The Candle Festival                                           Poang Lang
   Held on Khao Phansa Day( beginning of the Buddhist Rain Retreat in July ) at the Toong sri
   Muang ground. Wax Candles fashioned in artisticstyles are displayed in various temples at
   night huge candles are on display around Toong sri Muang. The following morning the colorful
   Wax Candle Procession is held.
  
   Pha Taem National Park       Pha Dong Na Tam forset  
   The 212,500 Rai Pha Taem National Park coversareas in Khong Chiam, Si Muang Mai and
   Pho Sai districts bordering on Laos with the Mekhong River as demarcation line. To reach
   the park headquarters, at the Pha Taem area, Ban Nong Phue Noi, Khong Chiam district,
   about 19 kms. from the district town,take Highway #217 from the provincial town to Phibun
   Mangsahan district, then turn on to Highway #222 to Khong Chiam.
   
   Wat Toong Si Muang
   Located on Luang Road, Wat Toong Si Muang was built during the reign of King Rama lll
   by Chao Ariyawongsajan, then the head of the provincial clergy. As he had once attended
   religious studies at Wat Saket in Bangkok, he took back with him a replica of the Holy
   Footprint and enshrine it at a hall built speacially to house it.The hall today serves as the
   Ubosot, the convocation hall, and is of the early Rattanakosin style combined with Vientianne
   influence. Each wall is adorned with murals which were painted at the same time as the construction.
   Another important structure in thetemple is the Scripture hall. A woodenbuilding,
   it is sited in center of a pond to prevent ants or termites to get at the scripture.
   Of Thai-Burmese-Laotian style, the actual building is of Thai appearance divided in to four sections.
   Within the chamber housing the scripture cabinets, each side is painted gold
   and lacquer.The roof are of a combined Thai-Burmese art with Choh Fah Bai Raka traditional
   decorative pieces. The over-lapping roofs refect Burmese architectural style transmitted
   through Laotian Lan Xang art.The patterns and carving over the two gables are of high Laotian
   style,displaying the different animal signs according to traditional astrology as well as various
   designs based on plantlife.
   
   Handicraft of Ban Pa-Ao villages
   The 200 yearold brassware villages of Ban Pa-Ao is located at TambonNong Khon, Muang
   district, about 21 kms. from the provincial town of Ubonratchatani along Highway #23
   including a three khm. stretch of side-road leading to the hamlet. In addition to weaving, the
   village also produces brass utensils for daily usage and as souvenirs employing the so-called,
   original Lost Waxing method.
  
    Wat Nong Pa Pong
    Located in Tambon Noan Noan, Varin-Chamrab district, about 8 kms. from the provincial
    town on Highway #2178 towards Kantrarak district. With a total area of over 186 Rai, it was
    once an abandoned temple and served as a cemetary. The terrain in genneral is wetlands
    oversgrown with reeds in 2497 B.E.(1954), the highly venerated monk Luang Pu Cha initiated
    a project to turn it into a site suitable for meditation sessions and a monk's residence was
    established which later became a monastery. The atmosphere is serene and tranquil inducive
    to the practice of meditation. An interesting structure is the Phra Photiyan Museum housing
    the spartan personal articles of use and Luang Pu Cha's wax figure. Another is Chedi Si
    Photiyan where his royally-sponsored cremation took place.
    Wat Pa Nanachat
    Wat Pa Nanachat, meaning the international Temple in the Forest, is located at Ban Boong
    Wai, Tambon Boong Wai of Varinchamrab district, about 14 kms. from town on Highway
    #226 towards Si Saket. Sereral foreign monks are usually in residence to study Budhist
    teaching and meditation.Most of them speak fluent Thai and capable of delivering sermons in
    Pali. Strict in their observance of the Dharma, they are respected by all Thai Buddhists.
    
    Chong Mek Point-Gateway to Indochina
    About 90 kms. from the provincial town along Highway #217 in Sirinthon district. Chong Mek
    is a permanent crossing-point between Thailand and Laos,leading to Champasak province
    which is a major desiination in Southern Laos.Apart from being the locations of various official
    offices, it is also an extensive border market with duty-free facilities with in Laotian territory
    accessible to tourists.
         Among the major attractions in Champasak province are the town of Pak Se, the capital
    province. Champasak, the former capital of the province which in itself is an old community;
    the Prasat Hin Wat Phu, an ancient Khmer temple; the Si Than Don confluence where the
    Mekhong River extends to a width of 7 kms. creating large number of isles and rapids and
    probably the most interesting are the Li Phi and Khon Phapheng waterfalls.
         Foreigners entering Laos at Chong Mek require a Laotian entry visa. Thaiscan use border
    Passes which could be issued within three days by the Ubonratchatani provincial adminis-
    trative office.