The Emblem of Mukdahan

Introduction
     The  Pearl  on  the  Bank  of  the  Mekong  From  its origin on the Jinhai Tibet  Plateau  through Yunnan into Chiang Saen District In Chiangrai, the Mekong  river  flows  through  6  countries  from  Chian, through Myanmar, Laos,  Thailand,  Cambodia  and  finally  Vietnam.  Standing  on  the river bank  near  the  Indochinese  market  in front of the city of Mukdahan, one can  imagine how far this river travels. Mukdahan has a saying "Beautiful city   on   the   Mekong's   bank,  sweet  tamarind,  origin  of  Phaya  River, splendid    mountains,    valuable   ancient   drums,   eight - tribe   cultures, picturesque Manorom Mount, and beautiful Kra Bao lslet."

     Mukdahan  is  located  in Northeastern Thailand, bordering Laos to the east with the Mekong in between. Mukdahan has a saying "Beautiful city on the Mekong's bank, sweet tamarind, splendid mountains,   valuable   ancient   drums,   eight-tribe   cultures,   picturesque  Manorom  Mount,  and beautiful Kra Bao Islet"

      Most of the area of Mukdahan is a high plateau with dense forests in the west. The eastern part of  the  province  is  mostly  agricultural  areas.  The  weather  is  hot  in  the  winter  with  the highest temperature of 33 C and the lowest of 10 C. There is little rain.

     The Mekong River, running 70 kilometers along the eastern border, remains the main lifeline of the  province.  Other water sources include Huay Chanod, Huay Muk and Huay Bung Ee Streams which   are   narrow  and  very  shallow  during  the  dry  season.  Mukdahan  still  has  relative  well preserved forest areas in the Northeast with 18 national forests or wildlife areas.

     Mukdahan  comprises  7  districts  and  has  eight  tribes  of  Thai  people, each of which has its distinct  tradition and culture. These eight tribes are Phu T'ai, Yu, Kha, Soe, Kar Lerng, Saek, Kula, and Thai-Lao.

     Mukda   or   Mukdahan   is   one   of   the  nine  types  of  precious  stones  called  Nopparatana. According  to  the  legend  told  for  hundreds  of  years,  on  certain  nights  of  the religious days a Mukda  would  brighten,  emerge  from  the  Manorom  Mount,  float  along the bank of the Mekong River  and  fall  into  the  area  where a stream meets the river. Thus the stream was named "Huay Muk" or Muk Stream.

History
     Mukdahan  is  an  ancien t city.  The  historical  evidence  told that Chankinnaree,  Prince  of  Phonsim  on  the  left  side  of the Mekong, had  moved  his  people  across  the  river  to  build a new city on the month  of  Huay  Muk  in  the  fourth  mouth  of  B.E.  2312  or 1770. He named the new city after the stream as "Mukdahan".

     Mukdahan  was part of the Udon Region. In B.E. 2450(1907) when the   Udon   Region   was   upgraded   into   a   province ,  Mukdahan became    a    district   within   Nakhon   Phanom   Province .   In   B.E. 2525(1982),   the   Mukdahan   District   was   upgraded   to   the   73rd province of Thailand.

How to get there
By Bus
     Air-conditioned   and   non-air-conditioned   coaches   regularly   leave  from  Bangkok's  North-
eastern  Bus  Terminal  on  KamphaengPhet 2 Road throughout the day. Telephone 936-2852-66, 537-8005 for more informations.

By Air
     Thai  Airways  operated  daily  flights  to  Nakon  Phanom  or  Ubon  Ratchathani  and  buses to Mukdahan. Contact Bangkok Tel. 280-0070 or 280-0080 for more informations.

By Rail
     Trains    leave    Bangkok's    Hualampong   Railway   Station   throughout   the   day   for   Ubon Ratchathani. For more informations please contact Rail Travel Aids, Tel.233-7010 or 233-7020.