Other sights in Thailand
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Sala Kaew Ku Sculpture Park
One of Thailand’s most enigmatic attractions, Sala Kaew Ku Sculpture Park is a surreal, sculptural journey into the mind of a mystic shaman. Built over a period of 20 years by Luang Pu Boun Leua Sourirat, who died in 1996, the park features a weird and wonderful array of gigantic sculptures ablaze with Hindu-Buddhist imagery.
To get to Sala Kaew Ku, board a bus heading to Phon Phisai or any other eastern destination and ask to get off at Wat Khaek (10B), as the park is also known; it’s about a fiveminute walk from the highway. Chartered túk-túk cost 150B return with a one-hour wait – don’t pay up front, or it may turn into a oneway fare. Or you can reach it by bike in…
reviewed
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Kaeng Khut Khu
The gorgeous rapids at Kaeng Khut Khu is about 5km downstream. It’s most beautiful in the dry, hot season, but worth the trip anytime. The surrounding park has a bevy of vendors selling Isan food into the early evening. The local speciality is coconut candy (má·prów gàaw), and you will also find gûng đên (dancing shrimp), little bowls of live shrimp meant for slurping down just as they come, on the menu. Sŏrng·tăa·ou rarely come out here, so take a túk-túk (50B), or better yet, hire a bike.
reviewed
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FAE’s Elephant Hospital
Near the TECC but not affiliated with, is the FAE’s Elephant Hospital, which claims to be the first of its kind in the world. Although visitors are appreciated and provided for, keep in mind that this is a functioning medical facility, and there are no guided tours and certainly no elephant art. Donations are greatly appreciated. In June 2008 the centre reached another first when it successfully provided an elephant with a prosthetic leg.
reviewed
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Sangkhalok Museum
This small but comprehensive museum is an excellent introduction to ancient Sukhothai’s most famous product and export, its ceramics. It displays an impressive collection of original 700-year-old Thai pottery found in the area, plus some pieces traded from Vietnam, Burma and China. The 2nd floor features examples of non-utilitarian pottery made as art, including some beautiful and rare ceramic Buddha statues.
reviewed
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Khao Sok National Park
Khao Sok National Park is close to the Andaman Sea, and possesses the classic Andaman topography: signature ferny cliffs that shoot straight up into the air like crocodile teeth.
reviewed
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Buddha Casting Foundry
Across the street from Sergeant Major Thawee Folk Museum and also belonging to Dr Thawee is a small Buddha Casting Foundry where bronze Buddha images of all sizes are cast. Visitors are welcome to watch and there are even detailed photo exhibits demonstrating the lost-wax method of metal casting. Some of the larger images take a year or more to complete. There is a small gift shop at the foundry where you can purchase bronze images of various sizes. Attached to the foundry is Dr Thawee’s latest project, Garden Birds of Thailand (Tel: 05521 2540; child/adult 20/50B; 8.30am-5pm). This collection of aviaries contains indigenous Thai birds including some endangered species,…
reviewed
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Ao Phang-Nga Marine National Park
Established in 1981 and covering an area of 400 sq km, Ao Phang-Nga Marine National Park is noted for its classic karst scenery, created by mainland fault movements that pushed massive limestone blocks into geometric patterns. As these blocks extended southward into Ao Phang-Nga, they formed more than 40 islands with huge vertical cliffs. The bay itself is composed of large and small tidal channels that originally connected with the mainland fluvial system. The main tidal channels – Khlong Ko Phanyi, Khlong Phang-Nga, Khlong Bang Toi and Khlong Bo Saen – run through vast mangroves in a north–south direction and today are used by fisherfolk and island inhabitants as…
reviewed
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Phu Reua National Park
Phu Reua means ‘boat mountain’, a moniker that owes its origins to a cliff jutting out of the peak that’s sort of in the shape of a Chinese junk. At only 121 sq km, Phu Reua National Park isn’t one of Thailand’s most impressive reserves, but it does offer some dreamy views from the summit of the mountain it surrounds. Few visitors do more than make the easy 30-minute hike from the upper visitor centre through pine forest to the summit (1365m), where in December and January temperatures can drop below freezing at night. If you want more solitude, strike out from the lower visitor centre instead. Arguably the park’s most scenic waterfall, 30m-tall Nam Tok Huai…
reviewed
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Golden Mount & Wat Saket
Before glass and steel towers began growing out of the flat monotony of Bangkok’s riverine plain, the massive Golden Mount (Phu Khao Thong) was the only structure to make any significant impression on the horizon. At the eastern entrance to Banglamphu, the mount was commissioned by Rama III. He ordered that the earth dug out to create Bangkok’s expanding klorng network be piled up to build an enormous, 100m-high, 500m-wide chedi (stupa). As the hill grew, however, the weight became too much for the soft soil beneath and the project was abandoned until Rama IV built a small gilded chedi on its crest and added trees to stave off erosion. Rama V later added to the…
reviewed
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Doi Phu Kha National Park
