MUKDAHAN
Mukdahan is the 73rd province of Thailand. Its history dates from thelate Ayutthaya period, over 200 years ago. At first, on the left side ofthe Mekong River, there was a large community called Ban Luang PhonSin located by Phrathat Ing Hang, presently in Savannakhet Provinceof Lao PDR. The community was ruled by Chao Chan Suriyawong.His son was Chao Kinnari. He later built a new town at the mouth ofHuai Muk on the right bank of the Mekong River in 1767. The townwas completed in 1770 and named “Mukdahan” (moonstone or pearl)according to a propitious sign occurring to him while the town wasunder construction. That is why the locals call the town “Mueang Muk”.During the reign of King Taksin the Great, Chao Kinnari was promotedas Phraya Chanthon Si Surat Upparacha Manthaturat to be the firstruler of Mukdahan in 1778.At first, Mukdahan was part of ‘Monthon Udon’ or Udon Circle. In1907, the Circle was dissolved to become a province and Mukdahanwas then an Amphoe of Nakhon Phanom province. It was promotedas Mukdahan province in 1982 as the country’s 73rd province and the17th province of Isan.Actually, Mukdahan is a significant gateway to Indochinese countries.The local people of Mukdahan actually have had a long relationshipwith the people in Savannakhet province of Lao PDR. although theyare apart by the 70 kms. long Mekong River. Mukdahan is home to 8ethnic minorities; namely, Thai Isan, Phu Thai, Thai Kha, Kraso, ThaiKaloeng, Thai Yo, Thai Saek, and Thai Kula. It has abundant naturalbeauty. Mukdahan covers a total area of 4,339.830 sq. kms. It can bedivided into 7 districts; namely, Amphoe Mueang Mukdahan, AmphoeKhamcha-i, Amphoe Don Tan, Amphoe Nikhom Kham Soi, AmphoeDong Luang, Amphoe Wan Yai, and Amphoe Nong Sung.
MUKDAHANThai Term GlossaryAmphoe: DistrictAo: BayBan: VillageHat: BeachKhao: MountainKo: IslandLaem: CapeMaenam: RiverMueang: Town or CityMu Ko: Group of Islands (Archipelago)Namtok: WaterfallPhu: MountainTambon: Sub-districtTham: CaveUbosot or Bot: Ordination hall in a templeWihan: Image hall in a templeWat: TempleNote: English spelling here given tries to approximate Thaipronunciation. Posted signs may be spelled differently. When seekinghelp from a Thai for direction, point to the Thai spellings given aftereach place name.Mukdahan is the 73rd province of Thailand. Its history dates from thelate Ayutthaya period, over 200 years ago. At first, on the left side ofthe Mekong River, there was a large community called Ban Luang PhonSin located by Phrathat Ing Hang, presently in Savannakhet Provinceof Lao PDR. The community was ruled by Chao Chan Suriyawong.His son was Chao Kinnari. He later built a new town at the mouth ofHuai Muk on the right bank of the Mekong River in 1767. The townwas completed in 1770 and named “Mukdahan” (moonstone or pearl)according to a propitious sign occurring to him while the town wasunder construction. That is why the locals call the town “Mueang Muk”.During the reign of King Taksin the Great, Chao Kinnari was promotedas Phraya Chanthon Si Surat Upparacha Manthaturat to be the firstruler of Mukdahan in 1778.At first, Mukdahan was part of ‘Monthon Udon’ or Udon Circle. In1907, the Circle was dissolved to become a province and Mukdahanwas then an Amphoe of Nakhon Phanom province. It was promotedas Mukdahan province in 1982 as the country’s 73rd province and the17th province of Isan.Actually, Mukdahan is a significant gateway to Indochinese countries.The local people of Mukdahan actually have had a long relationshipwith the people in Savannakhet province of Lao PDR. although theyare apart by the 70 kms. long Mekong River. Mukdahan is home to 8ethnic minorities; namely, Thai Isan, Phu Thai, Thai Kha, Kraso, ThaiKaloeng, Thai Yo, Thai Saek, and Thai Kula. It has abundant naturalbeauty. Mukdahan covers a total area of 4,339.830 sq. kms. It can bedivided into 7 districts; namely, Amphoe Mueang Mukdahan, AmphoeKhamcha-i, Amphoe Don Tan, Amphoe Nikhom Kham Soi, AmphoeDong Luang, Amphoe