Thailand's
TOP TEN
Terrestrial
National Parks |
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Secluded
Scenic Landscapes Unveiled |
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By
Ninnart
Photos
by courtesy of TAT and
The Royal Forestry Department |
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Thailand is famous for its crystal clear blue seas
with powdery sand. Most avid divers come back time
after time because of its wonderful coral reefs
and marine lives. Still, there are other rarely
seen land areas in this country, such as well-preserved
dense forests which are inviting adventurous tourists
to visit them. Up to now, the country possesses
81 terrestrial national parks covering a total area
of 46,453.3 sq km. They are distributed throughout
the country. These national parks are frequented
by large numbers of visitors throughout the year.
Thaiways will present to you the top ten terrestrial
national parks most frequently visited by foreigners
in this and the next issue (five per issue). The
complete version of this story can be obtained from
www.thaiwaysmagazine.com after 10 Nov. 2004. |
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Early morning at Doi Inthanon |
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Doi Inthanon
National Park
Situated in Chiang Mai, this park is well known
for its mountain peak, which is 2,565 metres above
sea level and is the highest mountain of Thailand.
Its former name was Doi Angka, meaning the Mount
of Crow Basin. |
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Doi Inthanon's verdant vegetation |
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Doi Inthanon is a granite mountain
forming part of the Thanon Thongchai Range which
is the border between Thailand and Myanmar. The
temperature varies according to the altitude,
the lowest ever recorded on the summit was -8°c.
The park is often shrouded in mist. The views
from Doi Inthanon are the best in the cool season
from November to February. |
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Mae Klang Waterfall |
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 Along
the 47km road to the top, you will see many terraced
rice fields and a few small hilltribe villages.
Around 400 species of birds inhabit in the park.
The best bird-watching season is from February to
April and the best watching spots are the bogs near
the top. Mammals found in the park area include
serows, deer, tigers, wild pigs, gibbons, Siamese
hares, and smaller animals of the cat family.
Many points of interest are waiting for you to be
impressed by their charms. Mae Klang Waterfall is excellent for swimming and picnicking. Siribhum
Waterfall is actually two cascades flowing down
side by side and their name is the first parts of
the names of Their Majesties the present King and
Queen. An even more beautiful waterfall, Mae
Ya, which is 250 metres high, is worth a visit. |
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Mae Ya Waterfall |
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are also a few vantage points along the road to
view the scenic landscape, including the twin magnificent
chedis Napha Methanidon & Napaphol Phummisiri,
which contain the Buddha's relics and were built
by the Royal Thai Air Force in commemoration of
the 60th birthday of Their Majesties The King and
Queen in 1987 and 1992 respectively. For nature
trekkers and bird watchers, many trails are available,
of which some are old routes used by hill tribes. |
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Colourful flowers on Huai Nam
Dang Hill |
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How
to get there
Follow Highway 108 from Chiang Mai. At km 57 just
1 km before the town of Chom Thong, turn onto Highway
1009 (Chom Thong-Mae Chaem). At km 31 the park headquarters
is situated. |
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Huai Nam Dang National Park
Huai Nam Dang National Park straddles Mae Taeng
County in Chiang Mai and Pai County in Mae Hong
Son. The forests here are well known for their luxuriance
and pure natural condition. Mountain ranges in the
park extend from north to south. They are water
sources of many streams in the north of this country. Doi Chang is the highest mount among them.
During the cool season (Nov.-Feb.), the lowest temperature
ever recorded was 9°c. The park features vantage points offering scenic
views of hills shrouded in mist.
Flora in the park mostly are economic plants such
as Dipterocarpus alatus and Shorea Siamensis Miq.
Wildlife in the park includes elephants, deer, bears,
barking deer, serows, tigers, civets, monkeys, red
junglefowls, Siamese firebacks and a lot of birds. |
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A misty morning at Huai Nam
Dang |
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| Well-known
points of interest are: Huai Nam Dang vantage
point, where the Water Source Development Unit II
is located, provides a breathtaking scene of the
sun rise. Doi Chang (Elephant Mount) Vantage
Point, with its 1,962 m height above sea level,
is another recommended site to have a fine view
of verdant mountain ranges and a sea of mist. Huai
Nam Dang Waterfall is 50 metres high and 10
metres wide. |
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| Mae
Yen Waterfall has its source in Mae Yen Luang Creek which runs to the Pai River. If your
schedule is not too tight, you should not miss a
visit to Pong Ron Hot Spring whose water
temperature reaches 80°c.
This hot spring comprises two main ponds with small
springs scattered all around. Teak woods grow densely
in the area, too. |
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A little house on the top of
Huai Nam Dang |
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How
to get there
From Chiang Mai Town, take highway 107. Then, turn
left at Mae Malai market (in Mae Taeng County) to
highway 1095 (Mae Malai-Pai). Somewhere between
km 65 and 66, you will see a security guard box.
