Description
Somdej Phra Srinagarindra Park (สวนสมเด็จพระศรีนครินทร์) is also known as Suan Somdet Phra Srinakarin Park and Princess Srinakarin Park, as it was built to celebrate celebrate Princess Srinakarin's 80th birthday in 1980. The princess's formal name was Somdet Phra Srinagarindra Boromarajajonani, but the name "Srinagarindra" is pronounced closer to "Srinakarin" (with a silent "r"), thus the popular alternative spelling. Before her death in 1995, she was affectionately called Somdet Ya or "the Royal Grandmother."
Somdej Phra Srinagarindra Park is located near the city center of Sakon Nakhon, diagonally opposite the new Sakon Nakhon provincial hospital and just 500 meters from the majestic downtown temple Wat Phra That Choeng Chum. It is the favorite place for downtown residents is walk, jog, and get a bit of exercise. Being on the edge of Nong Han Lake and filled with shady trees, it is a cool place to relax from the heat of the Sakon Nakhon day. For tourists, it is also a nice place to have a cool drink and people watch.
Somdej Phra Srinagarindra Park is also the primary location for Loy Krathong celebrations in Late October or November, the main viewpoint for racing boat competitions during the Buddhist Lent, fish release celebrations, and more.
The park is open from 8am - 8pm. The most busy times are around 4:30pm onward, when people are visiting the park to get a bit of exercise after work. There is an area for feeding fish, food stalls, paddle boats, and morning and evening aerobics classes. It is also one of the best places in town to watch the sunset.
