Ubonratchathani
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Ubon Ratchathani (, ) is one of the four main cities in Thailand's
Isan Northeast Thailand or Isan (Isan language, Isan/, ; ; also written as Isaan, Isarn, Issarn, Issan, Esan, or Esarn; from Pāli ''isāna'' or Sanskrit ईशान्य ''īśānya'' "northeast") consists of 20 provinces in northeastern Thai ...
region, alongside
Nakhon Ratchasima Nakhon Ratchasima (, ) is the capital of Nakhon Ratchasima province, the largest city in Isan, Northeastern Thailand and the List of municipalities in Thailand#Largest cities by urban population, third-largest city in Thailand. It is 250 km (1 ...
(Khorat),
Udon Thani Udon Thani (, ) is a city in Isan ( Northeast Thailand), the capital of Udon Thani Province and the sixth largest city in Thailand. The city municipality (''thesaban nakhon'' / city proper) had a population of 130,531 people as of 2019, while Ud ...
, and
Khon Kaen Khon Kaen (, ) is the capital of Khon Kaen province and the List of municipalities in Thailand#Largest cities by urban population, fourth-largest city in Thailand. It is one of the four major cities of Isan, Northeast Thailand, also known as the ...
, collectively known as the "big four of Isan." Located on the 
Mun River The Mun River (, , ; , ), sometimes spelled ''Moon River'', is a tributary of the Mekong River. It carries approximately of water per year. Geography The river begins in the Khao Yai National Park area of the Sankamphaeng Range, near Nakhon R ...
in the southeastern Isan, Ubon Ratchathani sits about from
Bangkok Bangkok, officially known in Thai language, Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon and colloquially as Krung Thep, is the capital and most populous city of Thailand. The city occupies in the Chao Phraya River delta in central Thailand and has an estim ...
. 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 Vientiane (, ) is the capital city, capital and largest city of Laos. Situated on the banks of the Mekong, Mekong River at the Thailand, Thai border, it comprises the five urban districts of Vientiane Prefecture and had a population of 840,000 ...
into the Siam Kingdom during the reign of King
Taksin King Taksin the Great (, , ) or the King of Thonburi (, ; ; Teochew: Dên Chao; 17 April 1734 – 7 April 1782) was the only king of the Thonburi Kingdom that ruled Thailand from 1767 to 1782. He had been an aristocrat in the Ayutthaya Kingdom ...
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 A province is an administrative division within a country or sovereign state, state. The term derives from the ancient Roman , which was the major territorial and administrative unit of the Roman Empire, Roman Empire's territorial possessions ou ...
and was also the administrative center of the Isan
monthon ''Monthon'' (), also known as ''Monthon Thesaphiban'' (; Mṇṯhl Theṣ̄āp̣hibāl; , ), were Administrative divisions of Thailand, administrative subdivisions of Thailand at the beginning of the 20th century. The Thai word ''monthon'' is a tr ...
. 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 Amnat Charoen (, ; , ) is one of Thailand's seventy-six Provinces of Thailand, provinces (''changwat'') and lies Isan#Administrative divisions, central northeastern Thailand, also called Isan. Neighbouring provinces are (clockwise from the south ...
in 1993. Ubon Ratchathani Province now ranks fifth in the area. The city was attacked by French forces during the 1940
Franco-Thai War The Franco-Thai War (October 1940 – 28 January 1941, ; ) was fought between Thailand and Vichy France over certain areas of French Indochina. Negotiations shortly before World War II had shown that the French government was willing to alter th ...
. Ubon grew extensively during
World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
when
Japan Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asia, Asian mainland, it is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea ...
ese forces brought in
prisoners of war A prisoner of war (POW) is a person held captive by a belligerent power during or immediately after an armed conflict. The earliest recorded usage of the phrase "prisoner of war" dates back to 1610. Belligerents hold prisoners of war for a ...
by rail from
Kanchanaburi Kanchanaburi (, ) is a town municipality ('' thesaban mueang'') in Kanchanaburi Province, Thailand. The town of lies to the southeast of Erawan National Park within Kanchanaburi Province, approximately 120km west of Bangkok. In 2006 it had a po ...
