Ubon Ratchathani

Ubon Ratchathani (, ) is one of the four main cities in Thailand's Isan region, alongside Nakhon Ratchasima (Khorat), Udon Thani, and Khon Kaen, collectively known as the "big four of Isan." Located on the  Mun River in the southeastern Isan, Ubon Ratchathani sits about from Bangkok. Commonly shortened to Ubon (), the city’s name means "royal lotus city". It serves as the administrative center of Ubon Ratchathani Province.

As of 2006, the urban area of Ubon Ratchathani had a population of about 200,000. This included 85,000 in Thetsaban Nakhon Ubon Ratchathani (Ubon municipality), 30,000 each in Thetsaban Mueang Warin Chamrap (Warin municipality) and Thetsaban Tambon Kham Yai, 24,000 in Thetsaban Tambon Saen Suk, and 10,000 each in Thetsaban Tambon Pathum and Tambon Kham Nam Saep, as well as 6,000 in Thetsaban Tambon Ubon.

History

The city was founded in the late 18th century by Thao Kham Phong, a descendant of Phra Wo and Phra Ta, who escaped from King Siribunsan of Vientiane into the Siam Kingdom during the reign of King Taksin the Great. Later, Thao Kham Phong was appointed to be "" (Thai: พระประทุมวงศา) and the first ruler of Ubon Ratchathani. In 1792, Ubon Ratchathani became a province and was also the administrative center of the Isan monthon. 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 the area.

The city was attacked by French forces during the 1940 Franco-Thai War.

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

Some of the city's religious buildings show the influence of Laotian architecture.

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

The world-famous meditation teacher Ajahn Chah, teacher of Ajahn Sumedho, was born in Ubon Ratchathani.

Geography

Ubon Ratchathani sits at an elevation of , approximately from Bangkok. The city lies on the north bank of the Mun River, while the suburb of Warin Chamrap, often referred to as Warin, spans the south bank and forms part of the urban area.

Climate

Ubon Ratchathani has a tropical wet and dry climate (Köppen climate classification ''Aw''). Winters are dry and very warm. Temperatures rise until April with an average daily maximum of . The monsoon season runs from late April to October, characterized by heavy rain and somewhat cool daytime temperatures, although nights remain warm.

Festivals

Ubon Ratchathani 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; the park is decorated and exhibited in the evening. On the same evening, there are many smaller processions during which candles are carried to practically all Buddhist temples in Thailand. The main procession in Ubon Ratchathani takes place early the next morning. The events are marked by ceremonies and processions in the form of large-scale, colourful parades of magnificent floats with huge, extravagant candlewax sculptures, Thai traditional dance, and music.

Sights and attractions

The province is known for its strong Buddhist tradition, particularly the practice of monks dwelling in the forest ( ''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 established in 1975. It currently has over fifty monks representing twenty-three nationalities.

Other Buddhist temples in and around the city include ''Wat Thung Si Muang'' (), in the center 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 modelled on Bodh Gaya in India.

Education

High schools

There are two major high schools in the central part of Ubon Ratchathani. These two schools are more than 100 years old.

*Benchama Maharacha School (Thai: เบ็ญจะมะมหาราช), which offers an English language stream.
*Narinukun School, which offers an English language stream.
*Ave Maria School.
* Assumption School, on Chayangkun Road, is a private Catholic school.

Higher education

* Ubon Ratchathani University, is a rural campus south of the city, but accessible by two songthaew routes.
* Ubon Ratchathani Rajabhat University, is an upgraded technical college just north of the central city.
*Ratchathani University, a private university with a large campus between the km5 post on the Ring Road and the Mun River.
* Mahachulalongkorn Ratchawitthayalai University is a Bangkok Buddhist university with a small campus on ''Wat Mahawanaram'' in the city, and a new and much larger, but isolated campus in Tambon Krasop, northeast of the Ring Road.
*North Eastern Polytechnic College, with a campus on Chayangkun Road near the Big C Mall.
*Ubon Polytechnic College, with a campus on Chongkonnithan Road west of the city centre.
*Ratchathani Technology Vocational College, north of the Ring Road on Ubon 2 Road.
* Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University, while Bangkok-based, operates the small ''Sun Witthaya Phatthana Ubon Ratchathani centre'' next to the National Archives, a block west of the Ring Road.
*Ubon Ratchathani Technical College is near SK Mall.
*Ubon Ratchathani Vocational College, on Phrommarat Road in the city centre.
*Boromarajonani College of Nursing Sappasithipasong, a block east of Sapphasit Prasong Hospital.

Transportation

Airport

As well as being a commercial facility, Ubon Ratchathani Airport (IATA: UBP) 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.

Bus terminal

The town's main bus station is in the northwest of the city, on the Ring Road (Highway 231), west of its intersection with Chayangkun Road (Highway 212) on the outskirts of the city and close to Big C store. Nakhonchai Air operates its own private bus terminal just across from the main bus station.

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, which is south of Ubon Ratchathani.

Notable people

* Parinya Saenkhammuen (born 1983), footballer
* Mina Tanaka (born 1994), Japanese footballer

Gallery

File:Watnongbua1.jpg, Chedi, Wat Nong Bua
File:Tungsrimuanglibrary.jpg, Library, Thung Si Mueang temple
File:Songthaew1.jpg, Songthaew near Thung Si Mueang
File:Carving candle.jpg, Candle festival
File:CandleFestivalUbon.jpg, Candle Festival, Ubon Ratchathani
File:Statue of Rama V at the old building of Benchama Maharat School, Ubon Ratchathani.jpg, Statue of Rama V at the old building of Benchama Maharat School
File:Wat Sri Ubon Rattanaram.jpg, Wat Sri Ubon Rattanaram
File:Wat Thung Si Muang (Ubon Ratchathani)-1.jpg, Wat Thung Si Mueang

References

External links

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{{Authority control

Isan
Populated places in Ubon Ratchathani province