Doi Suthep - Pui National Park

General Information
Doi Suthep-Pui used to be known as Doi Oi Chang. Its new name comes from the name of a hermit, Prarusiwasuthep who lived at Doi Suthep-Pui was a protected forest. In 1973, The Royal Forest Department decided that Doi Suthep and 13 other forest areas in the country should eventually be national parks. The Royal Forest Department sent Mr.Panya Boonsomboon to survey the area.

After that, the national park committed decided that only forest in good condition should be included in Doi Suthep-Pui National park and areas occupied by villagers should be excluded. In 1981, as the 24th national park of Thailand which encompasses 161.06 square kilometers. The following year, an additional 100 square kilometers were annexed to the park, bringing the total to 261.06 square kilometers.


Topography
Doi Suthep, Doi Buakha and Doi Pui are the three main peaks in the park. The highest peak, Doi Pui, rises to 1,685 meters above mean sea levels.

Climate
Because of the high altitude, the weather on the upper slopes of the mountains is cool and pleasant all year even in hot season, average temperature is about 20 - 23 degree celsuis. In the cool season, the air is cold and clear. Temperature can drop as low as 6 degree celsuis in February, August and September are the wettest months with rain falling daily.

Flora and Fauna
There are two basic types of forest on the mountain: Deciduous forest below about 1,000 m elevation and evergreen forest above. The deciduous is further divided into two kinds, deciduous dipterocarp-oak Forest in the driest areas and mixed evergreen deciduous forest along streams and gullies. Common species are trees of the families Dipterocarpaceae, Fagaceae and Magnoliaceae.

Wildlife in the park includes common muntjac, wild boar, macaque and other small mammals. More than 300 species of birds can be seen here, including red junglefowl, pheasants, eagles, parrots, bulbuls and minivets. Rare species of amphibian, the crocodile salamander that can be found in only four localities in Thailand, one in Doi Suthep.

Doi Phahompok National Park (Mae Fang)

General Information
Mae Fang National Park, located in Amphur Mae Eye, Amphur Fang, Amphur Chai Prakarn of Chiang Mai Province, consists of complicated geography which is a part of a watershed called Dan Lao Mountain Range. It is the productive forest which not only has a great number of plants and animals but also beautiful natures, for examples, Huai Bond Cave, Hot-mineral Water Pond, Hot Spring and Mae Jai Stream. It is an importantly traveling place of Chiangmai Province. Traveler can take convenient ways to get there. It is 524 square kilometers, and has been declared a national park since September 4, 2000.

Climate
The temperature in this area is approximately 25 degrees Celsius all the year round; it is about 14 - 19 degrees Celsius on November to February, the highest temperature is 39 degree Celsius on April and heavy rain on May to September approximately 1,184 mm. of rain all the year round.


Flora and Fauna
The forest is productive and consists of semi-evergreen forest, montane forest, pine forest (coniferous forest), mixed forest and deciduous forest which have many kinds of economically valuable plants such as Malabar ironwood, wild Euphorbiaceae, Yang, Burmese ebony, Lagerstroemia, Teak wood, wild champak and emblic myrabolan etc. And more importantly, there are rare floras such as Impatiens jurpioides T. Shimizu and Rhododendronwhich which can be normally found in Doi Pha Hhom Bhog.

The forest of Mae Fang National Park is on complicated mountain and in contact with the forest of Myanmar so that makes many kinds of wild animal migrating into this area regularly. And because it is the productive forest so that makes it have a number of animals, for examples, mammals such as barking deer, deer, bear, wild bore, loris and mountain goat—a reserve animal of Thailand, birds such as turtledove and purple cochoa--found only in Northern Thailand, and nearly extinct butterfly such as Imperial Butterfly, Kaiser Butterfly and Phutan Butterfly.

Doi Inthanon National Park

General Information

Doi Inthanon National Park covers the areas of Sanpatong District, Chomthong District, Mae Chaem District, Mae Wang District, and Toi Lor Sub-district of Chiang Mai Province within an approximate area of 482 square kilometers. The National Park consists of high mountains, including Doi Inthanon, which is the highest mountaintop in Thailand and the source of many rivers such as Ping River, where the Bhumipol Dam is situated and generating the electrical power. The National Park has beautiful natural scenery such as waterfalls, particularly Mae Ya Waterfall, which is one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Thailand.

