Chalermphrakiat 72 Pansa Maharachini Park

The Chalermphrakiat 72 Pansa Maharachini Park is a free municipal recreation park in Ban Nong Bua Di Mi, Tha Phra subdistrict, about 15 km south of central Khon Kaen just off the Mittraphap Highway. It was laid out to mark Queen Sirikit’s 72nd birthday and covers more than 65 rai, of which roughly 10 rai is the landscaped public garden area. It is open daily and free to enter.

Its unmistakable landmark is a huge smiling buffalo statue at the front of the park — promoted locally as the largest buffalo statue in Thailand and now the informal symbol of Tha Phra, a district with deep roots in Isan buffalo-farming culture. The statue is the reason most people stop: it’s a popular roadside photo spot for families and passing travellers on the Route 2 corridor between Khon Kaen and Ban Phai.

Beyond the buffalo, the park is a straightforward green space for locals rather than a botanical attraction. Shaded lawns and mature trees give cover from the northeastern sun, and there are jogging and walking paths, outdoor exercise stations for adults and children, rest pavilions and benches. A fountain draws on the neighbouring Nong Kho reservoir, a large local water source, and the open water and lawns fill up with walkers and joggers in the cool of early morning and again toward dusk.

Insider Tip: Come at first light or in the last hour before sunset — the park is built for exercise in the cool part of the day, the light is best for photographing the buffalo, and you’ll avoid the flat midday heat that leaves the lawns empty.

There’s on-site parking, and because it sits right on the Mittraphap Highway it’s an easy leg-stretch stop rather than a destination in its own right — worth pairing with other stops around southern Khon Kaen. Bring water and a hat if you’re visiting in the middle of the day.