The pottery, remains, and tools on display at the Ban Chiang museum date back as far as 3,600 B.C. They tell the story of an ancient culture, skilled in pottery, metal working, jewelry making, and with unique customs and rituals.

According to an article on wikipedia, the archeological findings revealed much about these peoples’ way of life:

At least 142 discrete burials were found in the 1974-1975 excavations. Analysis of the human remains by Michael Pietrusewsky and Michele Toomay Douglas revealed that the people lived a vigorous and active lifestyle with little evidence of interpersonal violence or any form of warfare.The subsistence was based on mixed agricultural/hunting/gathering economy, co-occurring with metallurgy.^[8] The conclusion that the centuries-long occupation of the site was largely peaceful is bolstered by the lack of metal weapons.^[6]

 

What Ban Chiang is most famous for, however, is their vast collection of ancient pottery, which is fascinatingly reminiscent of ancient Native American artwork. The pottery is made of clay, and is red-painted with beautifully intricate designs and patterns.

For those interested in visiting this cultural wonder, the museum is about 50 kilometers from the city, and is open Tuesday through Sunday, 09:00 A.M. to 04:00 P.M. Admission for foreigners is 150 Thai Baht, a relatively small price to pay for such an unforgettable experience.

(Images courtesy of wikimedia images. Source: commons.wikimedia.org)

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The best time to try out this experience is in the morning (while the sun is bright, but not yet too hot) during the months of December to February. Typically you can get a boat ride for around forty minutes, costing about 300 baht. The boats are small, but can carry 6-8 people, so it’s a great choice for a family (for those with kids–don’t worry, life jackets will be provided for you as well).

The Red Lotus Lake is one of the most beautiful places in Udon Thani, from the acres of glittering water to the fantastic lotuses in their varying stages of bloom, but besides flowers, you may also see various unique birds and aquatic animals.

The lotus flower has special significance to the Thai people. In Buddhism, the lotus flower symbolizes purity, faithfulness and spiritual awakening, and these flowers are often used by the Thai people in Buddhist prayer and other ceremonies/traditions. The pink lotus, in particular, represents the Buddha. Besides the religious significance, every part of the lotus plant is edible, and Thai people often prepare them in their meals–lotus seeds are a popular snack.

If you’re interested in checking out the Red Lotus Lake, it is definitely a great place for family photos and create memories that you are sure to carry with you for the rest of your life.

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