Khao Yai National Park Thailand

The Khao Yai National Park is the first national park of Thailand and is largely based in the Nakhon Ratchasima province. The Park was established in 1962 and it is the second largest Park in Thailand. Most of the Khao Yai Park area is mostly sandstone plateau and the highest peak is Khao Rom. The credit of the Park establishment primarily goes to Boonsong Lekakul who is one of the 20th century's most famous conservationists in Thailand.

Features of the Khao Yai National Park, Thailand:

The Khao Yai National Park sports a beautiful waterfall called the Haew Narok.

There are more than 300 species of plants.

The Khao Yai National Park has a good collection of wildlife including the elephants, gibbons and hornbills, Asiatic black bear, Malaysian sun bear, Asian Jackal and much more.

There are more than 300 species of birds in the Khao Yai National Park's forests.

There are more than 10 exciting walkways or trails in the Park.

You can also enjoy the spotlighting tours offered by the park every evening. Visitors need to purchase a special ticket for participating in this. The tour takes approximately one hour.

White water rafting can be enjoyed on the Sai Yai River during the months of July and October.

The temperature of the Khao Yai National Park in the summer months is about 29 degree centigrade and the average temperature of the coolest months is usually 17 degree centigrade and sometimes even lower than that.

Visit the park during the rainy season to find it transformed into a "forest of mist".

The Khao Yai National Park was made into an ASEAN Heritage Site in 1884. There are several waterfalls and caves in the Khao Yai National Park. See colorful butterflies fluttering trough the fragrant forest air.

Tips to the visitors:

Wear hiking boots or some other comfortable but sturdy shoes.

Bring a small flashlight.

Also carry a pair of strong binoculars.

You can take a train or a bus from Bangkok to Pak Chong and then take a pick up truck to the gate of the Khao Yai National Park. Foreigners are charged with 22 bahts while the Thais are charged with 20 bahts.

Khao Yai National Park

Khao Yai is Thailand's oldest National Park. It was designated on the 18th September 1962. At 2,168 km it is the largest National Park in Thailand. Located within the Dongrek Mountain Rang, Khao Yai's elevation ranges from 200 to 1351 m a.s.l. (Khao Rom)
History of Khao Yai, in 1902, 30 families from the south if Khao Yai moved into the Khao Yai hills. They farmed rice, hunted wildlife and collected forest products. The present grasslands along the road near the Head Quarters (HO) area are evidence of these villages and farms. In 1932 when Thailand became a Constitutional Monarchy, the government closed Khao Yai because the area had become a hideout for political criminals.In 1959 His Excellency Field Marshall Sarit Thanarat, then Prime Minister, asked the Agriculture and Cooperatives Department and the Department of Interior to look into the setting up of a National Park's System. In 1962 Khao Yai became the 1st National Park under the National Park Act of 1961. It is managed by the Royal Forest Department.

Topography
Khao Yai National Park consists of complicated mountains such as Khao Rom, the highest about 1,351 meters, Khao Lam about 1,326 meters, Khao Keaw about 1,292 meters, Khao Sam Yod about 1,142 meters, Khao Far Pha about 1,078 meters, Khao Kampang about 875 meters, Khao Samor Poon about 805 meters and Khao Kaew about 802 meters above sea level. Moreover, the area has vastly grassy field alternating with productive forest. The north and the east part are smoothly sloping down, while the south and the west part are rising up. The area is the source of five main rivers as follows.
(1) Prachin Buri River and
(2) Nakhon Nayok River situated in the south part and important for local agriculture and economy, meet each other in Chachoengsao District to become Bangpakong River go to the Gulf of Thailand.
(3) Lam Ta Kong River and
(4) Praplerng River, in the north part, go to maintain the agriculture of Korat Plateau and meet Moon River, the main river of Southern Isan that goes to Khong River.
(5) Muag Lek Stream, located in the northwest part and going to Pasak River in Muag Lek District, is valuable for local agriculture and cattle, and has water all the year round.

Climate
It is often cooler up here with an average temperature of 23 C.
Rainy Seson: May - October. Rains most days, the waterfalls are thus stunning. Can get clear cool weather.
Cold Seson: November - February. Gets as cold as 10 C at night you will want blankets. Again clear weather with great sunsets is common.
Hot Season: March - April. Hot and dry, but still cool compared to the plains, reaching the mid 30's!

