The Wat Phra That Phanom is one of the most highly revered Buddhist temples of North East Thailand. Its most important structure is a 57 meter tall elegant Laotian style chedi, painted gold and adorned with golden ornaments; its top contains 110 kilos of pure gold. The chedi enshrines a chest bone of the Buddha. It is believed that the chedi was first build in the 10th century at height of 8 meters. During later centuries is was rebuild, restored and raised to its current height of 57 meters.
Wat Phra That Renu Nakhon
Another temple worth visiting is the Wat Phra That Renu Nakhon located in Renu Nakhon village. Dominating the area is an elegant 36 meter tall chedi constructed about a century ago in Laotian style. The structure is based on the chedi of the nearby Wat Phra That Phanom. The temple’s ordination hall enshrines a golden Laotian style Buddha image.
Wat Phra That Renu Nakhon at dusk
Phra That Maha Chai
Another highly revered chedi, the Phra That Maha Chai is found on the grounds of the Wat Khosadaram temple. The elegant 37 meter tall white chedi embellished with golden ornamentation is highly revered, since it enshrines relics of the Buddha, placed by His Majesty the King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Her Majesty Queen Sirikit. The viharn enshrines the largest wooden Buddha image in Thailand. The building’s walls are adorned with murals depicting stories from the Jataka tales, the stories about the previous lives of the Buddha.
The Wat Khosadaram is located in Pla Pak district, just South of Highway 22, about 40 kilometers West of Nakhon Phanom town. The grounds are open during daylight hours.
Getting to Nakhon Phanom
Nakhon Phanom is located 740 kilometers North East of Bangkok and can be reached by air, train or bus.
Air
Nakhon Phanom airport is found off Highway 22, about 15 kilometers West of Nakhon Phanom town. Air Asia offers 1 flight daily from Bangkok Don Mueang airport. The flight takes 1 hour and 10 minutes, fares start at around 1,100 Baht one way.
Nok Air offers two flights daily from Bangkok Don Mueang airport. While one flight is direct taking 1 hour and 10 minutes, the other is a fly and ride via Sakhon Nakhon. The last stretch from Sakhon Nakhon to Nakhon Phanom is made by bus, total travel time is 2½ hours. Fares start at 1,300 Thai Baht one way. For more information, visit the Nok Air website.
Train
There is no railway in Nakhon Phanom. The nearest train stations are Udon Thaniand Khon Kaen.
Bus
Ordinary and air con busses to Nakhon Phanom leave from Bangkok’s North Eastern bus terminal Mo Chit II on Kamphaeng Phet 2 road. The trip takes around 11 hours, fares vary between 350 and 900 Thai Baht, depending on the type of service.