This national park is centred on 2000m-high Doi Phu Kha, the province’s highest peak, in Amphoe Pua and Amphoe Bo Kleua in north-eastern Nan (about 75km from Nan). There are several Htin, Mien, Hmong and Thai Lü villages in the park and vicinity, as well as a couple of caves and waterfalls, and endless opportunities for forest walks. The park headquarters has a basic map and staff can arrange a local guide for walks or more extended excursions around the area, as well as rafting on the Nam Wa. The park is often cold in the cool season and especially wet in the wet season. The park offers a variety of bungalows (Tel: 0 2562 0760; www.dnp.go.th; 2-7 people 300-2500B),…
reviewed
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Wat Lan Khuat
Officially it’s Wat Pa Maha Chedi Kaeo, but these days nearly everyone calls it Wat Lan Khuat, the ‘Million Bottle Temple’. In 1982 the abbot dreamt of a Ъrah·sàht in heaven made entirely of glass. Realising that glass symbolised the need for clarity of purpose in one’s life, he decided to replicate the idea as best as he could on earth by covering nearly every surface of every building of his current temple with glass bottles. He also figured the idea would save the community lots of money on paint. The more you look around, the less the name seems like an exaggeration. He took the theme one step further by using bottle caps to create much of the adornment. It’s…
reviewed
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Ku Phra Koh Na
Fifty kilometres southeast of Roi Et town are the minor Khmer ruins of Ku Phra Koh Na , an 11th-century Hindu shrine. The Baphuon-style temple comprises three brick prang facing east from a sandstone base surrounded by a sandstone-slab wall that once had four gates. The middle prang was replastered in 1928 and Buddha niches were added. The attached Buddha footprint shrine is fronted by original naga sculptures. The two other prang have been restored (though they still look like they might tumble any time) in their original forms. The northern prang has a reclining Phra Narai (Vishnu) lintel over the main door while the lintel above the northern false door of the other …
reviewed
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Doi Khun Tan National Park
If you’re in the area check out this 225-sq-km park, which straddles the mountains between Lamphun and Lampang provinces. It ranges in elevation from 350m at the bamboo forest lowlands to 1363m at the pine-studded summit of Doi Khun Tan. Wildflowers, including orchids, ginger and lilies, are abundant. At the park headquarters there are maps of well-marked trails that range from short walks around the headquarters’ vicinity to trails covering the mountain’s four peaks; there’s also a trail to Nam Tok Tat Moei (7km round trip). Intersecting the mountain slopes is Thailand’s longest train tunnel (1352m), which opened in 1921 after six years of manual labour by…
reviewed
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Khao Lak-Lam Ru National Park
The 125-sq-km Khao Lak-Lam Ru National Park, just south of town, is a splendid collection of sea cliffs, mountains, beaches, estuaries, forested valleys and mangroves. The park is home to hornbills, drongos, tapirs, gibbons, monkeys and the seldom-seen Asiatic black bears. Guided treks along the coast or inland can be arranged through many tour agencies in town, as can long-tail boat trips up the scenic Khlong Thap Liang estuary. The latter afford opportunities to view mangrove communities of crab-eating macaques. Just north of Khao Lak is a network of sandy beach trails – some of which lead to deserted beaches – which are fun to explore on foot or by hired motorbike.…
reviewed
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Ko Tarutao Marine National Park
Like with any good secret, it’s only a matter of time before someone lets the cat out of the bag. In this case, that someone was a producer from Survivor, America’s eminent reality show, who chose this stunning marine park for the fifth instalment of the hit series. Fortunately, stringent Thai law has protected Ko Tarutao Marine National Park from preying developers – the national park is still one of the most exquisite and unspoiled regions in Thailand. The massive archipelago features myriad coral reefs, and 51 islands covered with well-preserved virgin rainforest teeming with dusky langurs, crab-eating macaques, mouse deer, wild pigs, sea otters, fishing cats,…
reviewed
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Phra Ratchawang Ban Peun
Just over 1km south of the city centre, and inside a Thai military base, is the European-influenced Phra Ratchawang Ban Peun. Construction began in 1910 at the behest of Rama V (who died just after the project was started) and was completed in 1916. It was designed by German architects, who used the opportunity to showcase contemporary German innovations in construction and interior design. The structure is typical of the early 20th century, a period that saw a Thai passion for erecting European-style buildings in an effort to keep up with the ‘modern’ architecture of its colonised neighbours. The outside of the two-storey palace is not too exciting, but it’s worth…
reviewed
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Khao Luang National Park
Known for its beautiful mountain and forest walks, cool streams, waterfalls and orchards, Khao Luang National Park surrounds the 1835m peak of Khao Luang. This soaring mountain range reaches up to 1800m, and is covered in virgin forest. An ideal source for streams and rivers, the mountains show off impressive waterfalls and provide a habitat for a plethora of bird species – this place is a good spot for any budding ornithologist. Fans of flora will also get their kicks here; there are over 300 species of orchid in the park, some of which are found nowhere else on earth.
