Wild-Sunflower Field at Doi Mae U-Kho

Located near the Mae U-Kho Waterfall, the Wild-Sunflower Field (Thung Bua Thong) covers over 1,000 rai of land. This field is by far the most visited place at Doi Mae U-Kho, especially during November and December when wild-sunflowers bloom, blanketing the surrounding fields for as far as the eye can see.

It is believed that Christian missionaries who entered the area about 70 years ago, were the first to plant these magnificent flowers, as they are actually native to Central and South America, where they are known as the 'Mexican Sunflower'.

          

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Mae Hong Son Province

MAE HONG SON is nestled in a deep valley hemmed in by high mountain ranges, Mae Hong Son has long been isolated from the outside world. Virtually covered with mist throughout the year, the name refers to the fact that is terrain is highly suitable for the training of elephants.

Former governors of Chiang Mai used to organise the rounding up of wild elephants which were then trained before being sent to the capital for work. Today, Mae Hong Son is one of the dream destinations for visitors. Daily flights into its small airport bring growing numbers of tourists, attracted by the spectacular scenery, numerous hilltribe communities and soft adventure opportunities.

THAI YAI CULTURE

The Thai Yai can be seen along the northern border with Myanmar. They may at one time have been the most numerous of the ethnic Thai tribes that stretch across Southeast Asia. A large group settled in Mae Hong Son.

The Thai Yai culture has had a strong influence on the province, as can be seen in its architecture. Although a part of the Lanna region, the indigenous Thai Yai people living in Mae Hong Son are faced with very cold weather during winter and extremely hot weather in the summer, with mist or fog practically throughout the whole year. Not surprisingly they have had to adapt to the environment.

As a result, their architectural style has developed into something different from other Lanna communities. Their living quarters are usually built with tall floors and low roofs, the sizes differing according to ones social status and position. Homes of the ordinary folks are usually with one single level of roof, while those of the local aristocrats have two or more levels forming a castle-like shape. The space thus provided is believed to help air circulation. An interesting feature of the Thai Yai style is the perforated designs along the eaves which are an architectural identity of the area.

How to get there from Bangkok

By Car

Mae Hong Son is located 924 kilometres from Bangkok. Drive from Bangkok to Chiang Mai and then choose the following routes to Mae Hong Son:

Chiang Mai Hot Mae Sariang Khun Yuam Mae Hong Son (Route 108) with 1864 curves, a distance of 349 kilometres.

Chiang Mai Mae Malai Pai Mae Hong Son (Route 1095), a distance of 245 kilometres.

By Bus

Muang Nuea Yan Yon Tour (Tel: (0 2936 3587-8) operates an air-conditioned bus which runs directly from Bangkok to Mae Hong Son every day. The bus departs from Chatuchak (Mochit 2) Bus Terminal at 6 p.m. The trip takes about 17 hours.

By Rail

One can travel from Bangkok to Chiang Mai by rail and then continue to Mae Hong Son by bus. For more information, call 1699, 0 2223 7010, 0 2223 7020 or visit www.railway.co.th

By Air

Thai Airways flies Bangkok-Chiang Mai-Mae Hong Son daily. Reservation should be made in advance at Tel: 0 2280 0060, 0 2628 2000 or call 1566 or visit www.thaiairways.com for current schedule.

SGA Airlines offers flights from Chiang Mai -Mae Hong Son and Chiang Mai - Pai For current schedule, please call 0 2664 6099 or visit www.sga.co.th

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City of horse-drawn carriages

Horse-drawn carriage of Lampang has been well -known for more than 90 years and it is the only province in Thailand still retaining horse-drawn carriages as a means of transport within the city. It is an amazing experience to tour the ancient city of Lampang witnessing the people’s lifestyle and conserved architecture.

The first horse-drawn carriage arrived on the same time together with the rail in the late 1914. The owner of the first carriage was Lampang’s last governor, Prince Boonyawat Wongmanit. He hired an indian driver from Bangkok for the carriage.

Lampang had been the trading center of the Upper North, a gateway to Lanna, consumer goods and daily appliance transported from Bangkok were unloaded here before forwarded to other provinces like Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai and Phayao and to neigbouring countries like Lao PDR and Myanmar as well.

In 1957, It was a golden period and there were 185 carriages altogether and Lampang is the only province where horse-drawn carriage hold official document. Every carriage had to pay five baht tax annually and a renewal license for two baht.

Lampang’s horse-drawn carriages are known as ” Queen Victoria”. Each has four wheels with two big seats at the back and two additional seats upon request. It can hold a total of four people in one carriage.

The sound of horse’s hooves striking the concrete roads and ding-dong of the bells ringing on the carriages along small lanes or on the main streets make the passers-by feel that this is a "city of horse-drawn carriages."

Hotel Recommended:

Doi Khun Than National Park

One hundred years ago, the Rroya State Railway of Siam blasted a tunnel through Doi Khun Tan to connect Lampang with Chiang Mai. This tunnel is still the longest in the kingdom. On the other side, is the Khun Tan Railway Station. This is where your ascent into the wilderness will begin.

Location
The Doi Khun Tan National Park is located in Amphoe Mae Tha in the Lamphun Province and Amphoe Hang Chat and Amphoe Muang in the Lampang Province. The mountainous terrain requires all Railway to stop at this station to check their brakes before continuing on their journey.

