Two discovered sandstone images, a laterite sanctuary, and a square, tent-like form: Gū Mahathat shows just how tangible Maha Sarakham’s archaeological heritage can be. The monument, also known as Prang Ku Ban Khwa, is located in Ban Khwa, Tambon Khwa, Amphoe Mueang Maha Sarakham. The province is considered an important archaeological region; its discoveries range from Khmer architecture to artifacts from the Dvaravati period.
Sanctuaries and historical finds
GĹ« Mahathat is an example of Khmer art in the Bayon style. One of the two significant sandstone images discovered there is Bhaisajyaguru, the Medicine Buddha. The name offers a thematic clue, while the materials and form define the structure itself: laterite, a square ground plan, and its tent-like shape make it a distinctive archaeological monument.
Gū Santrarat is also a laterite sanctuary in the Bayon style, though its architectural layout is different. The entrance faces east, and the complex includes a library building. Gū Santrarat is located in the subdistrict of the same name, Amphoe Na Dun. Its construction is attributed to the reign of Jayavarman VII or dated approximately to the years 1700–1750 in the Buddhist Era.
Phra Borommathat Na Dun in Ban Na Dun, Amphoe Na Dun, offers a different chronology. The reliquary shrine associated with the complex is dated to the Dvaravati period: approximately the 13th to 15th Buddhist centuries, or around 1000–1200 in the Buddhist Era. The grounds include the Champasri Cultural Museum, an arboretum, and a medicinal plant garden. The Nakhon Champasri Museum in Tambon Phra That complements this view of the past with a collection and exhibition of archaeological objects and works of art.
You can encounter other distinctive forms at Wat Nong Hu Ling in Ban Nong Hu Ling, Amphoe Kae Dam. Its intricately designed ubosot is built in the shape of an Anantanakarat and is considered Thailand’s first “boat temple.” Visitors can view the structure; it measures approximately 20 meters wide, 40 meters long, and 30 meters high. At the standing Buddha of Wat Phra Yuen Kantharawichai, the focus is on its material and setting: the red sandstone image dates from the Dvaravati period. The grounds are surrounded by stone sema markers from that period, arranged in two rows and in all eight directions.
Reservoir, forest, and seasonal nature
At the Nong Kae Dam reservoir, the more than 100-year-old Kae Dam Wooden Bridge serves a practical purpose while also being a tourist attraction and photo spot: it is used to cross the reservoir. The bridge is at Wat Dao Dueng in Amphoe Kae Dam. The reservoir itself is a natural attraction, with fish breeding grounds and aquatic biodiversity. Ducks from Siberia stay there in winter—a seasonal feature that adds to the character of the area at that time of year.
Kaeng Loeng Chan offers a different view of the landscape. The site includes an extensive health garden, a recreation area by the reservoir, and spaces for exercise. Visitors can also tour the freshwater fish station there and visit it for study purposes. For directions, Kaeng Loeng Chan is on the ring road between the turnoff to Amphoe Kosum Phisai and the turnoff to Amphoe Borabue; the site borders the Maha Sarakham City Municipality.
More than 800 macaques live in Kosamphi Forest Park, a mixed forest covering about 125 rai along the Chi River. The golden-furred macaques found there are considered the only ones of their kind in the Asia-Pacific region. The park’s annual calendar includes Bun Pha Khao Ling: held every year on April 1 or 2, the tradition invites residents and the general public to bring food for the monkeys. This distinguishes the forest area’s permanent wildlife from an annual recurring event. Dun Lamphan, in turn, is a nationally significant wetland in Ban Na Chueak, Amphoe Na Chueak.
Handicrafts offer another way to explore
Maha Sarakham’s attractions are not limited to buildings and landscapes. Ban Nong Kheun Chang in Tambon Tha Song Khon is a weaving learning center that is regularly visited by study groups. Silk, cotton, and Mudmee textiles are made there. This adds a handicraft dimension to the archaeological sites and natural attractions: weaving can be understood here through the specific materials and products.
Places to explore further: Na Chuak, Ku Thong, Yang Sisurat District, Talat, Kham Riang.
Discover more destinations: Chiang Mai, Krabi, Surat Thani.
Return to the main travel overview: Thailand.