Historically, the mountain of Doi Inthanon was refered to as Doi Ang Ka. Prince Intharawichayanon, the last ruler of Chiang Mai, realized the importance of the country’s forests, especially in the north, where the forest serve as the watershed for the country. He was interested in helping and supporting people who were investigating the history in his area. So he requested that his body must be placed on the summit of Doi Ang Ka. After his death, the mountain was renamed Inthanon, a short version of his name. Today, visitors can see the Inthanon Wichayanon stupa on the summit of Doi Ang Ka.

Topography

The geographical features of the National Park consists of high mountains, including Doi Inthanon, which is the highest mountaintop in Thailand (2,565 meters above the sea level), followed by Doi Huamodluang (2,330 meters above the sea level). Doi Inthanon is the source of many rivers including Mae Klang, Mae Pakong, Mae Pon, Mae Hoi, Mae Ya, Mae Chaem, Mae Khan, and being part of Ping River, where the Bhumipol Dam is situated and generating the electrical power.

Climate

Since the National Park is located at 2,565 meters above the sea level, it has cold weather and high humidity throughout the year, particularly on the top of the National Park. In winter, the temperature at the National Park is below 0„ac. And in summer, despite hot weather in central Chiang Mai and nearby districts, it is still freezing on the top of Doi Inthanon and tourists should be prepared with thick clothes.

Flora and Fauna

The forest in the park is one of the country’s very significance and valuable heritage. Forests include Moist Evergreen Forest, Pine forest and Mixed Deciduous Forest, worth in economic like teak and mountain pine. Dipterocarp spp. Xylia xylocarpa, Pterocarpus, macrocapus Terminalia sp. and Lagerstroemia sp. to name a few. In addition to these, there are many beautiful flowers including vanda orchid, phycastylis and rhododendron. Sphagnum Moss and osmanda fern are found at higher levels in the park. fifty years ago, the mountain peaks were home of hill tribe people. The biggest village was Ban Khun Klang, whose agriculture method was often destructive to the forest ecosystem. Currently the several Royal Projects, assists the villagers in growing cold-climate fruit such as strawberries, grapes and apples as well as flowers. The number of wild animals in the park is decreasing the encroachment. The animals are hunted and their habitats are destroyed for agriculture. The remaining animals include serpent, gibbons, tigers, deer, wild boars, Siamese hares and Red Jungle fowls.

Because of its broad altitudinal range and the cool climate of its upper reaches, the park supports the largest number of bird species of any site in Thailand. The Center for Wildlife Research at Mahidol University records a present total of 362 species and expects addition many at the summit are migrants from northern Asia. Species restricted to Doi Inthanon are Ashy-throated Warbler and an endemic race of the Green-tailed Sunbird; the park is the only site where the Chestnut-bellied Rock-Thrush and the Yellow-bellied Flower pecker are known to over summer and probably breed.

source : dnp.go.th

Erawan National Park

Thailand’s national parks are now gaining recognition in national travel awards. Designed to honour those who promote the conservation of nature and culture and contribute to sustainable tourism development, tourism awards are beginning to give recognition to national parks which are demonstrating their capacity to foster eco-tourist activities.


Erawan National Park, located northwest of Bangkok in the Tenasserim Mountain Range, Kanchanaburi province, has been recognised by the Tourism Authority of Thailand in the 2006 Thailand Tourism Awards in the Natural Site - Central region category.


Considered one of the country’s finest natural attractions, Erawan National Park is best known for its seven-tiered waterfall topped by a rock formation shaped like a three-headed elephant. From its crest, clear water tumbles in a series of cascades to rock pools shaded by dense foliage.


Your first opportunity to identify the park comes compliments of Google Earth’s satellite images. You will quickly spot an enormous mass of water, an inland sea surrounded by ranges in Thailand’s western region. Formed by the Sri Nakharin Dam, built across a craggy narrow gorge, this vast reservoir covered valleys, created islands and ultimately forced rural communities to resettle on higher ground. It now constitutes the northeast border of the park. This is a mixed tropical forest with seasonal evergreen trees, almost unbearably hot in April but pleasantly cool from November to February.


From the dam, the picturesque River Kwai Yai gently meanders through a limestone gorge marking the park’s eastern border.

