Kradong Reservoir

Kradong Reservoir — also known locally as Ang Kep Nam Wuttisawat — is a roughly 40-rai lake on the north side of Khao Kradong, right in front of the Khao Kradong Forest Park office in Buriram’s Mueang district. It’s free to visit, with no set closing time beyond the park’s daylight hours.

The reservoir began as an old village pond and has since been developed into a habitat for resident and migratory waterbirds, ringed by teng-rang (dipterocarp) forest typical of this part of Isan. In recent years the provincial administration spent roughly 14.8 million THB dredging and renovating the reservoir, both to shore up water supply during dry spells and to make the area more welcoming for visitors — a shaded walking path along the embankment, better access points, and clearer sightlines for birdwatching.

This is a quiet, low-key stop rather than a beach or swimming spot. Come for the walk and the birdlife, not a dip — the reservoir exists primarily as an irrigation and drought reserve, and it sits within the wider Khao Kradong non-hunting wildlife area, so treat it as a nature-watching site rather than a picnic lake with full amenities. Local families do use the shaded edges for weekend downtime, but don’t expect food vendors or rental gear on-site.

The teng-rang forest that rings the water is classic dry dipterocarp woodland, the dominant forest type across much of lowland Isan — spaced-out trees, an open understory, and a landscape that thins out visibly by the end of the hot season before the rains green it back up. That seasonal contrast is part of why the reservoir matters locally: it’s one of the more reliable water sources in a district that runs dry for long stretches, which is also why the province spent public money dredging it rather than letting it silt up.

Insider Tip: Pair the reservoir with the short walk up to the Khao Kradong crater rim next door — the volcanic crater, red laterite cliffs, and the reclining Buddha statue on the summit make a fuller half-day out of what’s otherwise a quick stop.

Early morning and late afternoon are the most comfortable times to visit, avoiding Buriram’s midday heat, and migratory waterbirds are easiest to spot outside the hottest hours. The reservoir sits just off Buriram-Prakhonchai Road; local transport from Buriram city center gets you close, but your own vehicle makes it easier to combine with the forest park and other Khao Kradong-area stops.

For more birdwatching in the province, Buri Ram Bird Park is another stop worth combining with a Mueang Buri Ram day out.