Sakon Nakhon

Sakon Nakhon is a Buddhist town with five Buddhist stupas. Its history can be dated back for three thousand years. Legend says that Nongharn town, or presently Sakon Nakhon, was built in 11th century when Khmer ruled this region. When the Khmer lost its power, the town was under the rules of Lanxang or Laotian Kingdom. It was renamed into "Muang Chiang Mai Nongharn". When the town was under Siamese Kingdom, it was renamed again into "Sakon Thavapi". In 1830, during the reign of King Rama III, it was named "Sakon Nakhon".

Sakon Nakhon is in the upper Northeast. It is on the Phu Phan mountain range and has many forest temple retreats for meditation. These temples are also where famous monks well known in meditation circles reside.

Sakon Nakhon is 647 kilometres from Bangkok and has an area of 9,605 square kilometres. Sakon Nakhon consists of the following districts: Muang Sakon Nakhon, Waritchaphum, Kut Bak, Kusuman, Ban Muang, Phanna Nikhom, Sawang Daen Din, Wanon Niwat, Phang Khon, Akat Amnuai, Song Dao, Kham Ta Kla, Tao Ngoi, Khok Si Suphan, Nikhom Nam Un, Charoen Sin, Phon Na Kaeo and Phu Phan.