Doi Inthanon National Park

The Inthanon Mountain and surroundings, totaling 272 sq km, were declared the country's sixth national park in 1972. Today, the Doi Inthanon National Park extends for more than 1,005 sq km and is one of Thailand's most famous and best equipped national parks to welcome visitors. Many Thais aspire to stand at the peak of Doi Inthanon just once in their lifetime, much like Americans like to peer into the Grand Canyon or the Japanese hope to ascend Mount Fuji.

The Doi Inthanon National Park is located approximately 58 km west of Chiang Mai city via Highway 107 and can be reached by regular bus to Chom Thong village and then by minibus to the peak for a further distance of 48 km. Private transportation, however, is the recommended way to visit Doi Inthanon. The main attractions are spread over a distance of 40 km and only a private vehicle will allow maximum flexibility in planning your itinerary. Motorcycling is probably the best mode since it allows travel on some of the rough and narrow dirt roads that lead to hill tribe villages.

Although most of the park is mountainous and rugged, it has also been tamed. A good tarmac road 47km long (built by the Royal Thai Army) goes to the peak, where the Royal Thai Air force maintains a secret radar station that peers silently into China. While the road allows easy access for the general public, it also sparked much protest by conservationists who claimed it would irrevocably change the character of the mountain. Sadly, their claim proved to be correct - except other forces have been at work also.

Doi Inthathon was once totally covered by thick forest. Over the course of time the extent of the forest cover has gradually been reduced. Apart from illegal logging by Thai companies, the initial culpable parties were probably the Karen hill tribe, followed by the Hmong and then other hill tribes who adopt slash-and-burn or similar 'swidden' farming methods. Today there are over 4,000 hilltribe families living within the park boundaries. The most severe forest destruction has taken place at altitudes between 800 m and 1,500 m - but deforestation by 'lowlanders' has also occurred at the base of the mountain.

The forest above 1,800 m is covered with lichens and wild orchids. Doi Inthanon Park is a watershed made up of moist evergreen forests, which are characterised by ancient species not found elsewhere in Thailand. The mountain's climate is cold and supports a diversity of plants and animals - although unfortunately few large animals now remain. The park also has many caves and walks of varying difficulty, where one can wander through the forest calling in at villages of the Hmong and Karen hill tribes or at crop experimental stations.

The complex mountain ranges and a mild climate characterise an area with moist and dense summit forest that is the source of important tributaries of the Mae Ping River, one of northern Thailand's major waterways. Various streams descend, forming beautiful waterfalls throughout the park - these include the Nam Tok Wachirathan, Nam Tok Siriphum, Nam Tok Vajirathan, Nam Tok Mae Pan, Nam Tok Mae Kiang and the largest of all the Nam Tok Mae Ya waterfalls. (click to links).

Doi Inthanon is one of the best locations in Thailand for bird watching and visiting the park is possible throughout the year. However, the best period for viewing waterfalls is May through November. The best period for viewing wild flowers is December through February. The best period for bird watchers is November through March.

Within the park is Doi Inthanon Mountain - the highest mountain in Thailand - with its summit 2,565 m above sea level. The mountain is largely a granite batholith intruding a southerly extension of the Shan Hills range and forming the divide between the Mae Ping River to the east and the Mae Chaem River to the west. Lower elevations in the most easterly part of the park are limestone formations and contain a number of caves.

Since 1899 the mountain has borne a shortened version of the name of Chiang Mai's last sovereign, King Inthawichayanon. It was formally known as Doi Angka. During King Inthawichayanon's reign, he expressed with great foresight his concern for the forests of the northern hill country as the watershed for all of central Thailand. The modern study of rain forest hydrology has borne out his early convictions and given substance to Thai folklore that describes this hill region as the home of the Phiphannam the 'spirit who shares water'. Before the King died, he commanded that his remains be placed at the top of this mountain. His ashes at the summit chedi are visited by thousands of people each year.

The park's lowlands below 800 m in elevation are warm and very dry during the rain-free season, but the summit of Doi Inthanon at 2,565 m, has a climate more like Canada than Thailand. The temperature has been known to drop as low as -8? C and frosts are not unusual during the cool, dry season. January is the coldest month: an average nighttime temperature is 5.5? C. At altitudes above 1,000 m, rainfall exceeds 2,500 mm, considerably more than at nearby Chiang Mai. Even in the dry season, November to April, there is rare but occasional rain or the summit may be shrouded in cloud for a part of the day. Persistent mist is an important factor in the maintenance of moist forest there.

