Phraya Phakdi Chumphon (Lae) Monument is located in the district of Mueang Chaiyaphum. It is actually located at Sun Ratchakan Roundabout, which is on the way to the city. The monument was built in 1975 and is dedicated to the first governor of Chaiyaphum. The governor was called Chaopho Phraya Lae by the locals.



        As per historical records, during the reign of King Rama II, in 1817, Nai Lae, who was court official of Chao Anuwong of Vientiane, moved with his family and followers to Ban Nam Khun in Nakhon Ratchasima district after crossing the Mekong River. Thereafter, the community moved to Non Nam Om, around 6 kilometers from the center of Chaiyaphum. Later the community moved once again and this time to a location within present-day Mueang District.


        Here they became subjects of the town of Nakhon Ratchasima and took King Rama III as their lawful king. The community did not consider themselves under the authority of Chao Anuwong of Vientiane. King Rama III, made the town in Chaiyaphum District where the community was living and appointed Khun Phakdi Chumphon (Lae) as the first governor.

        However, Chao Anuwong of Vientiane led an army to attack Nakhon Ratchasima in 1826. This prompted Khun Phakdi Chumphon to join hands with other governors of the neighboring provinces to fight him. The Thai army won but Chao Anuwong was not captured. He later returned to capture Khun Phakdi Chumphon and executed him under a tamarind tree near Pla Thao Swamp.

        To honor the ultimate sacrifice done by Khun Phakdi Chumphon, he was conferred the title Phraya Phakdi Chumphon and a monument was later erected to honor his good deeds and sacrifice.




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Tat Ton National Park : Due to the conditions of the steep and complex mountains, with a slope in the south and a long mountain ridge from Prachin Buri, passing Khao Yai and Chaiyaphum towards Loei, this national park is, therefore, located in a dry area with quite high temperatures. However, the general forest condition is still perfect, and it consists of deciduous dipterocarp forest and dry evergreen forest. The following attractions can be found inside this national park:

Namtok Tat Ton is a beautiful waterfall near the Office of the National Park with water flowing all year but it is particularly magnificent during the rainy season.

Chaopho Tat Ton (Pu Duang) Shrine : It has been told that Pu Duang had Khmer ethnicity and lived in the similar period to Chaopho Phaya Lae. He behaved as a strict lay ascetic who lived a humble life, usually meditating and strictly following the dharma. He also had the knowledge and ability to treat people with herbs. Therefore, he received respect from a large number of people.

Namtok Tat Fa : It is a stone terrace with a width of 15-20 metres, a length of 80-90 metres and a slope of approximately 30 degrees. It is similar to a natural slide board.

Namtok Pha Iang : It is a medium-size waterfall stemming from the Chi Long Stream. It is a cliff leaning (Iang) towards the stream making the water run to one side.

Phu Laen Kha National Park : The geographic condition of this area is a complex mountain range with both dense jungle and timber forest which are the watershed of streams that run into the Chi River.

Pa Hin Ngam Chan Daeng is a large stone terrace with many rocks in bizarre shapes. There are distinguished and unique Chan Daeng (Dracaena Loureiri Gagnep) trees growing on a large boulder.

Phu Khi is the highest summit of the national park where the scenery and surroundings of Phu Yuak, Phu Taphao, the Phu Khiao Range, Kaset Sombun District and Phu Khiao District can be seen.

Phu Kaset is the second highest summit after Phu Khi in this same national park. Geographically, it is cold and dry because of deforestation and shifting cultivation, leaving behind a large abandoned field on the Phu Laen Kha mountain range.

Dok Krachiao Field in Pa Hin Ngam Thung Khlong Chang is a deciduous dipterocarp forest where Krachiao - curcuma - bulbs with pink and white blossoms grow on a rocky terrain together with various types of other plants. There is also a large rock similar to an elephant.

Mo Hin Khao is a plateau of large rocks scattered in strange and rare shapes similar to mushrooms, boats, elephants, turtles and chedis. Moreover, there are large stone columns standing in a line.

