Ubon Ratchathani

History

The city was founded in the late 18th century by Thao Kham Phong, descendant of Phra Wo and Phra Ta, who escaped from King Siribunsan of Vientiane into Siam Kingdom during the reign of King Taksin the Great. Later Thao Kham Phong was appointed to be "Phra Pathum Wongsa" and the first ruler of Ubon Ratchathani. In 1792 Ubon Ratchathani became a province, and was also the administrative center of the monthon Isan. Until 1972 Ubon Ratchathani was the largest province of Thailand by area. Yasothon Province was split off from Ubon Ratchathani Province in 1972, followed by Amnat Charoen Province in 1993. Ubon Ratchathani Province now ranks fifth in area.

Ubon Ratchathani sits on the north bank of the Mun River. The south bank of the river is occupied by the suburb of Warin Chamrap (Warin for short), which is effectively incorporated into the city.

The city was attacked by French forces in 1940 in retaliation for Thai attacks on French Indochinese towns.

Ubon grew extensively during World War II when Japanese forces brought in prisoners of war by rail from Kanchanaburi. One legacy of this is a monument in the city's central Thung Si Meuang Park erected by British prisoners of war in gratitude to the citizens of Ubon for assisting them. During the Vietnam war, United States armed forces constructed the in-town Ubon Royal Thai Air Force Base, which is now also a dual-use commercial airport.

Lao influence is evident in the architectural structure of some of the city's religious buildings.

The city has branches of the National Archives of Thailand and National Museum of Thailand.

Climate

Ubon Ratchathani has a tropical wet and dry climate (Köppen climate classification Aw). Winters are dry and very warm. Temperatures rise until April, which is very hot with an average daily maximum of 36.4 °C (97.5 °F). The monsoon season runs from late April–October, with heavy rain and somewhat cooler temperatures during the day, although nights remain warm.

Festivals

Ubon is best known for its annual Candle Festival, held in July to mark the beginning of the rainy season retreat for Buddhists, Wan Khao Phansa, also called Buddhist Lent. One day prior, candles are taken to Thung Si Mueang, the central park in the middle of the city, to be decorated and then exhibited in the evening. On the same evening, there are many smaller processions to bring candles to practically all Buddhist temples in Thailand. The main procession in Ubon takes place early the following morning.

Sights and attractions

The province is renowned for its strong Buddhist tradition, particularly the practice of monks dwelling in the forest (Thai: พระธุดงค์ Phra thudong, pilgrimage, lit. "hiking monk"). Wat Nong Pah Pong, for example, is a Buddhist forest monastery in the Thai Forest Tradition, which was established by Venerable Ajahn Chah Subhaddo in 1954. Ajahn Chah's style of teaching and personality had a notable ability to reach people of other nationalities. Many foreigners came to learn from, train under, and be ordained by Ajahn Chah. Wat Pa Nanachat (International Forest Monastery) was then established in 1975. Since that time, Wat Pa Nanachat has become a respected forest monastery. It currently includes under its umbrella over fifty monks representing twenty-three nationalities.

Other Buddhist temples, in and around the city, include Wat Thung Si Mueang (Thai: วัดทุ่งศรีเมือง), in the centre of the city featuring an old wooden library on stilts in a small lake, and Wat Nong Bua near the Big C mall, featuring a chedi (temple) modelled on Bodh Gaya in India.

Another complex, Wat Ban Na Mueang has a concrete three-headed elephant gate (visitors drive in beneath the legs), and contains a temple shaped like a large barge complete with giant concrete oarsmen. Another temple at the rear is shaped like a houseboat, and sits in a lake with catfish to feed.

The Ratchathani Asok community on the south bank of the river has a Buddhist agricultural commune, with restored fishing boats mounted on boulders as houses, and a concrete central hall moulded and painted to look like a giant tree house. They sell various products produced on their farms.

Wat Nong Pah Pong, south of the city, is a pleasant forest temple.

The city is the seat of a Catholic diocese, has a mosque for its Pakistani-descended Muslim population (at the east end of Upalisan Road), and has a gurdwara for its Sikh community (on Ubonkit Road in the central city).

Education

Airport

As well as being a commercial facility, Ubon Ratchathani Airport is also an active Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) base, the home of 2nd Air Division/21st Wing Air Combat Command. During the Vietnam War, US and Australian squadrons were based here. Depending on economic conditions, 2 or 3 carriers operate 3–7 daily flights to Bangkok. As of 2011, Nok Air, Air Asia, and Thai Airways offer flights from Ubon Ratchathani airport.

Bus terminal

The town's main bus station is in the northwest of the city, on the Ring Road (Highway 231), 500 m west of its intersection with Chayangkun Road (Highway 212) outskirts of the city. Nakhonchai Air operates its own private bus terminal on Sathitnimankan Road just north of the Ubon Watsadu warehouse.

Railway terminal

The eastern terminus of the north-eastern railway line from Hua Lamphong Railway Station, Bangkok's central station, is in Warin Chamrap. The railhead reached Warin in April 1930. The terminal station is called Ubon Ratchathani, but is in Warin Chamrap municipality.

Within the city

There are presently (2012) two taxi companies. Tuk-tuks can be found at the main shopping malls and markets, and charge fixed prices to various destinations such as the airport or railway station. Regular public transport is by songthaew, which operate frequently between 06:00 and 18:00, on fixed routes for 10–15 baht per trip. Routes are indicated by numbers and the colour of the vehicle. All routes pass through the centre of Ubon and/or Warin cities. Route 8 is a ring route through Ubon city. No songthaews serve the airport, so airline passengers must use tuk-tuks instead.