The rock paintings
Fish and elephants in red.
Ddalbiez — CC BY 3.0 · Nopparat thanatawan — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Nopparat thanatawan — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Nopparat thanatawan — CC BY-SA 4.0 · This Photo was taken by Supanut Arunoprayote. Feel free to use any of my images, but please mention me as the author and may send me a message. (สามารถใช้ภาพได้อิสระ แต่กรุณาใส่เครดิตผู้ถ่ายและอาจส่งข — CC BY 4.0
A long rock cliff above the Mekong at Thailand's far eastern edge, looking across to the hills of Laos and said to be the first place in Thailand the sun rises on. Its face bears prehistoric rock paintings three thousand years old or more, running about a hundred and eighty metres and showing big fish, elephants, people, hands and fish traps in red. Visitors walk a path under the cliff past the painting groups, then climb to the top, where wide flat rocks and scattered trees look down on the river. The park also has the mushroom-shaped rocks of Sao Chaliang, the Cha Na Dai cliff where people gather for sunrise, and waterfalls that flow in the rainy season. The national park fee for foreigners is paid at the gate, so ask the current price. The rocky path is exposed to the sun, so bring water and a hat, and keep away from the cliff edge. Isan is very hot from March to May, so the cool season from November to February suits a visit best. Come for sunrise in the cool season, or in the afternoon and stay for sunset over the river. Pair it with Khong Chiam town, where the brown Mun river meets the Mekong.
Fish and elephants in red.
At Thailand's eastern edge.
Sao Chaliang.
Khong Chiam district, on the Mekong facing Laos, about 95 km east of Ubon
Researchers put them at three thousand years or more, among Thailand's most important prehistoric art sites.