Talk:Yasothon/Listings

Phaya Tan Park สวนสาธารณะพญาแถน (Phaya Tan is the God of rain for Isan people. Local rockets will be launched in every May to please Phaya Tan who controls the rain). Located on highway 23 (Chaeng Sanid Rd.) in Muang municipality next to Lamtuan Reservoir, the park is surrounded by winding stream. It comprises beautiful garden, outdoor stage, playground, and health park. Phaya Tan Park is the venue for significant fairs and festivals of the province such as Annual Rocket Festival, Short Boat Racing, and Songkran.

Wat Maha That. วัดมหาธาตุ Located in Muang Municipality, the Buddhist temple is a sacred icon of Yasothon. The ancient temple houses “Phra Buddha Boonyarat” or “Phra Kaeo Yod Nam Kang”, Buddha statue in attitude of meditation in Chiang Saen Art style. King Rama III gave this Buddha image to Yasothon’s first mayor Phra Soonthon Rajawongsa.

Attractions in Wat Maha That include

  • Phra That Yasothon or Phra That Arnon. พระธาตุยโสธร หรือ พระธาตุอานนท์ Located in front of Ubosoth, it is significant ancient stupas of Isan. Housing ashes of Phra Arnon inside, the square base stupa has its head similar to Phra That Phanom. The stupa mirrors Lao art style which was popular from late Ayuthaya period to early Rattanakosin. The city history and a temple record said that the stupa was built around 1778 by Thao Na, Thao Kham Singha, Thao Kham Pha, former officials of Vientiane. By leadership of Phra Wor and Phra Ta, in 1770-1776, they have moved to settle here.

With square base, 81 metres wide on each side, the concrete stupa is narrow at the mid with lotus-shape stucco. On the stupa, four arches placing at four directions house standing Buddha images. The peak is decorated with minor leaves at four directions. With double pyramid-shape crowns lying one above another. The art style is similar to Phra That Kong Khao Noi. Annual celebration is held in March.

  • Hor Trai or Library for Buddhist scriptures. หอไตร The pavilion is used for keeping Buddhist scriptures. Located mid of the pool, northeast of Phra That. Like most in Isan, the rectangular pavilion has terrace around for housing the Buddhist scriptures chest board, cradles, and shelves from Vientiane. The niche and wooden door are well carved and covered with gold leaves. Its walls are decorated with mixed influence from the central region. It is estimated that the pavilion was built over a century ago under the reign of King Rama IV and V of Rattanakosin.
  • Phra That Kong Khao Noi. พระธาตุก่องข้าวน้อย The stupa is located in the rice paddies of Tambon Tadthong, 9 km from Yasothon City via highway 23 (Yasothon-Ubon Ratchathani Rd.), and a kilometer off the main road at km. 194.

Built in the 18th-20th Century or late Ayuthaya period, the stupa in Khmer style is located in compound of Wat Phra That Kong Khao Noi, which once was an only rice paddy in Tambon Tadthong. Different fro most stupas, the cement stupa is

Different from other monuments which are generally concerned with Buddhism, Phra That Kong Khao Noi was built by an ordinary man. A young farmer has been working since dawn. At noon, his mother came late with his lunch. Great hunger and sudden anger to see a tiny amount of rice drove him to kill his mother. When he could not finish all his lunch, he realized his great guilt in making matricide. So, the young farmers built this stupa, wishing for forgiveness and expiate.

Moreover, at Ban Tad Thong, the Fine Arts Department has found artifacts of per-historical man, including skeletons and painted pottery in Ban Chiang style. The department is establishing historical park here.

Ban Thung Nang Oak. บ้านทุ่งนางโอก The village is famed for its bamboo basketry for household use and souvenir. The village is located in Amphoe Muang, 8 km from Yasothon City via highway 2169 (Yasothon-Kud Chum Rd.)

Ban Na Samai. หมู่บ้านนาสะไมย Located close to Ban Thung Nang Oak, the village is famed for bamboo basketry and carved miniature cart.

The old building of Ban Singha Tha. ย่านเมืองเก่าบ้านสิงห์ท่า Ban Khum Singha Tha, in Muang municipality, is the old area whose name is found in the city’s history. The area is rich of beautiful old-fashioned buildings which is well preserved, making a nice place to enjoy the cultural rich area.

