Amnat Charoen

Amnat Charoen (Thai: อำนาจเจริญ) is in a town, the capital of a Amnat Charoen Province, in the Isaan region of Thailand.

Understand

Although it is a small and tranquil town, Amnat Charoen has various attractions. Visitors to Charoen can view sacred Buddha images, picturesque rice paddies and fruit orchards, rocky rapids of Mekong River in the dry season, and excellent handicrafts, particularly silk.

The people of Amnat Charoen attach their lifestyle to local traditions and festivals that are held throughout the year such as the festival to mark the end of Buddhist Lent, the Rocket Festival, Loy Krathong and Songkran. Moreover, they practice 14 moral precepts such as cleaning their feet before entering a home, donating food to monks, avoiding stepping on a monk's shadow, paying respect to parents, paying homage to Buddha images with flowers, candles, and joss sticks and learning Dhamma every day.

Most people in Amphoe Chanuman are descendants of the Phu Thai ethnic group who migrated from Laos. They specialise in weaving "khit" cloth, preserving its unique patterns. Their traditional musical performance "mor lam" always supports the democratic constitutional monarchy. Amnat Charoen people try to retain the "long khuang" tradition which consisted of teenagers meeting up for communal activities such as weaving or silk spinning accompanied by lively traditional music.

Get in

By car

From Bangkok, head north via Hwy 1, then Hwy 2 to Korat. After that, take Hwy 226, Nakhon Ratchasima-Surin, then Hwy 214, Surin-Suwannaphum. Turn right onto Hwy 202 via Yasothon and Pa Tio to Amnat Charoen. This route is 585 km. Or motorists can take Hwy 1, 2, then Hwy 226, Korat-Ubon Ratchathani, and Hwy 212 to Amnat Charoen. This route is 704 km.

By bus

Scheduled buses and air conditioned coaches leave the Northeastern Bus Terminal, Mo Chit 2, Kamphaeng Phet Rd, for Amnat Charoen daily.

Tourists who travel by plane or train can head for Ubon Ratchathani first, then take bus to Amnat Charoen, 75 km away.

Get around

There is no public transport in Amnat Charoen. Your only choice to get around is a motorcycle taxi.

See

• Buddha Utthayan and Phra Mongkhon Ming Mueang (พุทธอุทยาน และพระมงคลมิ่งเมือง): This base rock area is shaded and contains different kinds of vegetables decorated under the theme of "Buddha Park". Inside the park, a huge northern Indian-style Buddha image, Phra Mongkhon Ming Mueang or Phra Yai, is placed in front of the temple. This Buddha image is now the logo of Amnat Charoen Province.

• Chidsakol Farm (สวนเกษตรชิตสกนต์): Close to Chidsakol Resort, this well-known farm features flowers and plants. Its huge plantation of African marigold always turn the whole field into a bright yellow hue when in full bloom.
• Wat Tham Saeng Phet (วัดถ้ำแสงเพชร): On a spacious sandstone plain, the cave temple features a viharn, a pagoda and a huge reclining Buddha. This cave is named Saeng Phet or "diamond's glitters" due to its glittering rock. Wat Tham Saeng Phet is a meditation centre for those who honour Achan Cha Suphatto, a monk from Wat Nong Pa Phong. Many foreign monks visit it to meditate.
• Mor Lam Village (หมู่บ้านหมอลำ): The cultural attraction of Amnat Charoen, mor lam is a famous traditional musical performance of northeast Thailand. Performances feature dance and traditional music. It is the biggest mor lam village of Thailand with 20 mor lam bands living in the village. The mor lam performance of Ban Pla Khao village was awarded Amnat Charoen’s OTOP (One Tambon One Product).
• Boat Race Festival (ประเพณีการแข่งเรือยาว): is held in October and November each year. The race is a big tournament for boats from Amphoe Khemarat, (Ubon Ratchathani Province), Amphoe Chanuman (Amnat Charoen Province), and Laos. The race takes place on the Mekong River in front of the Amphoe Chanuman office.
• Ban Kham Phra Handicraft Centre (ศูนย์จำหน่ายหัตถกรรมบ้านคำพระ) (Amphoe Hua Taphan). The centre offers various home made handicrafts made by the women of the area. (updated Feb 2016)
• Ban Chang Tho Royal Folk Arts and Craft Training Centre (ศูนย์ศิลปาชีพบ้านสร้าง) (Amphoe Hua Taphan). The centre offers training course on various local crafts such as weaving and gem cutting. The centre here produces world-class gems cutting technicians. (updated Feb 2016)
• Wat Phra Lao Thep Nimit (วัดพระเหลาเทพนิมิตร) (Amphoe Phana). This temple has a Lanna-style chapel which houses the principal Buddha image "Phra Lao Thep Nimit". Built in 1720, the Buddha image, in the form of subduing Mara and decorated with gold leaf, is considered the most beautiful Buddha image of the northeast region. The style mirrors Laotian art from Vientiane which was influenced by Lanna during the 16th-17th centuries. (updated Feb 2016)
• Don Chao Pu Botanical Park (วนอุทยานดอนเจ้าปู่) (Amphoe Phana). The park is home to various wildlife, particularly crab-eating macaques, many of which can be easily spotted. The park houses a sacred shrine as well as a Buddha images showing his birth, enlightenment, the first sermon, and a reclining pose. (updated Feb 2016)
• Phu Sa Dok Bua (ภูสระดอกบัว) (Amphoe Senangkhanikhom). On the mountaintop are 11 stone pools, each a few metres wide. All of them are occupied by different species of colourful lotus plants which normally are found only in swampland. Locals insist that no one planted the lotus and that they occur naturally. So, they named these pools "phu sa dok bua", literally "mountain lotus pool". Nearby is a huge cave which can accommodate hundreds of people. It once served as a stronghold of the Communist Party of Thailand. (updated Feb 2016)
• Mekong River scenery (ทิวทัศน์ริมฝั่งโขง) (Amphoe Chanuman). In front of the Amphoe Chanuman office, a long footpath running side by side with the river allows people to enjoy the view. In the dry season, from February to May, water in the Mekong River is much lower and allows islands such as Kaeng Tanglang and Kaeng Hin Khan to surface. (updated Feb 2016)

Sleep

• Faikid Hotel, 449 Moo 12 Soi Samran Rat, Arun Prasert Rd, Tambon Bung (From Ming Mongkhon intersection, drive towards Yasothon for 1 km then turn left onto Soi Samran Rat. Continue straight about 50 m, Faikid Hotel will be on your right.), ☏ +66 45 511 222. Sixty-one rooms from economy to suites. City centre. Meeting facilities. 450-1,200 baht. (updated Jan 2016)

Go next

• Mukdahan or Ubon Ratchathani if continuing to Laos, or inland to Yasothon.