Amphoe Muang
Chao Mae Song Nang Phi Nong Shrine
Chao Mae Song Nang Phi Nong Shrine is on Samran Chai Khong
Road, next to Mukdahan immigration checkpoint. No records exist
of its origin but it is regarded to be as sacred as the Mung Muang
Shrine. The locals hold a celebration to pay homage to both shrines
in May every year.
Chao Pho Chao Fa Mung Mueang Shrine
Chao Pho Chao Fa Mung Mueang shrine is on Song Nang Sathit
Road. It is here that the city shrine is located. It is believed
that the shrine was built at the same time as the founding of
the city. The people of Mukdahan regard the shrine as a sacred
place that preserves the city’s happiness.
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 Mukdahan’s 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.
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.
Sawannakhet
Sawannakhet Province, Lao People’s 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.
Wat Si Mongkhon Tai
Wat Si Mongkhon Tai is near the immigration checkpoint.
The temple houses an important Buddha image of the province, Phra
Chao Ong Luang, an image built before the city’s founding.
This brick image is 2.2 metres wide and 2 metres high. According
to legend, the first lord of Mukdahan discovered it while he was
overseeing the city’s construction. In addition, another
image made of steel was found under a Bodi tree with only its
top part protruding from the ground.