For most of the year torrents of water plunge over the high ledges, dropping 1,500 metres in seven cascades, each more difficult to reach than the one before for those visitors prepared to follow the trail to its crest. At its base, river fish inhabit rock pools unperturbed by visitors.
Recognised as Thailand’s second most popular national park after Khao Yai, the park’s waterfall is its best known landmark and the main reason why thousands of visitors add the 65-kilometre trip from Kanchanaburi town to their trip.

It is a 700-metre walk along a trail from the line of shops and restaurants in the car park, to the waterfall’s second level. Here a refreshing pool beckons hikers to remove their boots and soak their tired feet in the cool water, before resuming a two-kilometre climb along trails cut from the dense foliage and maintained by park officials. Some visitors go no further. They soak or swim in the pool, shaded by trees or enjoy a picnic lunch served on moss-stained timber tables that stand under giant teak trees.

Serious trail walking begins here if you are to reach level three where torrents of white frothing water cascade over a rock face. Of all the levels, number five is considered the most dramatic as the water tumbles over several terraces. Approximately half way through the trek, a lookout point provides a welcome respite from the climb and an inspiring panoramic view of the lush verdant landscape.

The tough one-hour climb ends at level six where the trail disappears. From here, you must climb a ladder like structure to the left of the waterfall and then cross a stream for the last 100-metre climb to the top where you can witness the surge of mountain water tumbling over the edge in a dramatic 1,500 metre descent to the base pool. The best time to visit the falls is during the rainy season from May to October when the water level is high and the cascades are at full force. Due to the park’s popularity — there are an estimated 60,000 visitors each year — the narrow trail is often crowded during the peak hours just before lunch on weekends and public holidays.


The park is the first stop for group excursions that travel through the two picturesque valleys of the rivers Kwai Yai and Noi enjoying treks, river rafting and a train ride along the viaducts of the River Kwai rail track.
Eco-tourism visits take in more of the Erawan National Park than its popular waterfall. The objective is to observe the diversity of a park that covers 550 square kilometres in a region where forested hills rise almost 1,000 metres high.


Caves are another of the park’s attractions. A visit to Phra That Cave, twelve kilometres from the headquarters, ranks as the most popular. A 480-metre long trail ascends to the cave’s entrance, where you enter a dark subterranean world of limestone domes sculpted by the incessant seepage of stream water. Over the centuries, mineral-laden droplets of water have fashioned stalagmites that rise up from the cavern floors. The ceiling glistens in the torch light, with stalactites arrayed like organ pipes in a cathedral.


Apart from the white-handed gibbons residing near the waterfall trail, sighting the park’s wildlife requires patience and the skill of park guides. It involves at least a two-night stay in the park’s bungalow accommodation and the support of an eco-tourism travel enterprise to make it all worthwhile. There are 10 bungalows close to the headquarters and food market, while hardy travellers can rent a tent for 150 to 300 baht a day depending on the size.


Much of the wildlife is elusive and nocturnal by nature, making it difficult for visitors to record sightings. On paper, the park is home to the Indian elephant, the tiger, wild boar, sambar deer and an array of smaller creatures such as the Siamese hare and red flying squirrel.


Over 75% of the park is covered in mixed deciduous trees, but there are also tracts of bamboo forest suggesting an era of reforestation, possibly dating back to the 17th and 18th centuries, when Burmese armies journeyed south from the Three Pagodas Pass along the banks of the River Kwai Noi and Yai. Close to the park, there are spots that mark where historic battles were fought to defend Thai soil against the invaders.


On the outbound trip to Erawan National Park, a stop is possible at the Ninth Army Battle Historical Park Museum that stands on a hill, 40 kilometres from Kanchanaburi town, where one of those battles was fought. A curator takes visitors around the exhibit displaying the battle scene and plays a video to illustrate the significant role the two river systems and the hilly terrain once played in Thai history.


As Thailand strives to achieve sustainable tourism, Erawan National Park ranks among the champions of Thailand’s dynamic tourism industry who are committed to enriching the lives of visitors as well as that of the host communities.

Services provided by the Erawan National Park are of universal standard. Golf carts are provided for the elderly and disabled who wish to visit the waterfall. To preserve its natural beauty and pristine environment, areas within the park are carefully zoned and designated for various activities, such as dining and drinking, to reduce littering.

Erawan National Park, Kanchanaburi province

Moo 4, Tambon Tha Kradan,

Amphoe Si SawatKanchanaburi 71250

Tel: +66 (0) 3457 4222, (08) 1814 2930

Fax: +66 (0) 3457 4288

source : tatnews.org

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