Ubon Ratchathani

History

The city was founded in the late 18th century by Thao Kham Phong, a descendant of Phra Wo and Phra Ta, who escaped from King Siribunsan of Vientiane into the Siam Kingdom during the reign of King Taksin the Great. Later, Thao Kham Phong was appointed to be "" (Thai: พระประทุมวงศา) and the first ruler of Ubon Ratchathani. In 1792, Ubon Ratchathani became a province and was also the administrative center of the Isan monthon. Until 1972, Ubon Ratchathani was the largest province of Thailand by area. Yasothon Province was split off from Ubon Ratchathani Province in 1972, followed by Amnat Charoen Province in 1993. Ubon Ratchathani Province now ranks fifth in the area. The city was attacked by French forces during the 1940 Franco-Thai War. Ubon grew extensively during World War II when Japanese forces brought in prisoners of war by rail from Kanchanaburi, the survivors of the Burma Railway. One legacy of this is a monument in the city's central Thung Si Mueang Park, erected in August 1945 by British prisoners of war in gratitude to the citizens of Ubon Ratchathani for assisting them. During the Vietnam War, the United States armed forces constructed the Ubon Royal Thai Air Force Base, which is now also a dual-use commercial airport. Some of the city's religious buildings show the influence of Laotian architecture. The city has branches of the National Archives of Thailand and the National Museum of Thailand. The world-famous meditation teacher Ajahn Chah, teacher of Ajahn Sumedho, was born in Ubon Ratchathani.

Geography

Ubon Ratchathani sits at an elevation of , approximately from Bangkok. The city lies on the north bank of the Mun River, while the suburb of Warin Chamrap, often referred to as Warin, spans the south bank and forms part of the urban area.

Most-observed species

• Common Myna

  Acridotheres tristis (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  69
• Rock Pigeon

  Columba livia J.F.Gmelin, 1789 · Aves
  62
• Zebra Dove

  Geopelia striata (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  62
• Green Bee-eater

  Merops orientalis Latham, 1801 · Aves
  61
• Great Myna

  Acridotheres grandis Moore, 1858 · Aves
  59
• Brahminy Kite

  Haliastur indus (Boddaert, 1783) · Aves
  49
• Ashy Woodswallow

  Artamus fuscus Vieillot, 1817 · Aves
  45
• Greater Coucal

  Centropus sinensis (Stephens, 1815) · Aves
  43