, the survivors of the
Burma Railway The Burma Railway, also known as the Siam–Burma Railway, Thai–Burma Railway and similar names, or as the Death Railway, is a railway between Ban Pong, Thailand, and Thanbyuzayat, Burma (now called Myanmar). It was built from 1940 to 1943 ...
. One legacy of this is a monument in the city's central Thung Si Mueang Park, erected by
British British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. * British national identity, the characteristics of British people and culture ...
prisoners of war in gratitude to the citizens of Ubon Ratchathani for assisting them. During the
Vietnam War The Vietnam War (1 November 1955 – 30 April 1975) was an armed conflict in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia fought between North Vietnam (Democratic Republic of Vietnam) and South Vietnam (Republic of Vietnam) and their allies. North Vietnam w ...
, the
United States armed forces The United States Armed Forces are the Military, military forces of the United States. U.S. United States Code, federal law names six armed forces: the United States Army, Army, United States Marine Corps, Marine Corps, United States Navy, Na ...
constructed the
Ubon Royal Thai Air Force Base Ubon Royal Thai Air Force Base is a Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) facility located near the city of Ubon Ratchathani, in Ubon Ratchathani Province. It is approximately 488 km (303 miles) northeast of Bangkok. The Laos border is about dire ...
, which is now also a dual-use
commercial airport An airport is an aerodrome with extended facilities, mostly for commercial Aviation, air transport. They usually consist of a landing area, which comprises an aerially accessible open space including at least one operationally active surf ...
. Some of the city's religious buildings show the influence of Laotian architecture. The city has branches of the
National Archives of Thailand The National Archives of Thailand (NAT) (; ) is a Thai government agency under the Fine Arts Department of the Ministry of Culture. It was established in 1916 (B.E.2459) as a section of the National Library of Thailand. It officially became the ...
and the National Museum of Thailand. The world-famous meditation teacher
Ajahn Chah Ajahn Chah (17 June 191816 January 1992) was a Thai Buddhist monk. He was an influential teacher of the ''Buddhadhamma'' and a founder of two major monasteries in the Thai Forest Tradition. Respected and loved in his own country as a man of g ...
, teacher of
Ajahn Sumedho Ajahn Sumedho (born Robert Karr Jackman on July 27, 1934) is an American Buddhist monk. He was ordained in 1967, and was instrumental in establishing Wat Pa Nanachat in Thailand and the Cittaviveka and Amaravati monasteries in England. One of ...
, 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 The Mun River (, , ; , ), sometimes spelled ''Moon River'', is a tributary of the Mekong River. It carries approximately of water per year. Geography The river begins in the Khao Yai National Park area of the Sankamphaeng Range, near Nakhon R ...
, while the suburb of
Warin Chamrap Warin () is a town in the Nordwestmecklenburg district, in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Germany. It is situated 19 km southeast of Wismar. Warin is a small town with a population of under 4,000 persons. Warin is situated 104 km from ...
, 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 Tropical savanna climate or tropical wet and dry climate is a tropical climate sub-type that corresponds to the Köppen climate classification categories ''Aw'' (for a dry "winter") and ''As'' (for a dry "summer"). The driest month has less than ...
(
Köppen climate classification The Köppen climate classification divides Earth climates into five main climate groups, with each group being divided based on patterns of seasonal precipitation and temperature. The five main groups are ''A'' (tropical), ''B'' (arid), ''C'' (te ...
''Aw''). Winters are dry and very warm. Temperatures rise until April with an average daily maximum of . The
monsoon A monsoon () is traditionally a seasonal reversing wind accompanied by corresponding changes in precipitation but is now used to describe seasonal changes in Atmosphere of Earth, atmospheric circulation and precipitation associated with annu ...
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 Buddhism, also known as Buddhadharma and Dharmavinaya, is an Indian religion and philosophical tradition based on teachings attributed to the Buddha, a wandering teacher who lived in the 6th or 5th century BCE. It is the world's fourth ...
