Loei (Thai: เลย) is one of the most sparsely populated provinces (changwat) of Thailand, located in the North-East of Thailand. Neighboring provinces are (from east clockwise) Nong Khai, Udon Thani, Nongbua Lamphu, Khon Kaen, Phetchabun, Phitsanulok. In the north it borders Xaignabouli and Vientiane Province of Laos.
Loei is a city surrounded by undulating mountain ranges whose summits are covered by foggy lines, abundant with various kinds of flora. The well-known ones are Phu Kradueng, Phu Luang and Phu Ruea.
History
In 1853 king Mongkut (Rama IV) founded the city of Loei to better administer the increased population in the area. In 1907 the province was created.
Administrative divisions
The province is subdivided into 14 districts (amphoe). The districts are further subdivided into 89 subdistricts (tambon) and 839 villages (muban).
1. Mueang Loei
2. Na Duang
3. Chiang Khan
4. Pak Chom
5. Dan Sai
6. Na Haeo
7. Phu Ruea
8. Tha Li
9. Wang Saphung
10. Phu Kradueng
11. Phu Luang
12. Pha Khao
13. Erawan
14. Nong Hin
Tourism
Chaopho Kut Pong Shrine and the City Pillar Shrine (ศาลเจ้าพ่อกุดป่องและศาลหลักเมือง) It is an ancient shrine highly respected among the people. The city pillar was made of the golden shower wood elaborately carved into a lotus shape at its top and gilded with gold leaf on black lacquer with a height of 139 centimetres.
Chaloem Phra Kiat Public Park, Pa Loeng Yai (สวนสาธารณะเฉลิมพระเกียรติฯ ป่าเลิงใหญ่) It is a 2-rai public park by the Loei River. There is a decorative garden with various kinds of flowers and decorative plants.
Office of the Loei Tourism Coordination Centre (อาคารที่ทำการศูนย์ประสานงานการท่องเที่ยวจังหวัดเลย) was previously the City Hall and Mueang Loei District Office. The Loei Provincial Council of Culture collected the King’s chair at this place. Nowadays, the Fine Arts Department has registered it as a national ancient monument for preservation.
Loei Cultural Centre (ศูนย์วัฒนธรรมจังหวัดเลย) It is a two-storey building, collecting and publicising various aspects of information on Loei such as religion, traditions and ways of living. The centre’s building is divided into 3 sections.
Wat Tham Pha Pu or Tham Phiang Din (วัดถ้ำผาปู่ หรือ ถ้ำเพียงดิน), houses the remains of Luangpu Khamdi Paphaso, who discovered this place. The temple is a grand cave within a stone mountain. There are Buddha images enshrined in the cave, as well as, stalagmites and stalactites.
Phu Pha Lom Forest Park (วนอุทยานภูผาล้อม) It is composed of steep limestone mountains with various pointed summits similar to a wall surrounding the virgin forest in the middle. There are various kinds of plants, herbs, sightseeing points, and caves as well as, Bo Nam Sap or Nam Phut, which is a sacred seepage pond.
Upper Huai Nam Man and Huai Krathing Reservoir (อ่างเก็บน้ำห้วยน้ำหมานตอนบนและห้วยกระทิง) is an earth-filled dam with a capacity of 26 million cubic metres, covering an area of 1,500 rai with a crest of 800 metres long. It was constructed for irrigation purposes.
Wat Si Khun Mueang (วัดศรีคุณเมือง) This temple is a collection venue of Lanna and Lan Chang arts presenting at the Ubosot whose roof is in many layers reflecting the Lanna style of art. There are also many objects of art such as a carved Buddha image gilded with gold leaf on black lacquer in the forgiving posture of the Lan Chang style.
Kaeng Khutkhu (แก่งคุดคู้) is a large cataract in the middle of the Mekong River. As it is exactly situated at the curving part of the river, the flow of the swift current passes this cataract.
Phra Phutthabat Phu Khwai Ngoen (พระพุทธบาทภูควายเงิน) The Buddha’s footprint is 120 centimetres long and 65 centimetres wide, enshrined on a whetstone and was registered as a national ancient monument in 1935.
