80 km (50 mi.), Ubol Ratana holds the water used to irrigate the infertile soil of the surrounding area. 26 km (16 mi.) north-west of Kon Khaen, it is named after the king's eldest daughter who renounced her right to the throne and went to live abroad.
