| Attraction Guide : Mukdahan |
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Ho Kaeo Mukdahan
Ho Kaeo Mukdahan is a 65-metre-high tower, 2 kilometres on the
Mukdahan-Don Tan route. The lower floor features an exhibition
on Mukdahans history, another on the arts and culture of various
tribes and the way of life along the Mekong River from past
to present. The topmost part is an observation room where visitors
can enjoy panoramic views of the Mekong River, Sawannakhet
and Mukdahan.
Sawannakhet
Sawannakhet Province, Lao Peoples Democratic Republic is opposite
Mukdahan. The second largest city to Vientiane, the province has
routes linking Laos to Danang in Vietnam. To enter Laos, foreign
travelers must have a valid passport and obtain a visa from either
a Lao embassy or the Lao consulate in Khon Kaen.
Namtok Tat Ton
Tat Ton Waterfall is to the south of Nong Sung and west of Kham
Cha-I on Highway No. 2030, 18 kilometres away between the 67-68
km markers. The waterfall is 7 metres high and 30 metres wide.
A pool here is suitable for swimming.
Kaeng Krabao
Kaeng Kabao is an islet that parallels the Mekong River. A
wide rock plateau on the bank is popular for villagers seeking
relaxation. Islands and beaches emerge in the middle of the
river in the dry season, making the area more picturesque
than in other seasons. To get there, take Highway No. 212
(Mukdahan-That Phanom) for 20 kilometres and turn right to
Wan Yai and drive for 9 kilometres. Kaeng Kabao is 9 kilometres
north of the district office
Klong Mahorathuk
Mahorathuk drum is kept at Wat Matchimawat (Wat Klang), not
far from Don Tan District Office. This ancient artifact is
over 3,000 years old. It is a single-sided bronze drum with
a diametre of 86 centimetres and a length of 90 metres. The
drum face has a sunrise design and the drum case has drawings
of 4 frogs. The Kha and ancient Khmer people loved to collect
drums. This drum was discovered in 1938 on the Mekong bank
at Ban Na Tham in Laos.
Mukdahan National Park
Mukdahan National Park (Phu Pha Thoep) is 17 kilometres from
the city on the Mukdahan-Don Tan Road. To get to the park,
turn right at the 14-15 km marker and drive for 2 kilometres.
The park has an area of 48.5 square kilometres and consists
mainly of many high mountains connected together like Phu Manorom,
Phu Nang Hong, Phu Pha Thoep, Phu Tham Phra, Phu Lak Se, Phu
Rang, Phu Pong, and Phu Kham Mak Mi. The highest peak is Phu
Chom Si, which is 420 metres above sea level. The forest is
a hardwood forest and is the source of several waterways.
Some parts of the park are steep cliffs and wide rock plateaus.
The most striking of these is Phu Pha Thoep where rocks of
peculiar shapes abound. It is believed that this area was once
a dirt mountain that eventually eroded due to rain and wind.
Around the end of the rainy season in October, flowers of different
colors bloom from the rocks, giving the park magnificent colors.
Other places of interest include Phu Tham
Phra, the largest
mountain in the park. Visitors can find a waterfall and a cave
where hundreds of small wooden Buddha and animal images are
placed. Another site is the Tham Fa Mu
Daeng on Phu Pha Thoep
where numerous prehistoric drawings of hands and people can
be seen. Drawn with red paint, the drawings are estimated to
be older than 5,000 years. |
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