Wan Yai, and Amphoe Nong Sung.BoundariesNorth : Connects to Sakon Nakhon and Nakhon Phanom provinces.South : Connects to Yasothon, Amnat Charoen, and Roi Et provinces.East : Connects to Savannakhet province of Lao PDR. with theMekong River as the border.West : Connects to Kalasin and Roi Et provinces.TransportationBy car: Mukdahan is 642 kms. from Bangkok. Take the route Bangkok -Saraburi - Nakhon Ratchasima - Amphoe Ban Phai - Maha Sarakham -Amphoe Phon Thong - Roi Et - Amphoe Khamcha-i - Mukdahan.Another route is Bangkok - Saraburi - Nakhon Ratchasima on Highway 2.Then turn right into Highway 207 at Ban Wat and go through the routeAmphoe Prathai - Amphoe Phutthaisong - Amphoe PhayakkhaphumPhisai - Amphoe Kaset Wisai - Amphoe Suwannaphum, then useHighway 2169 via Amphoe Sai Mun - Amphoe Kut Chum - AmphoeLoeng Nok Tha, and Highway 212 via Amphoe Nikhom Kham Soi toMukdahan.By bus: The Transport Co., Ltd. operates daily bus services from theBangkok Bus Terminal (Chatuchak or Mo Chit 2), Tel. 0 2936 2852-66. There are also local buses connecting Mukdahan with otherNortheastern provinces like Khon Kaen, Ubon Ratchathani, NakhonPhanom, Sakon Nakhon, Udon Thani, and Maha Sarakham. For moredetails, please contact the Mukdahan Bus Terminal at Tel. 0 4261 1421,0 4261 1478, 0 4261 3025-9 or click www.transport.co.th.By train: Trains leave Bangkok Railway Station or Hua Lamphong forUbon Ratchathani daily. From there, Mukdahan is 167 kms. by bus.For more information, call the State Railway of Thailand at Tel. 1690, 02220 4334, 0 2220 4444 or visit www.railway.co.th.By plane: There is no direct flight to Mukdahan. Passengers canfly to Nakhon Phanom or Ubon Ratchathani, then take a bus toMukdahan. For more information, call THAI at Tel. 0 2356 1111 or visitwww.thaiairways.com, Nok Air at 1318 or visit www.nokair.com, andAir Asia Tel. 0 2515 9999 or visit www.airasia.comDistances from Amphoe Mueang Mukdahanto other districtsAmphoe Nikhom Kham Soi 28 kms.Amphoe Don Tan 33 kms.Amphoe Khamcha-i 35 kms.Amphoe Wan Yai 35 kms.Amphoe Nong Sung 50 kms.Amphoe Dong Luang 55 kms.
Mukdahan is the 73 rd province of Thailand Its history dates from thelate Ayutthaya period over 200 years ago At first on the left side ofthe Mekong River there was large community called Ban Luang PhonSin located by Phrathat Ing Hang presently in Savannakhet Provinceof Lao PDR The community was ruled by Chao Chan Suriyawong .His son was Chao Kinnari He later built new town at the mouth ofHuai Muk on the right bank of the Mekong River in 1767 The townwas completed in 1770 and named “Mukdahan” (moonstone or pearl )according to propitious sign occurring to him while the town wasunder construction That is why the locals call the town “Mueang Muk ”.During the reign of King Taksin the Great Chao Kinnari was promotedas Phraya Chanthon Si Surat Upparacha Manthaturat to be the firstruler of Mukdahan in 1778 .At first Mukdahan was part of ‘Monthon Udon ’ or Udon Circle In 1907 the Circle was dissolved to become province and Mukdahanwas then an Amphoe of Nakhon Phanom province It was promotedas Mukdahan province in 1982 as the country ’s 73 rd province and the 17 th province of Isan .Actually, Mukdahan is significant gateway to Indochinese countries .The local people of Mukdahan actually have had long relationshipwith the people in Savannakhet province of Lao PDR although theyare apart by the 70 kms long Mekong River Mukdahan is home to ethnic minorities namely Thai Isan Phu Thai Thai Kha Kraso ThaiKaloeng Thai Yo Thai Saek and Thai Kula It has abundant naturalbeauty Mukdahan covers total area of 4,339.830 sq kms It can bedivided into districts namely Amphoe Mueang Mukdahan AmphoeKhamcha-i Amphoe Don Tan Amphoe Nikhom Kham Soi AmphoeDong Luang Amphoe Wan Yai and Amphoe Nong Sung MUKDAHANThai Term GlossaryAmphoe DistrictAo BayBan VillageHat BeachKhao MountainKo IslandLaem CapeMaenam RiverMueang Town or CityMu Ko Group of Islands (Archipelago)Namtok: WaterfallPhu MountainTambon