Ubon Ratchathani

The province shares borders with Laos to the north and east and Cambodia to the south, giving it a distinctive frontier character and three international border crossings, the most important of which is Chongmek. Pha Taem National Park, perched on cliffs above the Mekong, contains prehistoric rock paintings estimated to be 3,000 to 4,000 years old depicting giant Mekong catfish, human figures, and handprints across a 180-metre panel. Ubon Ratchathani is Thailand's leading rice-producing province and also a major cultivator of cassava. The city of Ubon is home to internationally significant forest monasteries, including Wat Nong Pah Pong, established by the revered Ajahn Chah, and the international monastic community of Wat Pa Nanachat. The annual Candle Festival, held in July at the start of Buddhist Lent, is the province's most celebrated cultural event.