Phu Pha Man National Park

 

he obvious natural landmark of this park is the towering limestone cliff that looks like a huge curtain. Lush jungle and mixed forest keep this place cool almost all the year round. Acquiring a total area of 218,750 rai, the park covers areas in Amphoe Phu Pha Man and Amphoe Chum Phae of Khon Kaen as well as Amphoe Phu Kradueng of Loei.
Attractions in this national park include:
Tham KlangKhao The cave is in Phu Pha Man Mountain, 2.5 kilometres from Amphoe Phu Pha Man. The caves entrance is some 100 metres above ground level. Inside is the habitat of millions of bats, whose accumulated droppings cause a strong smell.
Every evening, around 6 pm., these bats always leave the cave in line, over ten kilometres long. It takes some 30-45 minutes until the last bat leaves the cave.
Tham Phra Near to Tham Klangkhao, this cave has a natural tunnel sloping up to the crest of Phu Pha Man, but it is quite difficult to get through. The cave houses beautiful stalagmites, stalactites, and big stone pillars. The cave entrance can be accessed by car in any season. Winter, from November to February, is the best period to visit the cave.
Tham Pu Ta Lo The cave is in Ban Wang Sawap, 17 kilometres from downtown Amphoe Phu Pha Man. Cars can access to the cave entrance only in the dry season, from November to April. The cave has a spacious chamber, covering over a one rai area. With flat soil ground and 5-7 metre high ceiling, good ventilation allows visitors to enjoy admiring the cave comfortably. Stalagmites and stalactites remain untouched. Some glittering stones look like rock crystals.
Namtok Tat Fa Tat Fa creek, natural borderline between Amphoe Phu Pha Man of Khon Kaen and Amphoe Nam Nao of Phetchabun, cascades through five steps to form this waterfall. The last step is the most impressive one with a height of 80 metres. The rainy season, from late May to early October is the best period to visit the waterfall. Namtok Tat Fa is in Ban Dong Sakhran, Mu 7 Tambon Wang Sawap, some 40 kilometres from downtown Amphoe Phu Pha Man. Cars can reach Ban Tat Fa, then visitors have to trek to the waterfall.The headquarters route-From the former route, going through Highway 201.
Namtok Tat Yai The big waterfall originate from Tat Fa Creek. The creek cascades through small waterfalls before going through a big cliff at 80 metres high. Namtok Tat Yai is the highest waterfall in the park.
Namtok Tat Rong With a height of 60-70 metres, the waterfall originates from Phong River that runs from Phu Kradueng. The waterfall borders Phu Kradueng National Park and Phu Pha Man National Park. A folk tale says the waterfall can sing as water runs upon a piece of thin stone, the falling water veers off into different rock holes nearby and fills the forest with strange sounds.
Tham Phaya Nakharat As winding as a giant naga, the one-kilometre long cave is naturally decorated with glittering curtain-like stalagmites and stalactites. Cars can access to the cave entrance.
Tham Lai Thaeng Some 800 metres from Tham Phaya Nakharat is tham Lai Thaeng whose wall has ancient paintings on some two-square metre area. The paintings contain some 70 pictures of humans, animals, and others, mirroring culture and life in the pre-historical period dating back to over 2,000 years ago.
The national park has not any accommodation and facility for tourists. Visitors should prepare everything by themselves. For more information, please contact the Department of National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department at Tel. 0 2562 0760. www.dnp.go.th
Tham Pu Lup The cave is on Highway 201. Its five chambers are all decorated with glittering stalagmites and stalactites. The cave contains water the year round.
Pha Nok Khao The towering cliff of black rock by the Phong River looks like an owl or Nok khao in Thai. It is 125 kilometres from downtown Khon Kaen. Tourists can get there via Highway 2 and 201 (Khon Kaen-Wang Saphung). Pha Nok Khao is on the left of Ban Dong Lan. The best location to see the owl-shape cliff is at the orchid nursery of the Forestry Department on the other side of the road. There is another nearby place of interest known as Namtok Tat Ron, or Namtok Tat Hong as it is called by local dialect name. The 70-matre high waterfall is located in neighboring Loei province on the boundary of Phu kradueng national Park, Phu Pha Man National Park and the Phong River. The sound made by the waterfall when cascading onto a huge a large stone slab beneath is how the waterfall derived its name.