Phra Yai Phu Khok Ngio (พระใหญ่ภูคกงิ้ว) It is a walking Buddha image in the blessing posture, cast of fibre and golden resin combined. It was cast by the Second Army Area Command and the people as a form of merit making for Their Majesties the King and Queen.
Thai Dam Cultural Village (หมู่บ้านวัฒนธรรมไทยดำ) Thai Dam people migrated from Chiang Khwang Town, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, in 1905 to settle at Ban Na Pa Nat. At present, the Thai Dam culture is still preserved.
Crown Princess's Sirindhorn Art Centre (ศูนย์ศิลป์สิรินธร) It is a venue displaying beautiful paintings of students who have gained popularity at both national and international levels. Moreover, it is a source of knowledge on arts and culture, comprising both permanent and rotating exhibition halls, an arts training building.
Phu Luang Wildlife Sanctuary (เขตรักษาพันธุ์สัตว์ป่าภูหลวง) Phu Luang means a large mountain or the Mountain of the King. On the east of Phu Luang, dinosaur’s footprints on the rock, aged more than 120 million years were discovered. The most distinguished ones on Phu Luang are Pinus merkusii and Kesiya pine forests, savanna on plains, mounds, and stone terraces..
Tham Pha Ya (ถ้ำผายา) is located inside Wat Tham Pha Ya at Ban Mai Santi Tham, Tambon Na Dok Kham. Inside the cave is a flock of millions of insect-eating bats.
Ban Lek Nai Pa Yai Project, Pha Nang – Pha Koeng (โครงการบ้านเล็กในป่าใหญ่ ผานาง – ผาเกิ้ง) is a project under an initiative of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit.
Suan Hin Pha Ngam or Thailand’s Kunming (สวนหินผางาม หรือ คุนหมิงเมืองไทย) It is a limestone garden aged around 230-280 million years, occurring from the aggradation of beach deposits. Then, an uplift of the earth’s crust, together with millions of years of natural rot have made this mountain be strangely beautiful, similar to the stone garden in Kunming, Yunnan of China.
Tham Mahoran (ถ้ำมโหฬาร) It is a large cave whose entrance enshrines a Buddha image in subduing Mara posture. The area within the cave is quite large comprising of stalactites and stalagmites, as well as, caves in smaller sizes. A Buddha’s footprint was also found on the wall of the cave.
Tham Phothisat (ถ้ำโพธิสัตว์) or Thailand’s Guilin is situated within the compound of Wat Tham Phothisat. It is a complex cave.
Namtok Phiang Din (น้ำตกเพียงดิน) is 4 kilometres further from Suan Hin Pha Ngam. The waterfall is at the end of the asphalt road.
Phu Kradueng National Park (อุทยานแห่งชาติภูกระดึง) It is a popular natural attraction of Thailand due to its abundance of natural resources, comprising various types of ecological systems and geography. The distinguished characteristic of this national park is that it is a sandstone mountain with a wide plain summit, whose shape is similar to a leaf of the Elephant ear or a heart. Sites in the park are as follows:
Pha Nok Aen (ผานกแอ่น) It is a small stone terrace with pine trees standing at the cliff’s edge. It is a beautiful sunrise spot overlooking the scenery of the grass field and mountain range.
Pha Lom Sak (ผาหล่มสัก) It is a wide stone terrace with a large pine tree near an overhanging cliff. It is a place where the sunset can be the most clearly viewed.
Namtok Tat Hong (น้ำตกตาดฮ้อง) is a waterfall located within the compound of the national park. When falling from the cliff to the basin, it creates a loud and resonant sound of water. Therefore, it is called “Namtok Tat Hong”.
Phu Ruea National Park (อุทยานแห่งชาติภูเรือ) Its special characteristic is an overhanging cliff in the similar shape as a prow of a junk. It is also considered as the coolest national park of the country. Sites in the national park are as follows:
Decho Viewpoint (จุดชมทิวทัศน์เดโช) is a viewspot for the sunrise. On a nice-weather-day, there are various mountains of Loei.
Pha Lon Noi (ผาโหล่นน้อย) It is a beautiful place to admire the sunrise. From this spot, Phu Luang, Phu Pha Sat, Phu Khrang and a sea of complex mountain ranges can be seen.
Pha Sapthong or Pha Kulap (ผาซับทอง หรือ ผากุหลาบ) It is a steep cliff with seepage full of water throughout the year where there is plenty of golden yellow lichen.
