'''Yasothon Province''' is in Isaan.

'''Yasothon''' (?????) is the provincial capital of Yasothon Province.

Understand

Yasothon is the smallest province of lower northeast. It is famed for Rocket Festival. By history, Phra Wor, former minister from Vientiane and his friends, have migrated and settled a community at _gBan Singha Tha_h in 1797. Later, in the year 1814, King Rama II of Rattanakosin has upgraded the community into a Yasothon Town which reports directly to Bangkok with Phra Soonthorn Rajawongsa as the first governor. In 1972, it became Yasothon province after separating from Ubon Ratchathani

Districts

The province comprises 9 amphoe:- Kham Khuean Kaeo; Kho Wang; Kut Chum; Loeng Nok Tha; Maha Chana Chai; Mueang Yasothon; Pa Tio; Sai Mun; Thai Charoen.

'''''Distance from Amphoe Muang to other Amphoes'''''

  • Sai Moon 18 km.
  • Kham Khuen Kaeo 23 km.
  • Pa Tiew 28 km.
  • Kud Chum 37 km.
  • Maha Chana Chai 41 km.
  • Thai Charoen 50 km.
  • Lerng Nok Tha 69 km.
  • Kor Wang 70 km.
  • Cities

  • Yasothon - the provincial capital
  • Other destinations

    Boundary

  • North - Connects to Mukdaharn, Roi-Et, and Nakhon Phanom provinces.
  • South - Connects to Sisaket province.
  • East - Connects to Ubon Ratchathani province.
  • West - Connects to Roi-Et province.
  • Get in

    By car

    Use highway 1 (Pahol Yothin Rd.) and turn right at Saraburi into highway 2 (Mitraphap Rd.). Keep going via Nakhon Ratchasima to Amphoe Pimai, Nong Song Hong and Ban Phai of Khon Kaen. Get into highway 23, travel via Amphoe Boraue, Maha Sarakham, Roi-Et, Amphoe Thawatburi and Seraphume, to Yasothon. This route is 531 km and it takes 7 hours.

    By bus

    Bus and air-conditioning coach leave Northeastern Bus Terminal in Bangkok for Yasothon daily. Fore more information, call Northeastern Bus Terminal, Kamphaengphet 2 Rd., at 0-2936-2852-66.

    By train and plane

    passengers can go to Ubon Ratchathani first, then drive to Yasothon, 99 km away.

    Get around

    Amphoe Muang Yasothon

    '''Phaya Tan Park ????????????????''' (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. ??????????''' Located in Muang Municipality, the Buddhist temple is a sacred icon of Yasothon. The ancient temple houses _gPhra Buddha Boonyarat_h or _gPhra Kaeo Yod Nam Kang_h, Buddha statue in attitude of meditation in Chiang Saen Art style. King Rama III gave this Buddha image to Yasothon_fs first mayor Phra Soonthon Rajawongsa.

    ''Attractions in Wat Maha That include''

  • '''Phra That Yasothon or Phra That Arnon. ???????????? ???? ?????????????''' 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. ?????''' 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. ???????????????????''' 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. ??????????????''' 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. ???????????????''' 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. ?????????????????????????''' Ban Khum Singha Tha, in Muang municipality, is the old area whose name is found in the city_fs history. The area is rich of beautiful old-fashioned buildings which is well preserved, making a nice place to enjoy the cultural rich area.

    Amphoe Pa Tiew

    '''Khit Pillow at Ban Sri Than. ???????????????????????????''' 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.

    Amphoe Lerng Nok Tha

    '''Phu Tham Phra. ????????''' 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.

    Amphoe Kham Khuen Kaeo

    '''Ban Song Puey Archeological Site. ?????????????????????????''' Situated 25 km from Yasothon City, via highway 23 (Yasothon-Kham Khuen Kaeo-Ubon Ratchathani Rd.) and 10 km off the main road on the right. Its significant attractions include

    '''Big Buddha Image. ??????????????''' 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. ??????????????????????????????''' 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. ??????????????????''' 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. ??????????????????''' 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. ???????????????????????''' 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_fs 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 _eSangkha Pura_f. Chenla Kingdom developed into Khmer Empire later and extended its territory into Moon and Chee River Basin during such period.

    '''Ku Chan. ??????''' 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.

    Amphoe Maha Chana Chai

    '''Yasothon Buddha Footprint. ???????????????''' 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.

    Amphoe Sai Moon

    '''Hor Trai, or library of Wat Sra Trinurak. ?????????????????????''' 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.

    Amphoe Thai Chaoren

    '''Wat Song Yae Catholic Church. ????????????????????''' Located in Ban Song Yae, Amphoe Thai Charoen, the Catholic Church is actually called ???????????????????. Father Dechanel is the first rector of the church. The church serves villagers of Ban Nong Song Yae, all of who are Catholics.

