🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026
Maha Sarakham sits right in the middle of Isan — about an hour's drive from Khon Kaen, close to Roi Et too. The province has no big mountains or waterfalls, but its strength is a dense layer of Dvaravati and Khmer history that sets it apart from the towns around it, plus a university-town energy that scatters cafes, eateries and a youthful buzz all around MSU. We've split the sights into four groups so you can pick what suits you: temples and archaeology, nature, craft, and the student town.
Temples & Archaeology — Phra That Na Dun and the Khmer Ruins
If it's your first time in Maha Sarakham, this group is where most people start, because it's what makes the city different from the rest of Isan. Na Dun district to the south was once the site of the ancient Dvaravati city of 'Nakhon Champa Si,' so the stupa and the Khmer prasats are clustered in the same area — you can see them back to back in half a day.
Phra That Na Dun (Isan Buddhist Monument)
The number-one landmark of Maha Sarakham. The white stupa is modeled on a bronze reliquary that was unearthed here in 1979 containing Buddha relics, found on the mound that had been the ancient city of Nakhon Champa Si. Locals came together to build the stupa over the site, finishing it in 1987. The grounds around it are a broad, shaded plaza, and there's a Nakhon Champa Si museum where you can walk through the artifacts that were dug up. It's the spiritual heart of the province.
Ku Santarat
A laterite Khmer prasat from the reign of Jayavarman VII (around the 12th–13th century), built as an 'arogayasala' — a community hospital — under his royal initiative to build over a hundred of them across the empire. The prasat itself is a modest tower facing east, ringed by a boundary wall and an old baray reservoir. It's not far from Phra That Na Dun, so it's an easy add-on. Few visitors, quiet, and good for photos.
Ku Ban Khwao (Ku Maha That)
Another Khmer prasat, this one in Mueang district, also built as an arogayasala under Jayavarman VII. It sits by a marsh, and the laterite tower has been restored, so it reads as a clearer structure than many other ruins. It's closer to town than Ku Santarat, which makes it a good stop if you don't have time to drive out to Na Dun.
Tip
Phra That Na Dun and Ku Santarat are both in Na Dun district, a fair way out of town (about an hour). If you're set on the temple-and-archaeology route, plan a full half-day to do Na Dun in one go, then catch Ku Ban Khwao — which is near town — on another day. Dress respectfully inside the stupa grounds, and bring an umbrella or hat since the plaza is open and the sun is strong.
Want more out of Maha Sarakham? Book tours & activities
Booking online ahead on Klook or GetYourGuide is usually cheaper than the gate and skips the queue. Pick only the experiences you actually want — prices and availability are shown live on each site.
Nature — Kaeng Loeng Chan and the Golden Monkeys of Kosamphi
Maha Sarakham has no mountains, but it has accessible, city-style nature. Locals genuinely use these two spots in daily life — they're not just photo stops.
Kaeng Loeng Chan
A large reservoir right next to town that Sarakham people call the lungs of the city. The ring road along the dam crest is laid out as a public park, with flower gardens, rest pavilions, and a walking-and-cycling path along the water. In the evening, lots of people come to exercise and watch the sunset over the lake. There are som tam stalls, made-to-order rice dishes and ice cream, plus several waterside cafes like Farm Suk Cafe where you can settle in for a while.
Kosamphi Forest Park (Golden-Haired Macaques)
A forest park on the Chi River in Kosum Phisai district, about 28 km from town. The draw is a troop of several hundred macaques, including the golden-haired macaques said to be found mainly here in this region. Inside the park there's a suspension bridge over a marsh and a nature trail under big shade trees — good for a walk or a bike ride. Watch your snacks and plastic bags, because the monkeys are quick to grab them.
Enjoy the Monkeys Safely
At Kosamphi the monkeys are used to people and very nimble. Don't walk around holding a food bag or a sweet drink in plain sight, and keep your glasses and phone secure. If you want to feed the monkeys, check the signs and follow what the staff advise. Morning and evening are when the monkeys come down to feed in numbers, so they're easier to spot than in the midday heat.
Craft — the Ban Mo Pottery Village in Ban Khwao
What sets Maha Sarakham apart from your average temple town is a craft community that still works by hand. Ban Mo in Khwao subdistrict, Mueang district, is a pottery village that has been making earthenware for generations. The ancestors migrated from the Nakhon Ratchasima area and settled here because the clay and the marsh suited the work.
Ban Mo Community (Hand-Thrown Pottery)
A village in Khwao subdistrict that has shaped earthenware by hand for several generations. You can watch the whole process — kneading the clay, throwing it on the wheel, drying it in the sun, then firing it in the kiln. The pots here have a distinctive shape and a handsome reddish-yellow color, with prices starting from a few tens up to around 200 THB. Buy a small one as a souvenir or a plant pot.
Handicraft Souvenirs in Town
Beyond the pottery, Maha Sarakham also has hand-woven silk and cotton and reed mats from communities around the province. You can find them at souvenir shops and markets in town — good to carry home alongside dried Isan snacks.
When to Go
The pottery work is most fun to watch midday on a weekday, when villagers are actually at it. Go too late in the evening and some homes may have packed up. Aim for morning to early afternoon, and be respectful of the owners — many of these are homes where people actually live and work, not souvenir shops.
Student Town — the MSU Area, Kham Riang and Tha Khon Yang
Mahasarakham University (MSU), over in Kantharawichai district, is the heart that gives this city its youthful life. Around the campus are the Kham Riang and Tha Khon Yang neighborhoods, packed with dorms, eateries, cafes and night markets at very student-friendly prices. If you like a university-town vibe, you can happily wander and eat your way around.
- Kham Riang area — the food zone around MSU, from made-to-order rice dishes, som tam and grilled pork to garden cafes like The Tree Cafe, all at student prices and open late.
- Tha Khon Yang area — the other side of MSU, with hot-pot suki spots, punchy Isan eateries, and an evening market to graze through.
- Cafes around campus — Maha Sarakham keeps opening new cafes, many with a garden feel and easy prices, good for getting work done or meeting friends.
- Museums and learning spaces at MSU — the university has museums and exhibition areas on Isan art and culture, a nice follow-on from the archaeology route.
The charm of the student area is how easy on the wallet and unpretentious it is. It's not a luxury destination, but if you want to understand why people call this place a city of learning, sitting down for a meal with students at a small shop gives you a real feel for the city's rhythm.
A 1-Day Maha Sarakham Trip Covering Every Angle
If you've only got one day and want to cover the temples, nature and the city, this is a route that flows well — combining Kaeng Loeng Chan and the student area in town, and choosing Ku Ban Khwao for the archaeology since it's closer. (If you want the full Phra That Na Dun experience, save it for a separate day, since it's far.)
Khmer Ruins → Kosamphi Monkeys → Kaeng Loeng Chan → Student Area
(If You Stay Over) A Full Temple Day in Na Dun
Getting Around
Maha Sarakham is easiest to explore with your own car, since many of the sights are out of town and spread across different districts. Public transport within the province is limited. If you don't have a car, flying into Khon Kaen and renting one for the roughly 1-hour drive over is the route many people take — or fold it into a trip with nearby Khon Kaen and Roi Et.
Plan a full Maha Sarakham trip — food, sights and places to stay
See the Maha Sarakham travel guide →