Chulabhorn Dam (Nam Phrom Dam)

Chulabhorn Dam, also called Nam Phrom Dam, is an EGAT hydroelectric dam on the Phrom River in Khon San district, Chaiyaphum. Completed in 1972, its two 20-MW turbines generate 40 MW combined, and the reservoir behind it doubles as a public park and viewpoint. Entry is free, and the grounds are open daily 08:00-18:00.

The main draw is the Lup Khuan View Pavilion, a lookout point more than 800 metres above sea level with a wide view across the reservoir and the forested hills of Khon San district. A visitor centre near the car park has basic information, drinks, and toilets, and a nearby Temperate Plants Experimental Centre and small observatory round out the grounds. You can walk across the dam crest or drive over and park on the far side to explore further — either way it’s a short, flat walk with a clear view of the water on one side and forest on the other.

Insider Tip: Go in the late afternoon. The reservoir catches the light well as the sun drops behind the hills, and the heat of the day has usually broken by then.

Local anglers fish the shoreline for a mix of freshwater species, and the reservoir’s drowned treeline — trunks still visible above the waterline in places — gives it a distinct look compared to Thailand’s larger dams. The surrounding park, roughly 41 rai of preserved forest, keeps the immediate area shaded and quiet even when the viewpoint itself has visitors. Watch out: there’s a golf course on the same access road, so don’t be surprised to see golf carts before you reach the dam — it’s a separate facility, not part of the free viewing area.

The dam sits about 20 km west of Chum Phae via Route 12, then north on Route 2055 following signs to the dam — allow around an hour and a half from Chaiyaphum town. There’s no public transport directly to the site, so a car or motorbike is the only realistic way in. A handful of small restaurants near the entrance serve freshwater fish dishes if you want to eat with a view of the reservoir.