    Initially, the church was a tiny hut, and it was rebuilt many times. This is the fourth church built in 1947 by wood contribution by the villagers. Built in Thai traditional style, the country_fs biggest wooden church is 16 metres wide and 57 metres long. It is made of 80,000 wooden roofs, 360 wooden piles in different sizes, floor made from huge pieces of Malabar ironwood and jamba timber, wooden benches which can accommodate over a thousand people. The 260 wooden piles in the middle row are the biggest, with over 10 metres long. The church bell, 2 feet long in diameters, is in bell tower in Thai style, but it is separated from the church. Huge amount of remaining wood is enough for building Ban Song Yae Pittaya School.

    ''How to get there:'' From Yasothon, use highway 2169, turn left after passing Amphoe Kud Chum for 7-8 km, and keep going for 600 metres. The school and the church share the compound.

    ''History of Ban Song Yae Church'' It was said that in 1908, five families sought a refuge in this area, this was lush jungle, after being hurted and evicted as they were blamed as zombie. They have met Father Dechanel and Ombrocio , Ban Se Song, Tambon Chiang Peng, Amphoe Pa Tiew of Yasothon, and asked them to get rid of devel in their bodies. After the success, they become Catholics. More people migrated to Ban Nong Song Yae. In 1909, a small hut was built for Catholic rites and that was the beginning of Song Yae Church.

    Do

    Golf course

    '''Bodin Decha Base_fs gold 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.

    Buy

    Local products and souvenir

    Yasothon is famed for its handicrafts such as triangle pillow or Mon Kwan, Khit cloth, replica cart, sticky rice container, and basketry. Other good foods include preserved sour fish, royal featherback fish and sweet rice noodle.

    Festival

    '''Rocket Festival. ???????????????????''' The festival of great fun is held during every second weekend of May at Phaya Taen Park, with the initial objective to boost harmony in each team. Yasothon people also believe that the festival will please gods and sacred spirit which create proper rain and prosperous food.

    Each rocket joining the celebration will be decorated beautifully with Thai traditional patterns in gold colour. It is said that rocket maker spends months in cutting the pattern before gluing with the rocket. The rocket head will be decorated differently, but the most popular figure is naga spraying water. Rocket head may be found decorated with other figures, anyway, all are related to rain-begging legends. The rocket will be tightly place on base attached to car or cart for joining the parade.

    There are various types of rocket, namely Bang Fai Kilo, Bang Fai Muen, and Bang Fai Saen. Bang Fai Kilo means the rocket contains a kilogram of niter Bang Fai Muen contains 12 kilograms of niter and Bang Fai Saen contains 120 kilograms of niter After making decision what type of rocket they will make, the villager will make it by themselves or assign a specialist. In making a rocket, it requires veteran specialist who can calculate proper proportion of niter and charcoal, otherwise, the rocket will be explode during the launching. The rockets will be tightly tied with a pile, making from a very strait bamboo trunk at proper length.

    The rocket will be launched in big field a day after the parade. Traditionally, owner of the rocket which is not launched unsuccessfully will be thrown into muddy pond.

    '''Garland Festival. ??????????????????''' The ancient festival of Ban Yardfah, Amphoe Maha Chanachai, is held annually during Makha Pucha Day. Buddhist believes that on that day, the Lord Buddha comes back from the heaven after preaching his mother. Angels welcome him back with flowers and rice. Such belief is turned into tradition when villagers make beautiful garland from rice (The rice will be baked until it pops like popcorn). Today the rice garland, 4-6 metres long, will be decorated with flowers and beads. The garland will be shown on beautiful and unique parade, and used for decorating temple_fs pavilion a day before Makha Pucha. For more information, call Municipality office of Tambon Yardfah, Amphoe Maha Chanachai at 0-4579-9341, 0-4579-9103.

    Itinerary

    '''Recommended tour programmes'''

    '''Programme 1 Yasothon Focus'''

    From Yasothon City, go to Ban Srithan for watching manufacturing process of Khit pillow and enjoy shopping. See replica cart carving and sticky rice container production process at Ban Na Samai. Lunch in Yasothon city, then pay homage to Phra Boonyarat Buddha Image and Phra That Arnon at Wat Maha That. Visit old community of Yasothon at Wat Singha Tha, pay homage to Luang Pu Puang at Wat Sri Dhammarm, visi Phra That Kong Khao Noi, and get back to stay in Yasothon City.

    '''Programme 2 Yasothon, Amnart Charoen, Mukdaharn'''

    From Yasothon City, go to Ban Srithan for watching manufacturing process of Khit pillow and enjoy shopping. Then head for Amphoe Tuatapan, Amnart Charoen, to see local handicrafts at Ban Sang Tor Noi Ar and Crafts Centre. Lunch in Amnart Charoen City, then visit Chitsakon African Marigold Farm, pay homage to Phra Mongkol Ming Muang. Go to Mukdaharn and witness natural rock garden at Phu Pha Terb National Park, enjoy panoramic view of Mukdaharn at Hor Kaeo Mukdaharn. Shop for Indochinese merchandises at the market by Mekong River, enjoy dinner and stay in Mukdaharn City.

    Get out