Kham Chanot

Kham Chanot is a forest that floats. The roughly 20-rai island sits on the Khud Kham reservoir in Ban Dung district, held together by dense mats of aquatic vegetation and the roots of tall chanod palms, and it rises and falls with the water rather than staying fixed. A poured-concrete bridge shaped like a naga’s body carries visitors across the water onto the island — no boat required, but shoes come off first. Entry is free, and the site is open daily from around 6 AM to 6 PM, though access onto the island itself typically closes by about 4:30 PM.

The forest is Kham Chanot’s real draw: tall, closely spaced chanod palms create a shaded, noticeably cooler microclimate the moment you step off the bridge, which locals will tell you feels almost air-conditioned even at midday. Wooden walkways lead through the trees to a scattering of shrines and a sacred well known as the naga hole (ปล่องพญานาค) — believed in local legend to be a passage down to the underworld city of the nagas, ruled by Phraya Sri Sutho and his consort Nang Sri Pathumma. According to the story, Phraya Sri Sutho takes human form once a month, on the 15th day of the waxing moon, to preside over the site before reverting to naga form for the rest of the cycle. This is a place of active devotion, not a museum piece — expect to see Thai visitors praying, making offerings, and, for some, seeking lottery-number omens tied to the legend.

Insider Tip: Go on a weekday morning if you want to actually experience the quiet, cool forest atmosphere the site is known for — weekends and Buddhist holy days bring dense crowds queuing to cross the naga bridge.

Watch out: shoes stay off from the bridge onward — walking barefoot is a requirement here, not a suggestion, and the concrete and wooden walkways can get hot underfoot in the middle of the day. Dress modestly (no shorts or short skirts, particularly for women); sarongs are available on site for anyone who needs to cover up.

Whatever you make of the naga legend itself, the reception the site gets from Thai visitors is genuine and worth matching with quiet, respectful behaviour rather than treating it as a photo backdrop.

Kham Chanot sits in Ban Dung district, roughly an hour’s drive from Udon Thani city — plan it as a half-day trip rather than a quick stop. If you’re building out a wider northeastern itinerary, Phu Phra Bat Historical Park and Ban Chiang National Museum are both UNESCO-listed sites elsewhere in Udon Thani province, worth the separate drive on another day.