Namtok Huai Phai (น้ำตกห้วยไผ่) This waterfall is dropping from a steep cliff with an approximate height of 30 metres. The water from this waterfall is also utilised to produce pipe water in Amphoe Phu Ruea.
Yot Phu Ruea (ยอดภูเรือ) is the highest spot in the national park. Within its compound is a stone terrace and grass field mixed with pine forest comprising Pinus merkusii which is naturally grown and Kesiya pine which is planted.
Phrathat Si Song Rak (พระธาตุศรีสองรัก) Its architecture is in the Lan Chang style. Phrathat, a stupa containing the Buddha’s relics, is 19.19 metres high, 10.89 metres wide with a square base of 12 redented corners. Moreover, within the compound of the temple is enshrined a Buddha image canopied by a seven-headed Naga in the Tibetan style of art.
Wat Neramit Wipatsana (วัดเนรมิตวิปัสสนา) Both the Ubosot and Chedi are beautifully constructed of laterite. The large Ubosot is interiorly decorated in resemblance to the great temples of Bangkok. Moreover, a replica of Phra Phutthachinnarat is enshrined as the main image.
Phi Ta Khon Museum (พิพิธภัณฑ์บ้านผีตาโขน) It is an educational attraction for those interested in the Bun Luang and Phi Ta Khon Festivals. Besides, there are an Ubosot reflecting the skills of local craftsmen, as well as, a replica of Phrathat Si Song Rak, including Bun Luang Festival and Phi Ta Khon are organised.
Wat Pho Chai Na Phueng (วัดโพธิ์ชัยนาพึง) Enshrined within the abbot’s cell is the Prachao Ong Saen Buddha image, an ancient image of the town for many generations. At the outside of the Ubosot are paintings which were later created in 1916. It can be considered as a very precious ancient monument and object of Loei province.
Na Haeo National Park (อุทยานแห่งชาตินาแห้ว) Most of the forests are dry evergreen forests mixed with deciduous trees. Along the high area are hill evergreen forests which are also a natural boundary between Thailand and the Lao People’s Democratic Republic. Sites within the national park are as follows:
Namtok Khing (น้ำตกคิ้ง) The waterfall comprises many rock tiers. At this spot, the government has constructed a royal residence for Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn who visited this place on 12 February, 1991.
Namtok Chang Tok (น้ำตกช้างตก) is located 500 metres higher than Namtok Khing which is also along the Phrae River. It is steeper than the lower one.
Namtok Wang Tat (น้ำตกวังตาด) is situated 1.5 kilometres above Namtok Chang Tok and located along the Phrae River as well.
Namtok Tat Hueang or Namtok Thai-Lao (น้ำตกเหืองหรือน้ำตกไทย-ลาว ) is along the Hueang River, comprising of 3 different tiers with a height of approximately 50 metres. There is water throughout the year.
Namtok Pha Khao (น้ำตกผาค้อ) is along the Heuang River, a border between Thailand and the Lao People’s Democratic Republic.
Hin Si Thit (หินสี่ทิศ) On its south are four rocks rising up in the middle of the tropical evergreen forest. Local people usually go up to pay respect at this place once every three years, thus it is called “Song Pi Ham, Sam Pi Khrop”.
Hin Kuai Lo (หินก่วยหล่อ) It is a sandstone whose shape is similar to a mushroom bud rising in the middle of the tropical evergreen forest.
Noen 1408 Viewpoint (จุดชมวิวเนิน 1408) It is the highest viewpoint and centre of the national park. It is also a beautiful viewpoint to see the sunrise.
Noen 1255 Viewpoint (จุดชมวิวเนิน 1255) is a short-distant viewpoint where the scenery of Ban Huai Nam Phak below, as well as, Phu Soi Dao and Phu Wiang in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic can be witnessed.
Phrathat Satcha (พระธาตุสัจจะ) Components of Phrathat Satcha comprise a base of blooming lotus with 3 tiers of petals with a height of approximately 1 metre around it.
The Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge across the Hueang River (สะพานมิตรภาพน้ำเหืองไทย-ลาว) It is a bridge crossing the Hueang River and connecting between Thailand and the Lao People’s Democratic Republic.
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