Turn right and drive along for a further six kilometres,
you'll reach the park. |
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| Tham Pla-Namtok
Pha Sua National Park |
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recently established national park is located 20
km to the west of Mae Hong Son's Muang County. Tham
Pla or Fish Cave, with the water source from
the mountain, is the habitat of hundreds of big
carp measuring about 1 m long. Local people dare
not catch them for fear of the punishment from the
powerful deities protecting the land. |
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Fish Cave |
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Visitors can take a look at the fish through a 2
sq m rock hole at the base of an outer wall of the
cave. Apart from fish, other animals are squirrels,
barking deer, common wild pigs, monkeys and bears.
Moreover, red junglefowls and various species of
birds help add colour to the park.
Besides the Fish Cave, this national park has other
points of interest to offer such as PHA Sua Waterfall,
a multi levelled cataract with year-round water.
Moreover, Huai Khan Kha Han, Mae Sa-nga Klang and Huai Pong On Waterfalls are all worth
visiting because of lush forest plus pure natural
scenery. If you have plenty of time, a stop at Phu
Khron Hot Spring is recommended.
How to get there
The park is 20 km north-west of Mae Hong Son's Muang
County, on Highway 1095. |
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| Nam-tok
PHA Charoen National Park |
| It
is situated in Tak province (Highway 1090 Mae Sot-Umphang),
surrounded with wildlife sanctuaries, Musoe tribe
villages, and reserved forests. As part of Thanon
Thongchai mountain range, the park's topography
is high mountains with valleys and waterfalls. The
highest peak is 1,610 metres. This mountain range
is the water source of many streams like Huai
Nam Nak, Huai Mai Paen and Huai Nok
Lae. The park is best visited from November
to May. More than 21 birds species inhabit here
but the star is Asian Palm-Swift. Rare species of
white-handed gibbons and pig-tailed macaques are
found occasionally. |
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| Attractions
are as follows: PHA Charoen Waterfall is
a 97-leap-limestone fall. The name was derived from
the village of the same name. There is water all
year round but the best time to visit this waterfall
is around the end of the rainy season. |
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PHA Sua Waterfall |
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Pa
Wai (Rattan Forest) Waterfall The waterfall
was named according to its surroundings in which
rattan is exuberant. To appreciate its beauty, you
have to climb up each leap and walk into the water. Sai Rung Waterfall is another striking
place to drop by.
How to get there
From Tak's Muang County, go along Highway 1090 (Mae
Sot-Um Phang). At km 37, turn left for a further
700 m to reach the park office. |
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| Ob Khan Gorge National
Park |
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park covers the land of several counties in Chiang
Mai province. Most areas are mountains with the
highest Khun Tian summit 1,550 m above sea level.
It was established as a national park according
to the government's policy to increase the preserved
forest areas. |
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Ob Khan Gorge |
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The
climate is cool all year round. Its fauna include
many species of birds and small mammals like barking
deer, civets, fishing cats, monkeys, rabbits, squirrels
and wild pigs. Moreover, insects are abundant in
the park (about 6,000 kinds have been discovered).
Due to different altitudes of the park, there are
dry evergreen forest, hill evergreen forest and
mixed deciduous forest.
Ob Khan Gorge is the highlight of the park.
It was originally a steep cliff eroded by water,
resulting in two striking cliffs separated with
a stream running through them. The setting is forested
and picturesque. Ob Hai looks like Ob Khan
but smaller. Tup Cliff is a small cliff,
2 km from Ob Hai. Tak Taen Cave is a large
cave with magnificent stalagmites and stalactites. Mae Tian, Mae Sapok and Huai Mae
Win Waterfalls make the park more colourful.
How to get there
From the town of Chiang Mai, take Highway 108 to
Hang Dong County and then turn left for a further
45 km to reach the park office.
 If
you are interested to spend your holiday at any
of these national parks, it is very convenient to
contact a travel agent. But if you'd like to go
by yourself, you should gather more information
about the routes and accommodation in advance from
the Royal Forestry Department (Tel. 0 2561 4292-3
Ext. 724-725) and get yourself prepared for different
conditions of the forests. For example, in the rainy
season, besides a raincoat, you must bring socks
that can protect you from land leeches. And in the
cool season, thick jackets are necessary. Furthermore,
you are required to always contact the relevant
park office for expert advice. In case of complicated
routes, ask the ranger to guide you.
(To be continued on "Top Ten Terrestrial National Park Part II" ) |
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Related links
Khao Sok National Park
Attractions
of Natural Beauty Part I
Attractions of Natural Beauty Part II
Top
ten terrestrial national park II
Let's
Enjoy Outdoor Activities in Thailand |
