Kham Chanot Forest

Udon Thani · Thailand · Forest

The palm island of Kham Chanot is said to be the gateway to the Naga king's underworld — where in 1989 a travelling cinema screened a film for an audience of ghosts.

Kham Chanot is a floating island of chanot palms in a wetland in Udon Thani, held in folk belief to be the entrance to the underground realm of the serpent king Phaya Naga and one of the holiest and most feared places in Isan. Most famous is the incident of 1989, when a travelling film projectionist was hired by an unknown man to screen a movie in the middle of the night — a large audience emerged from the darkness, yet no one in the surrounding villages had attended, and the man who made the booking was never found. The tale of 'the ghosts who hired a cinema' is retold all over Thailand. Today the island draws thousands of pilgrims praying for lucky numbers and the Naga's protection.

FAQ

Where is Kham Chanot Forest located?

Kham Chanot Forest is in Udon Thani, Thailand.