Flora and Fauna
Tropical moist evergreen forest covers the central area of the Park. The rich diversity of plants (about 2000 species)astound the new-comer. Towering trees draped in mosses, climbers and epiphytes, tangled trunks of the strangling figs, drooping lianas and spiny rattan palms, delicate ferns, multicoloured lichens and an ever-changing array of fungi. There is aways something new to discover in the forest. Dry evergreen forest and dry deciduous forest covers the lower slopes of the Park and some of the higher sections. Bamboo is often an indicator of this drier forest. Hill evergreen forest covers the highest peak (Khao Kieow and Khao Rom) The trees are smaller here, and ferns, mosses and epiphytes abound. Grassland provides a welcome relief to all the forest . The Park mange (burn annually) the grassland to prevent trees from invading and to provide year round grazing for deer, elephants and guar. Wildlife is plentiful (70 mammal species, at least 74 species of herptile and thousands of invertebrates) but often hard to see. Sambar (large, gray-brown, often in groups) and barking deer (smaller, red-brown, usually in pairs or alone) are frequently seen in the grasslands or on spotlighting tours. Gibbons provide an excellent morning wake-up call with their mournful hoots. Quiet, patient walkers may catch a glimpse of these tree-living apes. Macaques are often seen on the roadsides. Elephants are sometimes spotted at salt-licks or on the road in the evenings and lucky (?) tourists may spot a tiger in the grasslands during the evenings. Civets, squirrels, porcupines, and wild pigs add a bit of variety. Snakes and lizards usually make their presence known by a rustle in the undergrowth as you are walking. If you see a snake, treat it as dangerous unless you know otherwise!! Geckos are frequently seen catching insects on building walls and ceilings. Cicadas never stop their scratchy hum. Look up and down and from side to side to spot the real movers and shakers in the forest - the insects and invertebrates.
BIRDS: We've got lots - over 320 species have been recorded. To the non-expert, birds are often just mysterious whistles, trills and calls, or a flutter of wings and a glimpse of colour. Patience is needed,good binoculars and a bird guide help. Roadsides, the old golf course, grasslands and the watching towers are good places to start . Hornbills are quite easy to spot, and hear the "gak gak gak" laugh of the Indian Pied (often seen in big flocks near Nong Pak Chi Tower in the evenings), or the deep resonant "gok…gok" of the Great Hornbill (usually seen in pairs or alone, the biggest of Khao Yai's hornbills) BATS: Nearly 1 million insecteating bats live in a cave on the edge of the Park. Drive about 3 km to the north of the Park Chong entrance gate and take a small track on the left-hand side just past a temple. A few hundred metres up here take a right-hand turn and follow the track to the end. You can climb the hill to the cave. Please do not enter the cave - you will disturb the bats. Allow them to come out for about 3 minutes before taking any flash photography.

thaiforestbooking.com . Khao Yai National Park. [Online].

Available :http://www.thaiforestbooking.com/np_home.asp?lg=2&npid=9. (Access date : June 11, 2009

Khao Yai, Thailand and hotel

Khao Yai, Thailand :::

Thailand's first and most popular national park, Khao Yai is an excellent habitat of rich and diverse floras and fauna. Just 200 kilometers northeast of Bangkok, you can be refreshed by the balmy air and spectacular views of evergreen and rainforest alternating with rolling hills and tropical grassland. Within the parks, many activities are ready to fulfill your holiday, including hiking, camping, and wildlife spotting. List of Hotels in Khao Yai, Thailand Hotel Name : Juldis Khao Yai Resort & Spa Star Category : Detail : Juldis Khao Yai Resort invites you to wake up each morning to the scents and sounds of nature with unforgettable views of the mountain ranges, where forest is woven by mountain streams. Hotel Name : Kao Yai Grandview Resort Star Category : Detail : Kao Yai Grandview Resort is designed in harmony with its natural setting. The hotel offers 80 elegantly furnished rooms, each with private balcony commanding beautiful views over Kao Yai and the surrounding countryside. Hotel Name : Kirimaya Golf Resort & Spa Star Category : Detail : Kirimaya Golf Resort & Spa combines the natural charms of Khao Yai with the lifestyle of contemporary living. Rooms, suites and unique tented villas are luxuriously spacious with idyllic views of unsurpassed greens and hills. Hotel Name : Klong Sai Resort Star Category : Detail : Klong Sai Resort - Only 2 hours drive (180 km) from Bangkok, the resort offers asuperb standard of comfort in a peaceful atmosphere with beautiful scenery. You can enjoy refreshing green nature surrounding, waterfalls and wildlife in Khao Yai National Park. Hotel Name : PhuWanalee Resort Star Category : Detail : Phuwanalee Resort Khaoyai, the Sanctuary lies in Khoayai – Thailand, become one of a Superior Class Resort Hotel, unfar from Khaoyai and many other sight seeing. 13.5 Km from Mitraparp road, and it is only a short distance from both Nakorn Rachasima or Saraburi. Hotel Name : Sak Phu Duen Hotel & Resort Star Category : Detail : Sak Phu Duen Hotel and Resort - Our Royal Suites rooms are elegantly furnished with the most modern amenities including a windowed balcony that offers excellent views of the dazzling sky. Hotel Name : The Greenery Resort Star Category : Detail : The Greenery Resort is waiting to offer comfort and happiness. Where comfortable habitat is decorated in the north-eastern civilization. Where fun, excitement, laughter and relaxation for family can be offered by various kind of activities just a short distance only 2 hours from Bangkok. Asia-Discovery.com. Khao Yai, Thailand. [Online]. Available : http://www.asia-discovery.com/Thailand/khao-yai-hotels/. (Access date : June 11, 2009