Khit Pillow at Ban Sri Than. หมู่บ้านทำหมอนขิตบ้านศรีฐาน The village is famed for Khit Pillow, local style pillow with beautiful patterns. The villags is 20 km from Yasothon City via highway 202 (Yasothon-Pa Tiew-Amnart Charoen Rd.), turn right at km 18-19 and keep going for 3 km. After harvest, most villagers earn extra by producing Khit Pillow. Touist can watch the production process and shop around. Khit pillow is quite popular, and demand for Khit pillow spread to overseas. It is now second biggest income after rice farming.

Phu Tham Phra. ภูถ้ำพระ The cave is situated east of Kud Hae Village, tambon Kud Chiang Mee, 12 km from Amphoe Lerng Nok Tha via highway 212 and 85 km from Yasothon City. Housing lots of Buddha statue, the cave Phu Tham Phra is 6 metres wide and 16 metres long. It can be accessed from southern entrance which is a tunnel link to the north face. The shady mountain is blanketed with lush forest. Other caves in the area include Than Keng, Tham Ngu Suang, Tham Kliang, and Tham Prombutr.

Big Buddha Image. พระพุทธรูปใหญ่ Made of brick, the principle Buddha of Wat Song Puey is 3 metres wide and 8 metres high. This sacred image can be dated back to more than 200 years.

Pagodas containing soil from holy sites of Buddhism. เจดีย์บรรจุดินจากสังเวชนียสถาน The old pagoda, more than 200 years old, was renovated in 1955 by Field Marshal Plaek Pibulsongkram. It houses soil from holy site of Buddha, namely the place of birth, enlightenment, the first sermon, and nirvana, brought from India by a Buddhist monk, Khien Ammaphand.

The replica of Buddha Footprint. รอยพระพุทธบาทจำลอง The footprint was built by sponsoring of Field Marshal Plaek Pibulsongkram and his lady. Lots of local people come to bath the footprint During Songkran Festival.

Antique Museum. พิพิธภัณฑ์ของโบราณ The museum features antiques found from Dong Muang Toey, an ancient Khmer town. The antique include stone bed of the mayor, and stone inscription in ancient Khmer letter.

Dong Muang Toey Ancient town. ซากเมืองโบราณดงเมืองเตย The remaining of ancient town Dong Muang Toey is found a kilometre south of Song Puey Village, 7 km from Amphoe Kham Khuen Kaeo. Foundation of temple, pond, and town wall are found. Altough they are ruined, their remaining indicated that it once was settlement in Chenla-Dhavaravadi period or in the 7th Centiry. Chenla King’s inscription indicated that this ancient site is religious place for Shivism. Dong Muang Toey and nearby community, proably satellite town of Chenla Kingdom, was called ‘Sangkha Pura’. Chenla Kingdom developed into Khmer Empire later and extended its territory into Moon and Chee River Basin during such period.

Ku Chan. กู่จาน Located at Ban Ngew, Tambon Ku Chan, 12 km from Amphoe Kham Khuen Kaeo, KuChan is an ancient pagoda similar to Phra That Phanom. Legend says it has been built in the same period to Phra That Phanom in Nakhon Phanom province.

Yasothon Buddha Footprint. พระพุทธบาทยโสธร Situated in Wat Phra Buddha Bat Yasothon, Ban Nong Yang, Tambon Hua Muang , 6 km from Amphoe Maha Chana Chai, via highway 2083, the Buddha Footprint is placed on white sandy hill. It is considered a sacred antique of the province. An antique found nearby is a two-foot wide laterite Buddha image in the attitude of meditation under naga protection, and a laterite inscription which is a metre high and 50 centimetre wide. An ancient inscription says these three antique were brought from Ayuthaya in the year 835 by two monks, Phra Maha Uta Panya and Phra Sitthi Viharik. The inscription contains also the message honoring Buddha Footprint. However, its letter is very fade now. Lots of Buddhist from nearby area pay homage to the footprint Every March and April.

Hor Trai, or library of Wat Sra Trinurak. หอไตรวัดสระไตรนุรักษ์ Hor Trai is located in Wat Sra Trinurak, Ban Na Wiang, Moo 1, Tambon Na Wiang, 25 km from Yasothon City. The ancient pavilion, over a century old, located amidst pond is housing Buddhist scriptures since ancient time. The Burmese-style wooden architecture is 8.30 metre wide and 10.50 metre long, with 4-level metal-sheet roof and long eaves at all sides. The front door is delicately carved.

Golf

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Bodin Decha Base’s golf course The 9-hole golf course is located in Bodin Decha Military Base, Chaeng Sanid Rd., Tambon Ban Dirt. For more information, call 0-4573-7451, 0-4573-7458.

--(WT-en) globe-trotter 12:47, 6 February 2010 (EST)

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