Liptapanlop Information Center

Open Days: Daily

Opening Hours: 24 Hours

 

Liptapanlop Information Center, widely known as Suan Na Chat, is a roadside information center, rest area and scenic viewpoint beside Lam Takong Reservoir in Nakhon Ratchasima Province. It is located on Highway 2, Mittraphap Road, between kilometer markers 193 and 194, in Khlong Phai Subdistrict, Sikhio District. Covering about 37 rai, this rest area was developed to serve travelers heading into the northeastern region of Thailand. It provides tourism information, a place to rest, toilets, parking, small shops, a garden area and a viewpoint overlooking Lam Takong Reservoir. The most recognizable landmark is the stone sculpture of General Chatichai Choonhavan, Thailand’s former Prime Minister, standing with folded arms beside his beloved motorcycle.

 

The center is more than a normal highway stop. It was designed as a modern and complete roadside facility where drivers and passengers can rest safely during long journeys. Travelers on Mittraphap Road can stop to stretch, use the toilets, buy drinks, enjoy the reservoir view and reduce fatigue before continuing toward Nakhon Ratchasima city, Sikhio, Pak Chong, Khao Yai or other northeastern provinces. Its scenic position beside Lam Takong Reservoir makes the stop more memorable than an ordinary service area.

 

The name Liptapanlop Information Center is connected with the period when Suwat Liptapanlop served as Minister of Transport. The concept behind the project was to improve roadside rest facilities under the Department of Highways so that travelers would have places to stop, rest, use toilets and receive road and tourism information. Suwat Liptapanlop and supporters also contributed to the construction of this roadside facility, making the center both a public-service project and a local landmark of Nakhon Ratchasima.

 

The nickname “Suan Na Chat” comes from the sculpture of General Chatichai Choonhavan, a former Prime Minister of Thailand and an important political figure associated with Korat. Local people often referred to him affectionately as “Na Chat.” The sculpture shows him standing in his distinctive posture, arms folded and leaning beside his motorcycle. It is about 3.40 meters high and carved from green sandstone, a stone closely associated with Nakhon Ratchasima. This sculpture has become the visual symbol of the rest area and one of the most popular photo spots for travelers passing Lam Takong.

 

The atmosphere at Suan Na Chat is shaped by its position overlooking Lam Takong Reservoir. From the viewpoint, visitors can see the wide surface of the water, the surrounding hills and the open sky. The view is especially pleasant in the morning and late afternoon, when the light becomes softer and the reservoir surface reflects the sky. For drivers who have spent hours on the road, this view helps create a sense of relief and relaxation before continuing the trip.

 

The garden area allows visitors to walk briefly after sitting in a car for a long time. This makes the rest area useful for families, elderly travelers and passengers who need a short break. The open space, greenery and reservoir view make the stop suitable for a 20 to 45-minute pause. Travelers can use the toilets, buy drinks, photograph the statue and enjoy the view without needing a long detour from the main road.

 

The information building reflects the original purpose of the site. It was created as a travel information center for northeastern Thailand, with road information, tourism materials, maps, photographs of important attractions and displays of local handicrafts. These displays help travelers understand Korat and the wider Isan region before continuing their journey. The center therefore functions as a small gateway to northeastern travel, not merely a roadside toilet stop.

 

As one of the early examples of a modern roadside rest area in Thailand, Liptapanlop Information Center shows how travel infrastructure can combine comfort, safety and local identity. A good rest area is not only a place to park a car. It can support driver safety, reduce travel stress, provide public facilities and present local culture. Suan Na Chat remains meaningful because it combines all of these functions with a scenic reservoir view.

 

The location is strategic. It sits along a busy section of Mittraphap Road where many travelers pass between Bangkok, Saraburi, Pak Chong, Sikhio and Nakhon Ratchasima city. For travelers heading northeast from Bangkok, this is a useful stop after passing the hilly section around Lam Takong. For travelers leaving Korat toward Pak Chong or Bangkok, it can also be used as a rest point before continuing on a long drive. Its direct access from the highway is one of its main advantages.

 

Lam Takong Reservoir is central to the appeal of the area. The reservoir is one of Nakhon Ratchasima’s important landscapes, connected with irrigation, electricity generation, recreation and tourism. From Suan Na Chat, visitors can see the water and surrounding hills without leaving the main highway. This gives travelers a quick but memorable image of Korat: water, mountains, roads and the entrance to the Northeast.

 

For photography, Suan Na Chat offers several useful angles. The most famous subject is the sculpture of General Chatichai beside his motorcycle. Visitors also photograph the reservoir viewpoint, the garden, the information building and the open scenery of Lam Takong. The best photos are usually taken in the morning or late afternoon, when the light is softer and the reservoir view appears more atmospheric.

 

Suan Na Chat is suitable for a short travel stop, but it can also be connected with nearby attractions. Visitors can continue to Lam Takong viewpoint, Khao Yai Thiang wind turbines, Lam Takong Jolabha Vadhana Power Plant, Lam Takong Reservoir, Lam Takong Dam, Suan Thao Suranari and Khao Yai Thiang viewpoints. This makes the rest area a convenient starting point for a short route around Lam Takong and Khao Yai Thiang.

