Ubol Ratana Dam
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Isan's first large dam, with a wide reservoir. The dam crest and lakeside restaurants make it a weekend destination.
Ubol Ratana Dam was built in the 1960s. The Ubol Ratana Reservoir, formed by damming the Nam Phong River, is one of the largest artificial lakes in the northeast. Visitors can walk or drive along the dam crest for views. On the west bank of the reservoir is a floating raft restaurant, where locals sit on bamboo rafts on weekends and eat freshwater fish and Isan dishes. Sunset in the evening is especially beautiful. Near the dam area there are small parks and guesthouses. It is open all day, with some time restrictions for crossing the dam crest, and admission is free. It is about 50 km from downtown Khon Kaen, roughly 1 hour by chartered car or self-drive, and can be combined with the Hin Chang Si viewpoint in Nam Phong National Park.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- Hin Chang Si Viewpoint, Nam Phong NP
- Wat Chai Si (Sawathi)
- Phu Wiang National Park
- Khon Kaen Zoo (Khao Suan Kwang)
- King Cobra Village (Ban Khok Sa-Nga)
- Phu Wiang Dinosaur Museum
- Phra That Kham Kaen
- Khon Kaen National Museum