The preliminary submission to UNESCO by the Thai Culture Ministry will lay the groundwork for an initial inspection in December of this year. A second assessment should follow in March 2016 and the outcome as to whether the application was successful in June of the same year.
The historical park is a 1,200-acre designated segment of Udon Thani Province’s Phu Phra Bat Buabok Forest. The park is home to unique rocks and gravity-defying outcrops created millions of years ago. The added attractions of ruined religious shrines, stupas and idols plus ancient rock-paintings ensure Phu Phra Bat is a must for culture vultures.
If Phu Phra Bat gains UNESCO recognition it benefits from global advertising as well as aid in the event of a natural disaster. Weera Rojpojanarat, the Thai culture minister, said the listing would also help showcase Thai culture and draw more tourists to Udon Thani.
Thailand seeks UNESCO status for pre-historic site
News in Asia
The Thai cabinet has voted in favour of a plan to seek UNESCO World Heritage status for a park with pre-historic rock formations. Parliament passed a resolution yesterday saying it would summit Phu Phra Bat Park for UNESCO listing at the organisation’s Paris headquarters next week.