 

Families benefit from this kind of rest area because long drives can be tiring for children and elderly passengers. The center provides a place to walk, sit, use toilets and enjoy a view. Children can stretch after sitting in a car, while adults can rest before driving again. Because the site is located beside a major highway, children should be supervised closely near parking areas and road access points.

 

The local cultural displays inside the center add value to the stop. Handicrafts, photographs and regional information introduce travelers to the identity of the Northeast. This reflects the center’s role as an information point for Isan travel. Even a short visit can give travelers a sense of place before they continue deeper into the region.

 

The sculpture of General Chatichai Choonhavan gives the place its strongest identity. It is not a formal monument in a distant public square, but a friendly and distinctive sculpture in a travel rest area. The folded-arms posture and motorcycle create a memorable image. For Thai travelers, especially those from Korat, the sculpture carries local memory and affection. For foreign travelers, it offers an interesting introduction to a Thai political figure associated with the province.

 

The green sandstone used for the sculpture also connects the landmark with Nakhon Ratchasima’s geology and local materials. Sandstone has long been important in the region’s architectural and artistic traditions. Using green sandstone for the sculpture gives it a strong local character, both in subject and material.

 

Suan Na Chat is also a practical stop before visiting Khao Yai Thiang. Travelers heading to the wind turbines, the upper reservoir, EGAT Learning Center Lam Takong or hilltop cafés can use the rest area to pause, check the route and prepare before driving uphill. The area is especially useful for visitors arriving from Bangkok who want a short break before continuing to the mountain road.

 

The most pleasant times to visit are morning and late afternoon. Morning offers cooler air and softer light over Lam Takong Reservoir. Late afternoon is suitable for photography and a final rest before continuing a journey. During the middle of the day, visitors should choose shaded areas or indoor service zones because some parts of the rest area are open and exposed to the sun.

 

Getting There is easiest by private car. From Pak Chong, follow Mittraphap Road or Highway 2 toward Nakhon Ratchasima. The center is on the left-hand side between kilometer markers 193 and 194. From Bangkok, travel via Saraburi, Muak Lek and Pak Chong, then continue toward Sikhio and Lam Takong. From Nakhon Ratchasima city, travel west along Mittraphap Road toward Sikhio and Pak Chong, using safe U-turns and access points when approaching the rest area.

 

Because this is a roadside facility on a major highway, safe driving and parking are important. Drivers should slow down before entering, park only in designated areas, avoid stopping on the road shoulder and supervise children around parking and road-access zones. Visitors taking photographs near signs or the entrance should choose safe points that do not obstruct traffic.

 

The facilities include parking, toilets, a viewpoint, a garden, an information building, drinks, essential items and rest areas. Some small shops and services operate according to their own schedules, while the rest area and viewpoint can be used throughout the day. This makes Suan Na Chat useful both for quick stops and for travelers who want a scenic break.

 

For travelers from other provinces, the center is a useful waypoint for planning a Korat route. It is close to Pak Chong, Sikhio, Khao Yai Thiang and Lam Takong Dam. During long holidays, when traffic on Mittraphap Road is often heavy, a spacious and scenic rest area like this helps make the journey more comfortable.

 

Compared with ordinary roadside stops, Suan Na Chat has a stronger story. It has a background related to highway development, a name connected with Suwat Liptapanlop, a memorable sculpture of General Chatichai Choonhavan, a view over Lam Takong Reservoir and the function of a travel information center for the Northeast. These elements make it a small but meaningful attraction rather than a simple toilet stop.

 

Overall, Liptapanlop Information Center, or Suan Na Chat, is an important rest area and viewpoint on the route to northeastern Thailand. It combines travel information, highway services, a reservoir viewpoint, a garden, local identity and a landmark sculpture in one place. Travelers passing Lam Takong should stop at least once to rest, enjoy the view, photograph the General Chatichai sculpture and experience one of Korat’s most recognizable roadside landmarks.

 

 

A: Liptapanlop Information Center, also known as Suan Na Chat, is located on Highway 2, Mittraphap Road, between kilometer markers 193 and 194 in Khlong Phai Subdistrict, Sikhio District, Nakhon Ratchasima Province, beside Lam Takong Reservoir.

 

A: The roadside rest area and viewpoint are open daily for 24 hours, while small shops and individual services operate according to their own service hours.

 

A: Admission to the roadside rest area and viewpoint is free. Travelers can stop, rest, use the viewpoint and take photographs without paying an entrance fee.

 

A: It is a 37-rai roadside rest area with Lam Takong Reservoir views, tourism information, gardens, toilets, drink shops and the 3.40-meter sculpture of General Chatichai Choonhavan.

 

A: The nickname comes from the sculpture of General Chatichai Choonhavan, a former Prime Minister affectionately known by many Korat people as “Na Chat.” The sculpture is the main landmark of the site.

 

A: From Pak Chong, follow Mittraphap Road or Highway 2 toward Nakhon Ratchasima. The rest area is on the left-hand side between kilometer markers 193 and 194 beside Lam Takong Reservoir.

 

A: Nearby places include Lam Takong viewpoint, Khao Yai Thiang wind turbines, Lam Takong Jolabha Vadhana Power Plant, Lam Takong Reservoir, Lam Takong Dam and Suan Thao Suranari.

 

A: Visitors should park only in designated areas, slow down before entering, avoid crossing the highway on foot, supervise children near the parking area and keep the viewpoint and rest area clean.