Trip Planning

As a province somewhat off the typical tourist route, Kalasin can only be reached directly via private car or public bus. However, it is possible to take a train or plane to nearby Khon Kaen and then a short bus to Kalasin.

Once there, it may be easier to get around with your own car, but there are standard forms of local transport available for visitors: i.e. songtaew, motorbike taxi, and tuk tuk.

By Train:
There is no train service to Kalasin, so visitors must take the train from Bangkok to Khon Kaen and then catch a bus from Khon Kaen to Kalasin, a distance of 75 kilometers. The State Railway of Thailand has daily rapid train, express train, and air-conditioned sprinter train services to Khon Kaen. For more details, call SRT at Tel. 1690, or 0 2220 4334, 0 2220 4444, Khon Kaen Railway Station, Tel. 0 4322 1112, or visit www.railway.co.th.

By Car:
Kalasin is 519 kilometers from Bangkok by road. Take highway No.2 (Mittraphap Road) from Bangkok heading to Saraburi & Nakhon Ratchasima until you reach Amphoe Ban Phai of Khon Kaen province. Continue on Highways No. 23, 213 and 209 (Maha Sarakham - Kalasin).

By Bus:
The Transport Co., Ltd. provides air-conditioned and ordinary bus services daily from Bangkok’s Northeastern Bus Terminal (Mo Chit 2) to Kalasin. More details can be obtained at the Northeastern Bus Terminal (Mo Chit 2), Tel. 0 2936 2841-48, 0 2936 2852-66 or www.transport.co.th.

By Air:
There are no direct flights from Bangkok to Kalasin, but you can get a flight from Bangkok to Khon Kaen and then catch a bus to Kalasin, a distance of 75 kilometers.

Area Map

History & Info

Sirindhorn Museum is situated on the foothills of Phu Kum Khao formation site in Sahatsakhan district of Kalasin Province, where is the largest excavation site for fossilized dinosaur skeletons discovered in Thailand.

The mission of the museum is to be the center of knowledge in geology and archaeology of prehistoric plants and animals by focusing on the dinosaur life and evolution. The name “Sirindhorn” was granted as the museum name by Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn on October 12, 2006.

The exhibition has organized into three parts; The Permanent Exhibition Hall, The Temporary Exhibition Hall and The Outdoor Exhibition Garden.
The indoor permanent exhibition has divided into 8 zones as follows:

Zone 1 Universe and Earth
Zone 2 The Earliest Life Appears on Earth
Zone 3 Paleozoic Era: the geologic timescale of dramatic evolutionary history of life on earth
Zone 4 Divided into 2 zones: 4.1 Mesozoic Era: The Age of Reptiles and Dinosaurs, 4.2 Thai Dinosaurs
Zone 5 Life of Dinosaurs
Zone 6 Restoring Life of Dinosaurs
Zone 7 Cenozoic Era: The Age of Mammals
Zone 8 The Story of Human Evolution

Direction Map

Information

Kalasin province is located in the middle of Isan Region (Eastern Thailand), about 519 km from Bangkok. The geography of Kalasin is covered by mountains, forests and flat plain. The province border from the north to the east is covered by the Phu Phan mountain range where part of which is preserved as the Phu Phan National parks, Phu See Tan Wild Life Conservation, and Phu Faek Forest Park. These lush and fertile forests have originated several major rivers in this province including River Pao, River Huay Yang.
Archeological excavations showed that the prehistoric society already took place in the area around 2,000 years ago. However, the main Kalasin local ancestors nowadays were tracked back to Phu Thai-Lao migrating from the Mekong River during King Rama III of Chakri Dynasty.
Kalasin was established in 1913 under the Roi Et county. Then in 1932 the province was abolished and included into Maha Sarakham. Later on in 1947 it was reestablished as an independent province.
Even though Kalasin is not a big province, it does offers many amazing attractions including the Phu Phan National parks, Lam Pao Wildlife Conservation Development and Lam Pao Dam Lake, or the Prae Wa Silk Weaving Heritage Center at Phu Thai Handicraft Center located at Ban Phon in Kham Muang district.
In addition, Kalasin becomes famous for the discovery of the pre-historic Sauropod dinosaur fossils at Phu Kum Khao in Sahatsakhan district, the most perfect dinosaur skeletons of the largest herbivorous dinosaurs lived in Thailand 130 million years ago. These dinosaur fossils were exhibited at the Sirindhorn Museum as the knowledge center of paleontology and dinosaur study.