Chi Long Forest Park

Open Days: Daily

Opening Hours: 08.00 – 17.00

 

Chi Long Forest Park in Maha Sarakham Province is a distinctive nature attraction located at Ban Wang Wa, Village No. 6, Tha Khon Yang Subdistrict, Kantharawichai District. It lies on the left bank of the Chi River and is only about 10 – 11 km from Maha Sarakham city. The park is best known for its unusual riverside landscape formed by the changing course of the Chi River. In the past, the river flowed around this area from the north, east, and south. Later, river erosion cut through the narrow western section and created a new river channel, leaving the old watercourse separated as Lam Chi Long. This natural change turned more than 100 rai of land into an island-like forest landscape that now forms the heart of Chi Long Forest Park.

 

The value of Chi Long Forest Park lies in both its natural atmosphere and its geomorphological story. The area is surrounded by Lam Chi Long on several sides, while the western side connects with the Chi River and a natural embankment that helps retain water. This gives the area a cool, moist, and shaded character. Unlike many dry open areas of northeastern Thailand, Chi Long Forest Park has a calm riverside environment, large trees, year-round water, and a quiet forest setting that makes it suitable for rest, nature study, and photography.

 

Chi Long Forest Park is a mixed deciduous forest with a variety of native plant species. Large yang trees are among the most impressive trees in the area, creating shade and a strong sense of forest atmosphere. Other important trees include thong kwao, known locally as chan, wa, chanuan, maphlap, khae, krathum, mango, chamchuri, fig, krabao, kradon, wild kapok, and tabaek. The lower layer includes bamboo, khoi, shrubs, thorny plants, and other ground-level vegetation. Together, these plants create a diverse riverside woodland that supports birds, insects, aquatic life, and small animals.

 

The large yang trees are especially important to the park’s identity. Their tall trunks and broad crowns provide shade, stabilize riverbank soil, and create habitat for wildlife. Fallen leaves add organic matter to the soil, while the roots help reduce erosion. In a riverside ecosystem, large trees are not only beautiful; they play a practical ecological role in protecting the land and maintaining the balance between forest, water, and community.

 

Thong kwao, wa, fig, krathum, bamboo, and other local plants add seasonal character to the park. When thong kwao blooms, its orange-red flowers brighten the forest. Fruit-bearing trees support birds and small animals. Bamboo and shrubs add structure to the lower forest layer. For visitors interested in botany, Chi Long Forest Park offers a compact but meaningful place to observe native plants in a natural riverside setting.

 

One of the most important elements of the park is water. Lam Chi Long and the surrounding water bodies help maintain moisture throughout the year. This supports plant growth, keeps the atmosphere cooler, and provides habitat for fish, aquatic insects, birds, and small wildlife. Reflections of trees on the calm water surface also make the park visually attractive. The water is not simply scenery; it is the core ecological feature that keeps this small forest alive.

 

Chi Long Forest Park is ideal for slow nature walks. Visitors can walk under the shade of trees, observe the riverside landscape, listen to natural sounds, and enjoy quiet moments near the water. The park is not a place for high-impact adventure activities. Its charm comes from simplicity: shade, water, trees, and the feeling of being in a small forest separated from urban movement. For travelers staying in Maha Sarakham city, it is a convenient place to rest and reconnect with nature without traveling far.

 

The park is closely connected with Ban Wang Wa and the wider Tha Khon Yang community. Local people know the area as a shaded forest beside the water, useful for recreation, environmental learning, and community identity. The forest functions as a local green space, an outdoor classroom, and a peaceful natural area near the city. Its importance is therefore not limited to tourism; it also improves local quality of life.

 

The name Chi Long reflects the memory of the old watercourse. The Thai word “long” suggests a separated or diverted flow, helping people remember that this landscape was shaped by the Chi River. The name preserves the story of how water once moved through the area and how the old channel became a separate water body. For foreign visitors, this is one of the easiest ways to understand the park: it is a forest created by river change.

 

From a landscape and ecological perspective, Chi Long Forest Park is a useful example of how rivers reshape land. River erosion, channel shifting, natural embankment formation, and the creation of island-like land are all visible in the story of this place. The park shows that rivers are not fixed lines on a map. They move, cut, deposit, separate, and create new ecological spaces over time.

 

For students and study groups, the park can be used as an outdoor classroom. It can support learning about mixed deciduous forest, native trees, river ecology, wetland-like environments, erosion, river-channel change, and community-based conservation. Teachers can connect geography, biology, environmental science, and local history in one field visit. Because the park is close to Maha Sarakham city, it is practical for half-day educational activities.

 

Visitors should walk quietly and respect the forest. They should not pick plants, break branches, disturb wildlife, leave waste, or light fires. Although the forest is not very large, small natural areas can be easily affected by careless behavior. A responsible visit helps protect the trees, water, and animals that make Chi Long Forest Park valuable.

