Royal Forest Department Centennial Arboretum (Phu Kum Khao)

The Arboretum is situated in the permanent forest area of around 2.4 square kilometres, Ban Non Makha, Tambon Kut Lo. Phu Kum Khao has an appearance like a large pile of rice and a small volcano. There is a Phrathat made from wood and Buddha images on the top of the hill. Phu Kum Khao is a sacred place and a centre of unity for Tambon Kut Lo’s community and Amphoe Kaset Sombun’s people. On the 8 th day of the waning moon of the 5 th lunar month of each year, villagers will make merit, which has been inherited since the past to the present, called “Ao Bun Phu Kum Khao”. The natural state is a dry dipterocarp forest, with abundant valuable plants; such as, Makha wood, Siamese Sal, Sindora siamensis, Burma Padauk, Star Gooseberry and Myrabolan Wood. The forest ground is laterite, a large stone outcrop on the ground. To get there: Take the Chaiyaphum-Chum Phae bus to Amphoe Phu Khiao for 80 kilometres, then take the Amphoe Kaset Sombun bus to the Arboretum (Phu Kum Khao) for 7 kilometres.