The various sub montane forest formations at higher elevations are a unique asset of the park. They have dominant species belonging to temperate climate families rather than tropical. The summit area supports the only red rhododendron in Thailand (R. delavayi); it blooms from December through February. There are also two white-blossomed species abundant on Doi Inthanon, which are restricted to only a few other sites.

Where mists are persistent, the slopes carry a moist hill evergreen or 'cloud forest' with many epiphytes, plants which live on tree trunks and branches but do not receive their moisture and nutrients from the host tree as do true parasitic plants. Instead, they are nurtured by the accumulation of dust particles and humus around their 'root' area and the moisture retained there, augmented by frequent bathing in cloud and mist. Epiphytic orchids are also abundant, along with lichens, lianas and fern.

At mid-elevations, 800 m to 1,500 m, two species of pine are present, Pinus merkusii mixed with dipterocarp in the lower range and P. kesiya with oak and laurel on drier slopes in the upper range. The pines are thought to be a relic from a prehistoric cooler climatic period when flora from the Sino-Himalayan region migrated southward. At the mid-elevations of the park, much of the forest has been removed by the activities of swidden cultivators and the slopes have converted to fire climax grasslands.

The Visitors Center: At the entrance to the park is a new information and interpretive center located at km 9.5 on the summit road. The Visitor Center has an excellent slide show of the park, local assistance, various leaflets and maps plus other interpretive displays. It also stages exhibitions on the environment, flora and fauna of Doi Inthanon. Food and drinks are also available.

Park Headquarters: The headquarters building has a small camping space nearby and staff will provide assistance. Access to the Hmong village Ban Khun Klang, the guesthouse compound and Siriphum Waterfalls via the road intersecting with the main summit road at km 30.4.

Bird Watching: The park has the largest number of bird species to be found anywhere in Thailand - is no doubt due at least in part, to the broad altitudinal range and the cool climate of its upper reaches. The Center for Wildlife Research at Mahidol University records a present total of 362 species and expects additions. Many at the summit are migrants from northern Asia. Species restricted to Doi Inthanon are Ashy-throated Warbler and an endemic race of the Green tailed Sunbird. The park is the only site where the Chestnut-bellied Rockthrush and the Yellow-bellied Flowerpecker are known to 'oversummer' and probably breed. Over 190 bird species are listed as common to abundant. Bird lists are available at the Visitor Center and at Park Headquarters.
(for more info click to link)

Accommodation Facilities: Adjacent to the Hmong village, Ban Khun Klang, behind the Park Headquarters, is a large compound with 11 guesthouses available for public rental. Electricity, beds and bedding are provided in all units. Arrangements for guesthouse rental should be made at Park Headquarters.

Campsites are located at the Headquarters area and at the Mae Pan Ranger Station. Two-person tents can be rented at Headquarters. No sleeping bags or mats are available, but a number of blankets are available for rental. Firewood is provided and campfires are permitted throughout the year.

Food stalls serving meals and snacks are located at several places in the park. Stalls at Mae Klang Water fall and in the Headquarters area are open during daylight hours every day. Bottled water is widely available in the park, along with other drinks.

Summit of Doi Inthanon: The summit offers some fine views - especially during November and December, before the dry season haze has become well established. Photographing any part of the radar station is forbidden, but visitors may take pictures freely of any other subject. Two impressive Chedi erected in honour of Their Majesties The King and Queen can also be found here:

Phra Mahathat Methanidon: His Majesty The King's chedi, Phra Mahathat Methanidon was erected in 1987 on the summit of Doi Inthanon, by The Royal Thai Air force, on behalf of the Thai people, to celebrate His Majesty's sixtieth birthday. In the base of the octagonal Chedi is a hall containing a green stone Buddha image.

Phra Mahathat Nopphon Phumisiri: Her Majesty The Queen's chedi, Phra Mahathat Nopphon Phumisiri was erected in 1992 beside His Majesty The King's chedi. It was erected by the Royal Thai Air force, on behalf of the Thai people, to celebrate Her Majesty's sixtieth birthday.

Other attractions on Doi Inthanon

Walking Trails on Doi Inthanon

Waterfalls on Doi Inthanon

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