 

The best time to visit is in the morning or late afternoon, when the weather is cooler and the light is softer. The rainy season gives the forest a fresh green appearance, while the cool and dry seasons are pleasant for walking and resting under large trees. Visitors should wear comfortable shoes, bring drinking water, carry mosquito repellent, and be careful on wet or slippery paths, especially after rain.

 

Chi Long Forest Park is best suited to travelers who enjoy quiet nature rather than commercial recreation. It has no need for large-scale entertainment facilities because its value lies in the old river landscape, shaded forest, large trees, and calm water. A short visit can refresh the mind, while a longer visit allows visitors to observe plants, water, and local ecology in more detail.

 

The park can be combined easily with other places in Kantharawichai District and Maha Sarakham city. Nearby attractions include Wat Pa Wang Loeng, Wat Pa Wang Nam Yen, Mahasarakham University Museum, Maha Sarakham City Pillar Shrine, Tonson Market, Talat Noi near Mahasarakham University, and Wat Phutthamongkhon. This makes Chi Long a convenient stop for travelers who want to combine nature, temples, local markets, and cultural learning in one route.

 

Restaurants and cafés are available around Ban Wang Wa, Tha Khon Yang, Wang Yao, and the university area. Visitors can stop for noodles, breakfast, Isan food, coffee, or modern cafés before or after visiting the park. Nearby accommodation includes riverside resorts, hotels close to the university, and city hotels in Maha Sarakham. This makes the park suitable for both short day trips and overnight travel plans.

 

Getting There from Maha Sarakham city is convenient by private car. Take the Maha Sarakham – Kalasin route toward Ban Tha Khon Yang in Kantharawichai District, then continue onto Rural Road MK 4053, the Ban Tha Khon Yang – Ban Khrai Nun route, toward Ban Wang Wa. The distance from Maha Sarakham city to Chi Long Forest Park is about 10 – 11 km. Visitors unfamiliar with the area should use an online map, follow local signs, and ask local residents or municipal officers when needed.

 

Travelers coming from Mahasarakham University or Kantharawichai District can also reach the park through Tha Khon Yang. A private car is the most convenient option because it allows visitors to continue easily to nearby temples, markets, museums, restaurants, and accommodation. Visitors should arrive during daylight hours in order to walk safely and enjoy the forest properly.

 

Because the park is located close to water, visitors should be careful around the riverbank and wet areas. Some paths may become slippery after rain. Children should be supervised closely. Visitors should not enter the water in unsafe areas and should avoid the riverside if water levels are high or if local officers advise against access. Safety and respect for the natural environment are essential.

 

For international visitors, Chi Long Forest Park can be described as a riverside mixed forest park shaped by the changing course of the Chi River. It is not a large national park and not an ordinary city park. It is a quiet local forest where an old river channel, year-round water, large native trees, and community recreation come together. Travelers interested in river ecology, local landscapes, and quiet nature near a university town will find the site especially meaningful.

 

The key point for foreign readers is that Chi Long is a place where the river created the landscape. The old channel became separated, water remained in the area, and the land developed into an island-like forest. This story makes the park more than a simple green space. It is a natural memory of the Chi River and a living example of how rivers shape the land and human settlement in Isan.

 

Overall, Chi Long Forest Park in Maha Sarakham is a valuable nature destination that combines mixed deciduous forest, large yang trees, native plants, calm water, an old river channel, and an island-like riverside landscape. Within a short distance from Maha Sarakham city, visitors can experience a peaceful green area that tells the story of river movement, forest growth, and local community connection. Anyone who wants to see a quieter natural side of Maha Sarakham should visit Chi Long Forest Park with patience, respect, and curiosity.

 

 

A: Chi Long Forest Park is located at Ban Wang Wa, Village No. 6, Tha Khon Yang Subdistrict, Kantharawichai District, Maha Sarakham Province, about 10 – 11 km from Maha Sarakham city.

 

A: It is a riverside mixed forest park shaped by the changing course of the Chi River. The old river channel became Lam Chi Long, creating an island-like forest area with year-round water, large native trees, and a calm natural atmosphere.

 

A: Chi Long Forest Park is open daily from 08.00 to 17.00.

 

A: No. Admission is free, and visitors should follow staff guidance and use the forest responsibly.

 

A: Visitors can see large yang trees, thong kwao or chan, wa, chanuan, maphlap, khae, krathum, mango, chamchuri, fig, krabao, kradon, wild kapok, tabaek, bamboo, khoi, shrubs, and thorny plants.

 

A: From Maha Sarakham city, take the Maha Sarakham – Kalasin route toward Ban Tha Khon Yang, then continue on Rural Road MK 4053 toward Ban Wang Wa. The distance is about 10 – 11 km.

 

A: Yes. It is suitable for foreign travelers interested in riverside forest, Chi River ecology, natural river-channel change, quiet local nature, and green spaces near Maha Sarakham city.

 

A: Travelers can continue to Wat Pa Wang Loeng, Wat Pa Wang Nam Yen, Mahasarakham University Museum, Maha Sarakham City Pillar Shrine, Tonson Market, and Wat Phutthamongkhon.