Viewpoint of Lan Hin Rong Kla is a large stone plateau with various deep cracks and distinguished cliffs. It is approximately 700 to 800 metres above sea level.

        The Chaopho Phraya Lae Festival is held from the 12th until the 20th of January each year in front of Chaiyaphum City Hall and the Chaopho Phraya Lae Monument Intersection.


        The Chaopho Phraya Lae Worship Ceremony is held at the Nong Pla Thao Shrine on the first Monday of May every year (It lasts for 3 days and 3 nights). The locals will pay respect to Chaopho Phraya Lae’s spirit and perform traditional dances in front of the old shrine. There is a contest of local food, folk sports competition and a "Bai Si" procession contest.


        The Candle Festival is a festival organised by the Chaiyaphum Municipal Office on the full moon day of the 8th lunar month (around July). There is a candle contest. This event is widely popular and similar to the candle procession of Ubon Ratchathani.


        The Ram Phi Fa Tradition is a ceremony worshipping certain sacred objects and the "Phrachao Ong Tue", a Buddha image engraved out of sandstone with a height of 2 metres. The locals consider this Buddha image as very holy.



        Many people will participate in this ceremonial dance. The ceremony is organised twice a year on the 13th to 15th day during the waxing moon of the 5th lunar month (in April) and the first day during the waning moon of the 3rd lunar month within the area of Khao Phu Phra, Ban Na Kai Sao and Na Siao Sub-district in Mueang District.




        The Bun Duean Si Festival is a festival of the people of Khon San, comprising merit-making on the dark moon day of the 4th lunar month (Duean Si) and a "Saba" competition on the 1st to 3rd day of the waxing moon during the 5th lunar month (around March). The Saba competition is challenged for the winner prize creating amusement within the compound of Wat Chedi, Khon San District. It is the only Saba competition performed in Northeastern Thailand.




        The Dok Krachiao Blossom Festival is held at the end of June to July at Pa Hin Ngam National Park, Thep Sathit District. It is during the rainy season when the blossoms of the wild Krachiao flowers - in a purplish pink colour - are widely found in the area. Therefore, this area is known as Dok Krachiao Field. During the festival, there is a nature tour around the national park and local performances.

        Pa Hin Ngam National Park is located on Phang Hoei mountain range comprising undulating hills with a height of 300-846 metres above sea level, covering deciduous dipterocarp forest, dry evergreen forest and mixed deciduous forest, with a diversity of ecology. There are many kinds of wild flowers in the same species of Dusita, En A, and orchids, as well as, various species of wildlife, comprising more than 56 kinds of birds, 21 types of mammals, and 10 categories of reptiles.



Tourist destinations within the national park are as follows:



        Lan Hin Ngam is a location where there are a lot of large rocks in strange shapes scattered in an area of more than 10 rai. It has occurred from the erosion of the soil and rocks into different shapes, which can be imagined as many kinds of objects and animals such as nails, radar, hens, etc.



        Dok Krachiao or Bua Sawan Field Krachiao – a kind of curcuma - is an annual plant in the same species as ginger-galingale, scattered generally from Lan Hin Ngam to the Sut Phaendin viewpoint. It is suitable for travelling during the rainy season from June to August.



        Sut Phaendin is a steep cliff and is the highest point of Phang Hoei mountain range, 2 kilometres from the Office of the National Park and 846 metres above sea level. It is the cliff connecting between the Central and Northeastern regions. At this viewpoint, the panoramic view of a complex mountain range with a cool breeze throughout the day can be admired.

Chaopho Phraya Lae Shrine is near Nong Pla Thao, 4 km. To the west of the Provinctal Hall on Highway No. 205
(Chaiyaphum :Ban Khawao).


To the right is a sacred historical site which is where Chao Pho Phraya Lae was executed by Lao soldiers. Locals built the shrine to honor him and to have the spirit protect the Chaiyaphum and Thai people.Every year, beginning on the first Wednesday of May, a week long festival in his honor is held