, 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 Wat Nong Pah Pong (; generally shortened to Wat Pah Pong) is a Theravāda Buddhist monastery in Warin Chamrap, Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand. It was established by the late Ajahn Chah as the main monastery of the Thai Forest Tradition. Internati ...
, for example, is a Buddhist forest monastery in the
Thai Forest Tradition The Kammaṭṭhāna Forest Tradition of Thailand (from meaning Kammaṭṭhāna, "place of work"), commonly known in the West as the Thai Forest Tradition, is a Parampara, lineage of Theravada Buddhist monasticism. The Thai Forest Traditi ...
, which was established by Venerable
Ajahn Chah Ajahn Chah (17 June 191816 January 1992) was a Thai Buddhist monk. He was an influential teacher of the ''Buddhadhamma'' and a founder of two major monasteries in the Thai Forest Tradition. Respected and loved in his own country as a man of g ...
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 Big C, operated by Big C Supercenter Public Company Limited under Big C Retail Corporation Public Company Limited, is a grocery and general merchandising retailer headquartered in Bangkok, Thailand. In 2016, Big C was Thailand's second-largest hy ...
mall, featuring a chedi modelled on
Bodh Gaya Bodh Gayā is a religious site and place of pilgrimage associated with the Mahabodhi Temple complex, situated in the Gaya district in the Indian States and union territories of India, state of Bihar. It is famous for being the place where Gautam ...
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 Ubon Ratchathani University (UBU) ( ) was established as a campus of Khon Kaen University, Thailand, in 1987. It gained independent university status in 1990. ] History Ubon Ratchathani University (UBU) was founded in 1987 as a regional cam ...
, is a rural campus south of the city, but accessible by two
songthaew A songthaew (, , ; , ; ) is a passenger vehicle in Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar adapted from a pick-up or a larger truck and used as a share taxi or bus. Overview The songthaew takes its name from the two bench seats fixed along eith ...
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 Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University (STOU; , ; ''Sukhothai Thammathirat University'') is the only open university in Thailand. History Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University was officially established by royal charter on 5 September 1978 as T ...
, 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 Ubon Ratchathani Airport is in Tambon Nai Mueang, Amphoe Mueang Ubon Ratchathani, Ubon Ratchathani province in Northeastern Thailand. It currently serves as both a commercial airport and as a Royal Thai Air Force base. History The airport wa ...
(IATA: UBP) is also an active
Royal Thai Air Force The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) (; ) is the air force of the Kingdom of Thailand. Since its establishment in 1913 as one of the earliest air forces of Asia, the Royal Thai Air Force has engaged in numerous major and minor conflicts. During the ...
(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 (Hua Lamphong) railway station (, ) is a railway station in Pathum Wan, the former central passenger terminal in Bangkok and the former railway hub of Thailand. It is in the center of the city in the Pathum Wan district, and is operat ...
, Bangkok's central station, is in
Warin Chamrap Warin () is a town in the Nordwestmecklenburg district, in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Germany. It is situated 19 km southeast of Wismar. Warin is a small town with a population of under 4,000 persons. Warin is situated 104 km from ...
. 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 is a professional association football, footballer who plays as a Forward (association football), forward for National Women's Soccer League club Utah Royals and the Japan women's national football team, Japan national team. She has previousl ...
(born 1994), Japanese footballer


Gallery

File:Watnongbua1.jpg, Chedi, Wat Nong Bua File:Tungsrimuanglibrary.jpg,
Library A library is a collection of Book, books, and possibly other Document, materials and Media (communication), media, that is accessible for use by its members and members of allied institutions. Libraries provide physical (hard copies) or electron ...
, 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 Chulalongkorn (20 September 1853 – 23 October 1910), posthumously honoured as King Chulalongkorn the Great, was the fifth Monarchy of Thailand, king of Siam from the Chakri dynasty, titled Rama V. Chulalongkorn's reign from 1868 until his ...
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

* * {{Authority control Isan Populated places in Ubon Ratchathani province