Chaiyaphum

Chaiyaphum, the City of Phraya Lae the Brave, features many historical monuments from its long and storied history, as well as spectacular natural beauty.

 

Chaiyaphum is a province located at the edge of Isan’s Khorat plateau in the area between the Central and the Northern regions of Thailand, and is therefore roughly half forests and mountains, half plateau. It is a land of beautiful Dok Krachiao (curcuma) fields and abundant waterfalls, especially in the rainy season. Chaiyaphum’s major mountain ranges include Phu Phang Hoei, Phu Laen Kha, and Phu Phaya Fo, the origin of the Chi River.

 

Historically, Chaiyaphum is a place where many periods of civilization have overlapped, including those of the disparate Dvaravati, Khmer, and Lan Xang kingdoms. Consequently, many archaeological remains and objects have been found across the province. In more modern times, Chaiyaphum acted as a border town during the reign of King Narai the Great of the Ayutthaya period.

The town was again abandoned but reappeared in the early Ratanakosin era as a destination where migrants from Vientiane, Loas settled; their leader, called Lae, sided with the Thai’s in a regional uprising and was appointed the first governor of modern-day Chaiyaphum by a grateful King of Thailand.

 

In addition to its storied history, Chaiyaphum Province is famous for its natural beauty, best appreciated in its four national parks: Tat Thon National Park features dry dipterocarp forests, Sai Thong National Park contains the spectacular Sai Thong waterfall, Pa Hin Ngam National Park includes some odd rock formations, and Phu Laen Kha National Park has dense forests, breathtaking waterfalls, and rocky mountain cliffs. Chaiyaphum is a region filled with a variety of exotic flora and fauna and visitors can enjoy jungle trekking, camping, and swimming in its outstanding natural parks.