Sub-districtTham CaveUbosot or Bot Ordination hall in templeWihan Image hall in templeWat TempleNote English spelling here given tries to approximate Thaipronunciation Posted signs may be spelled differently When seekinghelp from Thai for direction point to the Thai spellings given aftereach place name .Mukdahan is the 73 rd province of Thailand Its history dates from thelate Ayutthaya period over 200 years ago At first on the left side ofthe Mekong River there was large community called Ban Luang PhonSin located by Phrathat Ing Hang presently in Savannakhet Provinceof Lao PDR The community was ruled by Chao Chan Suriyawong .His son was Chao Kinnari He later built new town at the mouth ofHuai Muk on the right bank of the Mekong River in 1767 The townwas completed in 1770 and named “Mukdahan” (moonstone or pearl )according to propitious sign occurring to him while the town wasunder construction That is why the locals call the town “Mueang Muk ”.During the reign of King Taksin the Great Chao Kinnari was promotedas Phraya Chanthon Si Surat Upparacha Manthaturat to be the firstruler of Mukdahan in 1778 .At first Mukdahan was part of ‘Monthon Udon ’ or Udon Circle In 1907 the Circle was dissolved to become province and Mukdahanwas then an Amphoe of Nakhon Phanom province It was promotedas Mukdahan province in 1982 as the country ’s 73 rd province and the 17 th province of Isan .Actually, Mukdahan is significant gateway to Indochinese countries .The local people of Mukdahan actually have had long relationshipwith the people in Savannakhet province of Lao PDR although theyare apart by the 70 kms long Mekong River Mukdahan is home to ethnic minorities namely Thai Isan Phu Thai Thai Kha Kraso ThaiKaloeng Thai Yo Thai Saek and Thai Kula It has abundant naturalbeauty Mukdahan covers total area of 4,339.830 sq kms It can bedivided into districts namely Amphoe Mueang Mukdahan AmphoeKhamcha-i Amphoe Don Tan Amphoe Nikhom Kham Soi AmphoeDong Luang Amphoe Wan Yai and Amphoe Nong Sung .BoundariesNorth Connects to Sakon Nakhon and Nakhon Phanom provinces .South Connects to Yasothon Amnat Charoen and Roi Et provinces .East Connects to Savannakhet province of Lao PDR with theMekong River as the border .West Connects to Kalasin and Roi Et provinces .TransportationBy car Mukdahan is 642 kms from Bangkok Take the route Bangkok -Saraburi Nakhon Ratchasima Amphoe Ban Phai Maha Sarakham -Amphoe Phon Thong Roi Et Amphoe Khamcha-i Mukdahan .Another route is Bangkok Saraburi Nakhon Ratchasima on Highway .Then turn right into Highway 207 at Ban Wat and go through the routeAmphoe Prathai Amphoe Phutthaisong Amphoe PhayakkhaphumPhisai Amphoe Kaset Wisai Amphoe Suwannaphum then useHighway 2169 via Amphoe Sai Mun Amphoe Kut Chum AmphoeLoeng Nok Tha and Highway 212 via Amphoe Nikhom Kham Soi toMukdahan .By bus The Transport Co ., Ltd operates daily bus services from theBangkok Bus Terminal (Chatuchak or Mo Chit ), Tel 2936 2852 66 There are also local buses connecting Mukdahan with otherNortheastern provinces like Khon Kaen Ubon Ratchathani NakhonPhanom Sakon Nakhon Udon Thani and Maha Sarakham For moredetails please contact the Mukdahan Bus Terminal at Tel 4261 1421,0 4261 1478 4261 3025 or click www .transport.co.th.By train Trains leave Bangkok Railway Station or Hua Lamphong forUbon Ratchathani daily From there Mukdahan is 167 kms by bus .For more information call the State Railway of Thailand at Tel 1690 02220 4334 2220 4444 or visit www .railway.co.th.By plane There is no direct flight to Mukdahan Passengers canfly to Nakhon Phanom or Ubon Ratchathani then take bus toMukdahan For more information call THAI at Tel 2356 1111 or visitwww .thaiairways.com, Nok Air at 1318 or visit www .nokair.com, andAir Asia Tel 2515 9999 or visit www .airasia.comDistances from Amphoe Mueang Mukdahanto other districtsAmphoe Nikhom Kham Soi 28 kms .Amphoe Don Tan 33 kms .Amphoe Khamcha-i 35 kms .Amphoe Wan Yai 35 kms .Amphoe Nong Sung 50 kms .Amphoe Dong Luang 55 kms