5 Must See Places in Khon Kaen, Thailand – A Lesser Known Side of Thailand

Located in a dimly lit underground space next to a huge amphitheatre on the northern shores of the Bueng Kaen Nakhon lake lies the Khon Kaen Hall of Culture and Heritage, a building so discreetly located that it can be easily missed unless you're paying attention to where you're going. Once you enter the building however you'll find its interior is filled with a collection of printed artwork and life-sized figures displayed in various settings that will help you learn about the local culture and history.

Even though Khon Kaen is a small city, it's the epicentre for transport, education and business in the Isan region of Thailand which very few travellers choose to visit. Every Saturday tourist and locals gather to witness students, local artists and craftsmen of this up-and-coming city showcase their talents at Khon Kaen's street market. The streets of Th Na Sunratchakan, where the street market is hosted, are lined with plenty of stalls that sell products such as handmade bags and t-shirts. Local dancers and musicians also make use of strategic points of the streets, which are festively decorated using Chinese lanterns to display their skills and talents.

The Bueng Kaen Nakhon Lake which is located in 3.2 kilometres away from the AVANI Khon Kaen Hotel & Convention Centre spans nearly 250 acres. Its shores which are lined with temples, green parks, shrines, coffeehouse, bars and restaurants are perfect for a leisurely afternoon stroll given that it's not too hot outside. Street food stalls that start to appear in the evenings serve up local delicacies like papaya salad (som tam) and barbeque chicken (kai yang). It's also a great place for jogging, playing basketball or even to join in on an aerobics class which are offered free of charge. While Fishing rods can also be rented and bait can be purchased to enjoy some quality fishing time, fishing is only permitted on the southeast of the lake.

Wat Nong Wang is a magnificent temple shaped like a pyramid, is one of the most interesting things to do in Khon Kaen. Located within its golden walls the Phra That Kaen Nakhon, in the present day has been converted into a museum which displays a scripture library, Buddhist relics, a meditation hall and colourful paintings. Each of this wat's 9 floor's balconies has a floor mosaic that represents an animal (There's even one of a dinosaur!) and gives you a stunning 360 view of the Khon Kaen city.

If you're a dinosaur buff then the Dinosaur museum in Khon Kaen is a must-see place when you visit Thailand. Proof that dinosaurs roamed about this area hundreds of millions of years ago was discovered by geologists in 1976. The Phu Wian National Park houses several excavation sites and a fossilized herbivore 15-meter (49-foot) long was discovered in one of them. A few of excavations sites are even open for public viewing. The park also has an impressive Dinosaur Museum that describes the most important archaeological findings in the area.