Khao Yai

KHAO YAI NATIONA PARK was established in 1962 as Thailand's first national park and it is the third largest national park in Thailand. It covers more than 2000 square kilometers of forest and grassland in Central Thailand. More than 50 km of hiking and biking trails wind through this nature preserve, which also shelters diverse wildlife such as bears, gibbons, elephants and hornbills. Its waterfalls include the 80-metre Heo Narok and Heo Suwat. This national park lies largely in Nakhon Ratchassima (Korat), but also includes parts of Saraburi, Prachinburi and Nakhon Nayok Provinces. The highest mountain in the area of the park is 1351 meters above sea level. Recent wildlife studies show that animal ranges, particularly the few resident tigers, are impacted by human activity near the center of the park.

HISTORY. Around 1922 some people from Ban Tha Dan and Ban Tha Chai villages in Nakhon Nayok Province built a settlement within the forest in the Sankamphaeng mountains. Up to 30 households cultivated the land. The area was formally recognized by the government and classified as Tambon Khao Yai. However, due to its remoteness from the authorities it became a refuge for criminals and fugitives. After an attempt to capture the suspects in the area, in 1932 the villagers were relocated into the plains some 30 km away. In 1959 the prime minister instructed the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of the Interior to create a process whereby national parks could be established. Khao Yai National Park was then established on 18 September 1962, declared by royal proclamation as the first national park in Thailand. In 1984 the park was made ASEAN Heritage Park and on 14 July 2005 the park, together with other parks in the same range was proclaimed an UNESCO World Heritage Site under the name Dong Phaya Yen-Khao Yai Forest Complex. As the lands adjacent to the national park are becoming increasingly developed into luxury hotels and golf courses, acquiring land for future wildlife conservation efforts is becoming problematic. Homes and residential villas have been built illegally within the limits of the protected area of the forest. In early-2017 it was announced that 18 tigers, including five males, seven female and six cubs, were filmed by surveillance cameras in a joint effort of the Department of National Parks, the Freeland Foundation and the Panthera Corporation.

GETTING THERE. Khao Yai is on route from Bangkok to Nakhon Ratchassima (Korat). It’s about a two hours drive for the 130 km from the capital. The nearest town to the north entrance is Pak Chong, which can be reached either via train or buses running between Bangkok and Nakhon Ratchassima (Korat). From here taxis or songthaews can take you to Khao Yai. The south entrance is about 13 km north of Prachinburi. A road runs through the length of the park from the Pak Chong side to the Prachinburi side. To hire a private car with driver is definitely the best option to visit Khao Yai. It is most comfortable and gives you many options to visit many sights inside the national park. Buses regularly leave from Bangkok's Mo Chit Bus Station to Pak Chong and the journey takes about 3,5 hours. Nearly all trains from Bangkok to Nakhon Ratchassima or Ubon Ratchathani go via Pak Chong, however this is much slower than the bus. This route also goes via Ayutthaya, which is halfway between Pak Chong and Bangkok. From Pak Chong to Khao Yai a regular Songthaew services runs to the northern entrance of the park and you can ask to be dropped off at any point along the route. The journey takes about 40 minutes, but they only drop you at the park entrance. The national park itself does not have an internal public transport system so you will need to hitchhike 10 km to reach the park center and accommodation. Traffic is frequent and anyone with space will give you a lift.

ATTRACTIONS. Khao Yai has beautiful landscape, comprising jungle, streams, waterfalls, and great variety of flora and fauna. Its highest peak, Khao Laem, is 1292 meters above sea level. The famous tourist attractions in the area of Nakhon Nayok include Heo Narok Waterfall. The waterfall is situated south of the park. The big waterfall comprises three tiers. The first tier is 60 meters high. After that, the stream plunges down to the second and third tier. In total, it is 150 meters high. Small Kong Kaeo Waterfall is located about 100 meters from the Khao Yai National Park Headquarters. Tourists will find a suspension bridge nearby crossing Huai Lam Takhong, a boundary line between the provinces of Nakhon Nayok and Nakhon Ratchasima. Not far from here is Heo Suwat Waterfall, a 25 meters high cascade. There are a few more (smaller) waterfalls all over the park. Tourists can enjoy other activities, such as camping, trekking, cycling, and animal watching. Khao Yai is home to a variety of animals. It is one of the few places in Thailand where wild elephants still survive. They are regularly seen and are a major tourist attraction. Other larger animals include gibbons, pig tailed macaques, muntjacs and sambar deer, sometimes also barking deer, porcupine and civet. Other species that can occasionally be seen include sun bear, Asian black bear, gaur, otter, dhole and jackal. And this national park is also home for 3000 species of plants and 320 species of birds.