Phu Phra Bat Historical Park

Phu Phra Bat Historical Park is located in Ban Phue District in the province of Udon Thani, in north-eastern Thailand. The park is placed on a wooded hill with natural caves on great rocky cliffs. The caves and its unusual rock formations were used by ancient man as shelter and as temples. Some rock formations feature prehistoric rock paintings. Many of the rock formations have ancient Buddha images and served as ancient Wats. The park's peculiarity that makes this place unique is that it contains traces of different civilizations and cultures spanning thousands of years different. The hill contains traces of prehistoric, Dvaravati and Khmer period. Some prehistoric art paintings can best be seen, where caves or rocks have formed a natural shelter, others have faded considerably during many centuries by wind and rain. Paintings named Tham Wua and Tham Khon are particularly well preserved, in first oxen are depicted, the latter has human figures. Some park's rock paintings are believed to date from 6,000 years ago. The prehistoric cave paintings, drawn in red, show that prehistoric man was walking in these areas, to hunt or to seek refuge, since the sandstone, that makes up the rock formations, was also easy to dig. During the dawn of Buddhism the caves were used by monks during their travels to spread the new religious doctrine, both as shelter and as ancient temples, embellish it with numerous images of Buddha. Testimonials of the Dvaravati period are the boundary pillars with depictions of Apsara, female spirits of ancient Hindu mythology, were used here to mark the sacred area of the temples Dvaravati, 1200 years ago. Park contains a total of 68 historic and prehistoric structures, most of whom are Buddhist temples. Iside the more recent Wat Phra Putthabaht Bua Bok there is a Lao-style chedi that keeps a room where is located a footprint of the Buddha on a sandstone rock. In the park there are many paths that lead to rock formations, with a number of scenic views of the surrounding area. At the visitor centre you can get information on hiking trails on foot through the park.
Admission fee & Opening hours: Park is open daily from 8 am until 6 pm. Admission fee is 100 THB.
Getting there: Historical Park is located on a hill about 65 Km north-west of Udon Thani, not so far from the border with Laos. Udon Thani can be reached by plane, bus, train or private car. Currently Thai Airways, Nok Air and Thai AirAsia operate flights from this airport, with links to Suvarnabhumi and Don Muang Airport in Bangkok as well as other major Thai airports. Busses to Udon Thani from Bangkok leave from the Northern Mo Chit Terminal, with departures every 20 minutes, the trip takes about 8 hours and the ticket costs from 450 to 600 THB, depending on the class. Trains to Udon Thani from Bangkok depart from the Hua Lamphong Station, are less frequent of buses, four per day, employing more time, and the cost is similar for 2nd seat class, more expensive for the classes with bunks for sleeping. The Park cannot be reached directly by public transport from Udon Thani. There are minibus to Ban Phue from Rangsina Market with hourly departures from 06:00, and then you have to hire a tuk-tuk in Ban Phue for a round trip to the Park, about 16 Km away, for 300-500 THB. An other option is rent a car, or a motorbike, in Udon Thani.
Path Bangkok - Udon Thani - Phu Phra Bat Historical Park: To reach Udon Thani by car from Bangkok follow the Highway 1 until Saraburi, about 98 Km. At Saraburi turn right into Highway 2, Thanon Mittraphap, that leading direct to Udon Thani, passing from Nakhon Ratchasima and Khon Kaen. The distance from Bangkok is about 542 Km. To reach Phu Phra Bat Historical Park from Udon Thani you have to follow at first the Highway 2 towards Nong Khai, after 15 Km turn left on Highway 2021 that leads direct to the hill where there Phu Phra Bat is located, about 65 Km from Udon Thani.Read More