Watched Jurassic World Rebirth? Follow this guide to explore dinos in Thailand

Hollywood has showcased dinosaurs in so many different ways for a long time and that has made people curious about the creatures that have for so long fascinated usWith Jurassic World Rebirth releasing earlier this July the interest around dinosaurs has been renewed but only this time it is because of the colourful landscapes of ThailandLong before they appeared in cinema dinosaurs inhabited what is now Thailand The Korat Plateau in the northeast is one of the regionrsquos most significant fossil zones offering discoveries that continue to reshape scientific understanding of prehistoric AsiaKhon KaenThailandrsquos first dinosaur fossilmdasha sauropod femurmdashwas discovered in 1976 at Phu Wiang Later finds include Phuwiangosaurus sirindhornae a longnecked planteater named in honour of HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn and Kinnareemimus khonkaenensis a birdlike dinosaur Nearby Nam Phong has produced spinosaurid teeth and vertebrae dating back over 110 million years These discoveries are showcased at the Phu Wiang Dinosaur Museum located within the fossilrich Phu Wiang National ParkGetting there Khon Kaen is served by flights trains and buses from Bangkok and other major Thai cities The Phu Wiang Dinosaur Museum is about 80 km from Khon Kaen city and can be reached by car or guided tourKalasinA new tyrannosauroid species a distant relative of T rex was uncovered here The province is also home to key fossil exhibits of species discovered in the region and beyondmdashincluding Psittacosaurus sattayaraki Siamosaurus suteethorni and specimens of Phuwiangosaurus sirindhornae The Sirindhorn Dinosaur Museum and the Phu Kum Khao Dinosaur Site located in Sahatsakhan District are major centres for research and public educationGetting there Kalasin is around 70 km east of Khon Kaen and is accessible by car or local bus The Sirindhorn Dinosaur Museum and Phu Kum Khao Dinosaur Site are well signposted and easily reached from the town centre by roadLarge statue of Phuwiangosaurus sirindhornae outside the Sirindhorn Dinosaur Museum building in Kalasin in ThailandColorful statue of Siamosaurus suteethorni with saillike spine displayed in a fountain at the Sirindhorn Dinosaur MuseumLifelike Tyrannosaurus rex statue surrounded by tropical foliage at Sirindhorn Dinosaur Museum in ThailandTravel tip Northeastern fossil routeThese three provinces are all located on the Korat Plateau and form a compact travelfriendly loop through Thailandrsquos dinosaur country Starting in Khon Kaen visitors can move east to Kalasin and then head southwest to Chaiyaphum making it possible to explore all major fossil museums and dig sites in a single road trip or multiday tour through northeast ThailandAdditional fossil regionsWhile Khon Kaen and Kalasin lead the way several other provinces also contribute to Thailandrsquos palaeontological record1 Chaiyaphum Part of the fossilrich Khorat Plateau While less prominent the area continues to yield Mesozoicera remains including rare crocodilian fossils2 Nakhon Ratchasima Discoveries of sauropod bones and ancient turtles3 Ubon Ratchathani Fossils of large herbivorous dinosaurs prehistoric fish and crocodilians4 Loei Fossilised remains of fish and early reptiles5 Nong Bua Lamphu Dinosaur remains from the same basin as Phu Wiang6 Phitsanulok Rare northern site with crocodile and prehistoric animal fossils7 Tak amp Kamphaeng Phet Fragmented teeth and bones under studySouthern fossil findsAlthough the northeast is Thailandrsquos fossil heartland the south has also revealed important prehistoric remains Krabi ndash A sauropod vertebra and Jurassicera amber were unearthed in the Khlong Min Formation Khlong Thom Districtmdashmarking southern Thailandrsquos first known dinosaur fossil These finds provide valuable insight into the regionrsquos ancient ecosystemsWhy it mattersThailandrsquos fossil record is helping scientists reconstruct ancient ecosystems and understand dinosaur evolution in Southeast Asia These discoveries have led to the naming of new species public museums and increased global interest in Thai palaeontology