Udon Thani
Udon Thani (Thai: อุดรธานี, pronounced [ʔudɔːn tʰaːniː]) is one of the four major cities (Khorat, Ubon Ratchathani, Udon Thani, and Khon Kaen) of the Isan region, Thailand, (known as the "big four of Isan"). It is the capital of Udon Thani Province.
Location
Udon's geographical location 17°25′N 102°45′E / 17.417°N 102.750°E / 17.417; 102.750 is approximately 560 km from Bangkok. Udon is a major official and commercial center in northern Isan, Thailand, and the gateway to Laos, northern Vietnam, and southern China. The province of Udon Thani has a population of 1,572,786; the city alone has 399,535.
History
Forty-seven kilometres east of Udon Thani is Thailand's premier Bronze Age excavation at Ban Chiang, a renowned archaeological site.
Within a few kilometres of Udon Thani is the well known temple, Wat Pa Baan That, which was home for many years to forest meditation monk, Luangta Maha Bua, known for his philanthropic endeavors such as accumulating gold and giving it to the national treasury to benefit Thailand's citizens during the economic crisis of the late 1990s. It is said that over the course of his tenure at this temple over US$550 million was collected for the benefit of Thai citizens, either directly or via the construction of hospitals and clinics. Ajahn Maha Bua died in January 2011.