Park bungalows can be rented for between 600B and 1000B per night, and sleep six to 12 people.…
reviewed
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Wat Phu Tok
Accessed via a network of rickety staircases built in, on and around a giant sandstone outcrop, Wat Phu Tok is one of the region’s true wonders. Six levels of steps lead past shrines and gù·đì that are scattered around the mountain, in caves and on cliffs. A 7th-level scramble up roots and rocks takes you to the forest at the summit, with fabulous views over the surrounding countryside and a truly soporific atmosphere. It’s the cool and quiet isolation of this wát that entices monks and mâa chee from all over Thailand to come and meditate here; many of them do so on the summit, so be quiet and respectful up there. The route up the mountain symbolises that the…
reviewed
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Wat Khao Angkhan
Although this peaceful temple atop an extinct volcano has an ancient past, as evidenced by the 8th or 9th century Dvaravati sandstone boundary markers, it's the modern constructions that make Wat Khao Angkhan worth a visit. The bòht and several other flamboyant buildings were erected in 1982 in an unusual nouveau-Khmer style that sort of hearkens back to the age of empire. Inside the bòht, the jataka murals, painted by Burmese artists, have English captions. The wát also hosts a Chinese-style pagoda, a 29m reclining Buddha and beautiful views of the surrounding mountains.
The temple is about 20km from either Nang Rong or Phanom Rung, and there's no public transport.…
reviewed
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Prasat Wat Sa Kamphaeng Yai
Thirty kilometres west of Si Saket via Rte 226 in Amphoe Uthumphon Phisai, Prasat Wat Sa Kamphaeng Yai, built as a shrine to Shiva, features four 11th-century prang and two wí·hăhn (large hall in a Thai temple, usually open to laity) . The prang (including the main one, which was built of sandstone but restored with brick) have lost their tops, but many lintels and other carvings remain. The ruined sanctuary can be found on the grounds of Wat Sa Kamphaeng Yai, the prasat ’s modern successor. Buses from Si Saket (20B, 30 minutes) and Surin (55B, 1½ hours) can drop you right nearby; the train is faster and cheaper but the station is a couple of kilometres away.
reviewed
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Nan Riverside Gallery
Twenty kilometres north of Nan on Rte 1080, this private art gallery exhibits contemporary Nan-influenced art in a peaceful setting. Established in 2004 by Nan artist Winai Prabipoo, the two-storey building holds the more interesting temporary exhibitions downstairs – sculpture, ceramics and drawings – as well as a permanent painting collection upstairs – which seems to be mainly inspired by the Wat Phumin murals. The unusual building is a light-filled converted rice barn with an arrow-shaped turret. The shop and cafe have seats right on the Mae Nam Nan and the beautiful manicured gardens are nice to wander around. From Nan, take any northbound bus or …
reviewed
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Kaeng Tana National Park
Five kilometres before Khong Jiam you can cross the Pak Mun dam to little Kaeng Tana National Park. After circling thickly forested Don Tana (Tana Island), linked to the mainland by a small suspension bridge, the Mun River roils through its beautiful namesake rapids, which lie underwater during the rainy season. The 1.5km clifftop trail to Lan Pha Phueng viewpoint is serene and there are canoes for hire (per hour 100B). Five kilometres south of the visitor centre is Nam Tok Tad Ton, a wide waterfall just a 300m walk from the road. There’s a campsite and four bungalows. The simple restaurant opens during the day only.
reviewed
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Khao Phra Thaew National Park
The last of Phuket’s virgin rainforest is within the boundaries of this reserve, which includes the Phuket Gibbon Rehabilitation Centre and two waterfalls. There once were tigers and Malayan sun bears here, but today it’s a habitat island that still suffers from timber poaching. It isn’t lifeless, however. There are monkeys, langur, civets, flying foxes, cobras and wild pigs in the bush, and there are some wild and semi-wild gibbon families thanks to rehab. Khao Phra is the park’s highest peak at 442m. There are guided 6km hikes available from Ton Sai falls to Bang Pae falls. Guides gather at Ton Sai (the park’s HQ) in the morning and charge about 1000B for the day. This…
reviewed
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Thung Salaeng Luang National Park
The 1262-sq-km Thung Salaeng Luang National Park is one of Thailand’s largest and most important wildlife sanctuaries. Thung Salaeng Luang encompasses vast meadows, evergreen and dipterocarp forests, limestone hills and numerous streams. From November to December the meadows bloom with carpets of wild flowers, and the best place to see wildlife is on these meadows and around the ponds and salt licks. There are over 190 bird species confirmed in the park, most significant of which for birdwatchers is the Siamese fireback pheasant. Thung Salaeng Luang was also once home to the PLAT.The entrance is at the Km80 marker, where the park headquarters here has information on walks…
reviewed
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Pha Taem National Park
Up the Mekong from Khong Jiam is a long cliff named Pha Taem, the centrepiece of Pha Taem National Park. From the top you get an amazing bird’s-eye view of Laos, and can see the first sunset in Thailand. Down below, reached via a trail, the cliff features prehistoric rock paintings that are at least 3000 years old. Mural subjects include fish traps, Ъlah bèuk (giant Mekong catfish), elephants, human hands and geometric designs. The second viewing platform fronts the most impressive pictographs. A clifftop visitor centre contains exhibits pertaining to the paintings and local geology.
Pha Taem has campsites, cabins (4 people 300B) and five bungalows.
reviewed