OUT OF CITY ATTRACTIONS |
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| AMPHOE PAK
CHONG (อำเภอปากช่อง)
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Khao Yai National
Park (อุทยานแห่งชาติเขาใหญ่)
is approximately 129.5 kms. from Nakhon Ratchasima, proceed along Highway No. 2, taking a
left turn at Km. 165.5 to road No. 2090 (Thanarat Road) and proceed on for another 40 kms.
Khao Yai is situated between four adjoining provinces; Saraburi, Nakhon Ratchasima,
Prachinburi and Nakhon Nayok. It is the responsibility of the National Park Division.
Foresty Department. Khao Yai was established in 1962 as Thailand's first national park. Located in the Dongrak mountain range in Northeastern Thailand, the park covers 2,168 sq.km. and contains one of Thailand's last remaining tracts of intact moist evergreen forest. The park is host to 2,000-2,500 plant of mammals and over 300 species of birds. In addition to providing a habitat for its wealth of animal life, the forest of Khao Yai also protects the head waters of major river systems which are of vital importance to regional agriculture and easy access combine to make Khao Yai one of Southest Asia's most valuable parks. Khao Yai National Park is located on the western edge of the Panom Dongrak mountain range, which forms the southwest rim of the Korat Plateau. Elevations in the park range from 250 to 1351 meters above mean sea level. Four of the range's dominant peaks can be seen in the park: Khao (mountain) Laem, Khao Rom, Khao Khieo and Khao Sarm Tod. The road up the top of Khao Khieo offers a magnificent panorama of the parkland, and a short walk to a viewing area at the top of the mountain offers a clifftop vista of the Samopun Valley below Khao Khieo ridge. Khao Yai has a monsoon climate. The average annual rainfall at the park is 2,270 millimeters. The average annual temperature is 23 degree celcius. Cool Season (november-February) clear sunny days provide excellent weather for hiking and sight seeing. Nights are generally clear and cold, great for star gazing, but nightime temperatures can drop into the low teens. Hot Season (March-May) The high altitude and lush forest temper the heat at this time of the year. Waterfalls are often dry by April. Rainy Season (June-October) This is the wettest season of the year. Thunderstorms most often roll into the park in the late afternoon, leaving the mornings clear and dry to enjoy a hike. The waterfalls are at their most spectacular and a multitude of butterfies decorate the scene. However, the rains also brings out leeches which can be warded off with an application of insect repellant. |
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