Thamnop Reservoir

Open Days: Daily

Opening Hours: 08.30 – 18.00

 

Thamnop Reservoir in Surin, also known as Ban Thamnop Reservoir or Othalun Dam, is a natural water attraction and local recreation area in Charat Subdistrict, Buachet District, Surin Province. Located around Ban Othalun near the Thai – Cambodian border, the reservoir sits within the southern Surin landscape connected with the Phanom Dong Rak mountain range. It is an earth embankment dam built across Huai Siat Cha-oeng, with a storage capacity of about 1,000,000 cubic meters. Its appeal lies in the wide water surface, quiet mountain views, forest surroundings, local food, and the simple rural atmosphere of a border community.

 

The charm of Thamnop Reservoir comes from its natural simplicity. Visitors see open water, hills in the background, forest edges, local roads, and the relaxed life of Ban Othalun community. It is not a heavily commercialized destination. It is a real community water source that also works as a peaceful place for sitting by the water, taking photographs, enjoying local food, playing in safe water areas, and spending slow time with nature.

 

The name Thamnop reflects the structure of the place. In Thai, a thamnop refers to a dam or embankment built to hold water. The names Ban Thamnop Reservoir and Othalun Dam are used locally because of the connection with Ban Othalun in Charat Subdistrict. These names refer to the same destination from different angles: a water-retention structure, a community landmark, and a local tourism site.

 

Huai Siat Cha-oeng is central to the identity of the reservoir. The stream is part of the natural water system connected with the forested area of Huai Thap Than – Huai Samran Wildlife Sanctuary, which covers parts of Kap Choeng, Sangkha, and Buachet districts. The reservoir is therefore not an isolated water body. It belongs to a larger borderland ecosystem of forest, hills, streams, farms, and local communities.

 

As a water source, Thamnop Reservoir supports agriculture and household water use in Charat Subdistrict and nearby communities. Water stored in the reservoir helps farming, fruit orchards, field crops, and local livelihoods. Buachet District has strong agricultural potential, especially in fruit-growing areas, so a stable water source is important for both food production and community stability.

 

As a travel destination, Thamnop Reservoir adds another dimension to Buachet District. The district is known for Khao Sala, Wat Khao Sala Atulthanacharo, Ban Charat Reservoir, forest areas, waterfalls, orchards, and borderland landscapes. Thamnop Reservoir fits into this wider route as a calm waterfront stop that connects water, forest, agriculture, and local food.

 

The landscape around the reservoir is defined by open water and mountain scenery. During high-water periods, the reservoir looks broad and reflective, with sky and hills mirrored on the surface. During lower-water periods, shoreline areas become more visible and local residents use the water edge for rest and seasonal recreation. This changing character gives the place a different atmosphere throughout the year.

 

Morning is the quietest time to visit. The light is soft, the air is fresh, and the surrounding forest and village atmosphere feel calm. Late afternoon is another good period, when local people come to sit by the water, eat, take photos, and enjoy the breeze. Sunset light over the reservoir creates one of the most attractive scenes at Thamnop Reservoir.

 

Common activities include relaxing by the reservoir, playing in safe water areas, eating local food, taking photographs, walking along the embankment area, and enjoying the rural landscape. The destination is suitable for families, groups of friends, and travelers who want a quiet nature stop on the Buachet – Charat – Ban Othalun route.

 

Local food is part of the visitor experience. During active travel periods, community food shops around the reservoir serve drinks, som tam, Isan food, grilled dishes, fish menus, and simple snacks. Eating beside the water gives travelers a direct sense of local life. The reservoir is a place where community income, local food, and natural scenery meet.

 

Swimming and water play are part of the local character of the reservoir, especially during hot weather. Visitors should use only safe areas commonly used by local people. Deep water, areas close to dam structures, and places with fast-changing water levels should be avoided. Children should always stay under adult supervision. Safety is the main condition for enjoying every reservoir landscape.

 

Thamnop Reservoir is also connected with eco-tourism development in Charat Subdistrict. Local reports mention improvement work around the embankment area, including lighting to support visitors and community use. The surrounding landscape has strong potential because of its forest, hills, waterfalls, reservoir scenery, and agricultural routes. This makes the reservoir a base for nature-focused local tourism.

 

Ban Othalun also carries local historical stories connected with Prasat Tapiang Run and traces of ancient structures that have been associated with the reservoir area when water levels recede. This gives the place cultural depth beyond its natural scenery. The reservoir is part of a landscape where water, community memory, settlement history, and southern Isan heritage are connected.

 

For visitors, these local stories make the trip more meaningful. Thamnop Reservoir is not only a place to rest by the water. It is also a space where community memory, old settlement patterns, local archaeology, and everyday rural life can be understood together. This kind of layered experience is valuable for travelers who want to see more than the surface of a destination.

 

The reservoir also connects well with Buachet’s fruit-growing identity. Charat and Buachet areas are promoted for fruits such as durian, rambutan, longan, mangosteen, jackfruit, and other local produce. A trip to Thamnop Reservoir can be combined with fruit orchards, local food, and agricultural tourism routes, especially during the fruit season.

