Description
Don Koen Park (สวนสาธารณะดอนเกิน) is an island park on the edge of Nong Han Lake, about 500 meter southwest of St. Michael's Cathedral in the Catholic community of Tha Rae, Thailand. It's located on scenic road that travels along the edge of the lake towards Nong Han Viewpoint, about 2 kilometers away.
Don Koen Park is a small park, which perhaps isn't worth a tourist visit in its own right (except maybe for a quiet picnic or to take in the sunset). However, the lakeside road between this park and Nong Han Viewpoint is definitely worth traveling, especially by motorbike, as it provides some of the best scenic lake views.
One of the defining features of Don Koen Park is an archway bridge which leads to a roundabout that encompasses a grassy knoll. This makes the park very suitable for special events, such as arts and crafts festivals, where the vendor tents are positioned around the circle.
Special community events are held here throughout the year, especially during Christmas time, when the Tha Rae Star Parade is held. Tha Rae itself is the best place to celebrate Christmas in Thailand: both for its holiday festivities and the weather, as Sakon Nakhon is the coldest place in Thailand.
As you travel the lakeside road between Don Koen Park and Nong Han Viewpoint, you will find a number of pagodas where you can stop, relax, and take photos. You also will pass the Tha Rae Redemptorist Center, a Catholic congregation that serves the sick and elderly of Tha Rae, as well as those with disabilities. The center also has a Catholic church where it holds mass.
Don Koen Park is about a 20 minute drive from the Sakon Nakhon Airport, and 30 minutes from Sakon Nakhon City.
