Sakon nakhon: Sakon Nakhon Province is set to unveil a new tourist route that traces the footsteps of revered Buddhist monks, aiming to connect nature and faith while boosting the local economy.

According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Parin Nithat-ek, Deputy Governor of Sakon Nakhon Province, alongside Mr. Pannawich Kultangkhawanich, District Chief of Ban Muang, led a team of government officials and local leaders to survey the natural tourist routes during the rainy season. The focus was on Wat Pa Sila Asan, also known as Wat Pa Dong Mo Thong, located in Dong Mo Thong Tai Subdistrict, Ban Muang District. This initiative aims to develop the area into a new tourist destination that aligns with Sakon Nakhon's vision of promoting itself as a "City of Three Virtues": Dharma, Nature, and Cultural Traditions.

Wat Pa Dong Mo Thong holds significant Buddhist importance. Established in 1953 by Phra Ajarn Juan Kulchetho, a Vipassana meditation master in the lineage of Luang Pu Mun Phuritatto, the temple served as a meditation retreat. The surrounding nature trails remain largely untouched, offering a habitat for a variety of plant and mushroom species. Visitors will be treated to impressive geological features, including rock formations that resemble serpent scales, a giant snake-like rock formation, a turtle-shaped rock, a cracked rock plateau, and the Phlanyatham, a historical meditation site for enlightened monks.

The introduction of this tourist route is expected to promote faith-based tourism and encourage nature exploration through hiking. It also seeks to stimulate the grassroots economy by showcasing and selling Ban Muang District's renowned products, such as hand-woven fabrics, basketry, and agricultural produce like Cavendish bananas. This initiative will provide a new source of income for the local community. For those interested in exploring this unique tourist route, further information is available at the Dong Mo Thong Tai Subdistrict Administrative Organization, Tel. 042-707579.