 

The inclusion of Thamnop Reservoir in local activity promotion such as running and fruit-related tourism events shows that the area remains part of Buachet District’s active tourism landscape. It is a destination that can support health activities, agricultural tourism, community tourism, and nature-based travel at the same time.

 

Travel access has become more practical because the route links Buachet District, Charat Subdistrict, Ban Othalun, Ban Charat Reservoir, Khao Sala, and nearby communities. A private car or motorcycle is the most convenient option because it allows travelers to combine several natural and community destinations in one day.

 

Getting There from Surin city is by road toward Buachet District, then into Charat Subdistrict and Ban Othalun. The total distance from downtown Surin is about 90 km. From Buachet town, the reservoir is about 20 km away. Visitors can use Ban Thamnop Reservoir or Othalun Dam as the main navigation name.

 

A half-day or full-day plan works well for this destination. Travelers starting from Surin city should leave in the morning and combine the reservoir with Khao Sala, Ban Charat Reservoir, Tri Khiri Waterfall, fruit orchards, or other places in Charat Subdistrict. Travelers staying in Buachet can spend more time by the water and experience the local atmosphere more slowly.

 

The rainy season and the period after the rains are attractive because the reservoir holds more water and the surrounding forest becomes greener. The cool season is comfortable for morning scenery and soft mist in nearby natural areas. The hot season is suitable for late-afternoon visits and safe water play. Water levels and local conditions should always guide how the area is used.

 

Thamnop Reservoir is not a city-style attraction with large facilities. Its value is found in water, mountains, forest, food stalls, local people, and a quiet village atmosphere. Travelers who enjoy simple and authentic places will understand the character of this reservoir more clearly than those looking for a fully commercialized destination.

 

Visitors should keep the reservoir clean, avoid leaving waste by the water, avoid loud disturbance, park only in suitable areas, and protect the water quality. The reservoir is both a tourist place and a community water source. Keeping the area clean directly protects Ban Othalun, Charat Subdistrict, and the wider Buachet community.

 

For families, the reservoir is a relaxing place to stop, rest, and enjoy water views. Children should be watched closely near the water. Visitors should avoid deep areas, dam structures, and water zones that change quickly after rainfall. A safe visit allows the reservoir to remain enjoyable for all ages.

 

For photographers, Thamnop Reservoir offers several visual angles: the earth embankment, wide water, mountain background, local food areas, community activity, sunset reflections, and natural borderland scenery. The images are not artificial. They show the real landscape of southern Surin, where water and community life remain closely connected.

 

Nearby attractions that fit well with the reservoir include Ban Charat Reservoir, Tri Khiri Waterfall, Wat Khao Sala Atulthanacharo, Pha Tham Phra, Buachet fruit orchards, and Huai Thap Than – Huai Samran Wildlife Sanctuary. Combining these places creates a complete southern Surin route with water, forest, hills, temples, fruit, and local food.

 

For international travelers, Thamnop Reservoir offers an accessible view of rural southern Isan. It is not focused on major monuments or urban attractions. It shows how a local water source supports agriculture, food, rest, community income, and everyday life. This makes it a meaningful local travel experience for visitors who want to understand Surin beyond its main tourist image.

 

Thamnop Reservoir in Surin is therefore a valuable place where nature, water management, agriculture, community life, and local tourism meet. With its earth embankment across Huai Siat Cha-oeng, storage capacity of about 1,000,000 cubic meters, mountain views, local food, and quiet borderland atmosphere, it is one of the meaningful nature stops in Buachet District.

 

 

A: Thamnop Reservoir is located around Ban Othalun, Charat Subdistrict, Buachet District, Surin Province, near the Thai – Cambodian border.

 

A: Thamnop Reservoir is open daily from 08.30 to 18.00.

 

A: The main highlight is its large earth embankment across Huai Siat Cha-oeng, with a storage capacity of about 1,000,000 cubic meters, wide water views, mountain scenery, forest surroundings, and a peaceful local atmosphere.

 

A: Visitors can play in safe water areas commonly used by the local community. Deep water, dam structures, and areas with fast-changing water levels should be avoided.

 

A: Suitable activities include relaxing by the reservoir, photographing water and mountain scenery, eating local food, playing in safe water areas, watching sunset, and combining the trip with orchards or nature routes in Charat Subdistrict.

 

A: Travel from Surin city toward Buachet District, then continue to Charat Subdistrict and Ban Othalun. The total distance is about 90 km, and private car or rental car is the most convenient option.

 

A: Morning is suitable for quiet scenery and soft light, while late afternoon is best for enjoying the breeze, safe water play, and sunset views over the reservoir.

 

A: Nearby places include Ban Charat Reservoir, Tri Khiri Waterfall, Wat Khao Sala Atulthanacharo, Pha Tham Phra, Huai Thap Than – Huai Samran Wildlife Sanctuary, Buachet fruit orchards, and Buachet town.