Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s visit to Thailand-Day 1
Udon Thani, or Udon for short, is an important regional hub that connects northeastern Thailand with the rest of the country as well as neighbouring Laos. Once a far-flung, sleepy provincial town, Udon sprang into action when the Thai and US governments built a joint-force military base there during the Vietnam War, bringing a large influx of GIs and Vietnamese immigrants to the city, thus creating a multi-culturally diverse base which lasts until today. Besides its military past, Udon is home to one of the world’s earliest bronze-age civilizations, at Ban Chiang. Archaeological evidence – earthenware pottery and bronze fragments – unearthed here suggest that the prehistoric settlements existed between 2100BC and 200AD. Other ancient structures and artifacts are also found inside Phu Phra Baht Historical Park. Here, rising amidst a vast sandstone mountain are peculiar rock formations, as well as dinosaur foot prints, cave paintings and Buddhist structures. Udon is approximately 560km from Bangkok. The urban centre, Udon City, is home to a large concentration of expats, some of whom settled down here after the war. Udon’s dining and nightlife scene is, therefore, culturally diverse and offers good choices.
What to Do in Udon Thani
Besides being a major transport hub in the northeast, Udon is also home to the well-known archaeological site at Ban Chiang (55km from the city), where prehistoric settlements and earthenware pottery dating between 2100BC and 200AD were unearthed. Equally fascinating is Phu Phra Baht Historical Park (67km from the city), with sandstone caves, caverns, prehistoric cave paintings and peculiar-shaped rocks dotting its beautiful landscape. Phu Foi Lom Eco Park (40km southwest of the city) is ideal for hiking and overnight camping. Inside the city area, Nong Prajak Park is a pleasant recreational space for relaxing, jogging and picnicking. Udon Thani Provincial Museum, housed inside a historic building that once was the royal residence of Queen Rampai Panni (King Rama VII’s princess consort), is a must-visit, for its architectural heritage and collection of exhibits.
