Description
The new Phanna Buri (พันนาบุรี) complex has recently opened its restaurant, coffee shop, OTOP shop, and traditional Thai massage room. Located about an hour away from downtown Sakon Nakhon, along the highway to Udon Thani, Phanna Buri refers to itself as a "City of Imagination". This is because visitors bring their own ideas to what the striking architecture and ambience reminds them of: some saying Bali, others Myanmar (Burma), and others the hill tribe areas of Chiang Mai.
Phanna Buri was designed by builder Pinya Suwannajak (ภิญญา สุวรรณจักร) whose family's mission has been to help develop Isaan places that are underdeveloped. While it seems that Phanna Buri is located somewhat in the middle of nowhere in the Sawang Daen Din district, it located only a few hundred meters from the ancient Khmer ruins of Prasat Ku Phanna, one of 4 Khmer ruin sites located in Sakon Nakhon.
Eventually a long wooden bridge will be built Phanna Buri, taking visitors to the Prasat Ku Phanna ruins. Therefore this makes Phanna Buri a more attractive tourist destination for those who might initially be hesitant about taking a long trip to visit. Plus, many people do travel regularly back and forth between Sakon Nakhon and Udon Thani, so dropping by Phanna Buri for lunch, dinner, or coffee and desert is easy for them.
Phanna Buri is gorgeously designed with pagoda buildings and murals which reflect Thailand's rich traditions, religion, and culture. It is especially beautiful at night, when all of the pagodas are lit up. The site is not yet completely finished. Further construction is planned, and more local vendors need to be brought in to sell their handmade goods. But the "City of Imagination" has gotten off to a wonderful start.