Highlights
The Khun Tan Tunnel: The Khun Tan Tunnel is the longest in Thailand, stretching for 1,300 meters. At the front of the tunnel is a monument to the German engineer who made this colossal project possible.

Climbing Up to Doi Khun Tan: From the Khun Tan Railway Station there is a path leading to the summit of Doi Khun Tan. This mountain has four peaks. The first peak is only 1,300 meters from the station. Here, you will find accommodations and restaurants to prepare you for the following legs of your trip. The second peak is higher up. On your way, you will pass the home of the ex-prime minister of Thailand. His house is surrounded on all sides by indigenous pine trees. The third peak is higher still. Up here is a retreat for the local missionaries. During the winter, you can see the brilliant crimson fields of poinsettias. This is a wonderful place to take a break in bask in the views it has to offer. The fourth peak is the highest. From atop this craggy summit, you can look out over the valley and see the city of Chiang Mai.

The TadMoei Waterfall: Located between the second and third peaks is the path to the moderate-sized Tad Moei Waterfall. To get here, you must descend for 300 meters.

How to Get There
The most convenient way to get to Doi Khun Tan is to take the train. If you are traveling from Bangkok, you will want to take the express train. The Nakhon Phing Express departs Bangkok in the evening and arrives at the Khun Tan Railway Station first thing the next morning. When you exit the train, you can immediately start your hike up to Doi Khun Tan.

To contact Khun Tan National Park call: 0-5351- 9216

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Chae Son National Park

A major place for relaxation in Lampang is the Chae Son National Park, which is located in Mueang Pan district area. It can be reached by taking Highway No.1035 taking a left turn at Km. 59. A further 17 kilometre is a lush forested and mountainous region with a 73-Celsius hot spring over rocky terrain, providing a misty and picturesque scene particularly in the morning. There are bathing facilities for health purpose.

One kilometre away is a clear, cool brook where tourists can take a dip in water fed by the 6-level Chae Son waterfall originating from winding brooks and streams flowing through high mountains. There are accommodations and camping areas for visitors.

Admission Fee: Adult 200 Baht Child 100 Baht

For more details, visit website http://www.dnp.go.th/

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Tham Pha Thai National Park

The 1284 square kilometers park comprises of rugged mountans in the north-eastern Lam Pang province, covering 9 forest reserves in Ngao, Lam Pang, Mae Moh and Chae Hom districts. The north-south limestone hills run down until they reach Lam Pang city district, the elevations being in the range of 280 to 1253 meters above the sea. The highest peak is Yod Doi Mae Khwan at 1253 meters located in the north of the park close to the border with Phayao province.

Average year round temperature has been 25º C, and that of January is 5º C. May to October is rainy season followed by cold months from November to January. Then comes the dry summer season.

Interesting places in the parks

Tham Pha Thai cave is in the walking distance from the park headquaretrs. The cave goes under ground more than one kilometer from its entrance. A lot of stalactites and stalagmites are found inside.

In Ngao district, around 6 km from the Ban On village, people can hike up to Lhom Phu Kaew which has a crater that makes the mountain looks like a volcano.

Kiw Lom dam lake on Vang river offers boat excursion, and raft houses to stay. The lake is around 34 km north of Lam Pang city.

In adition, there are several more waterfalls, caves, and places where pre-historic artifacts have been found in the park. The park is welknown among local people.

How to get there

From Lam Pang take highway 1 to the north for about 65 km to the left turn-off road to the park headquarters.

The park maintain a couple of bungalow houses and a camp yard.

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Wat Phra That Lampang Luang

About 20 kilometers from Lampang is the old temple of Wat Phra That Lampang Luang. On first glance, this walled citadel sited on a man-made mound of earth has a very fortress-like look to it. That's because the temple was built on the site of an eighth century fortification, called a wiang, that guarded the routes to Lampang.

The temple buildings seen today were built in the fifteenth century, and one of the reasons for the temple's popularity is the relatively pure state of all the temple buildings. Unlike most of the temples in Chiang Mai, Wat Phra That Lampang Luang hasn't been 'improved' to conform to modern Thai ideas about temples. The courtyard is still filled with sand, and the huge main wiharn (prayer hall) is still open on all sides.

To enter the temple, you must pass a pair of guardian lions and climb the naga stairway up to the massive main gate. The main prayer hall, the Wiharn Luang, stands close inside the main entrance. The wiharn is open on all four sides, forming a huge covered hall. Sturdy columns support the roof. The columns are finished in black lacquer and stenciled with gold leaf designs.

At the back of the Wiharn Luang sits a massive gilded ku, a sort of Laotian prang sheltering the main Buddha image. The Buddha image is the Phra Chao Lang Thong, cast in 1563. On either side of the Ku are throne-like pulpits, sometimes used by monks but more often used to house other Buddha images on important ceremonial days.

Behind the main prayer hall stands the 45 meter tall chedi. The chedi was faced with copper and bronze sheets, which over the centuries have oxidized into a variety of green and blue shades. The chedi has somehow escaped the gilding which is now universally applied to chedis, even if they weren't originally built that way.

Flanking the chedi on the south side is another prayer hall, the Wiharn Phra Phut, a small chapel built in 1802 with a beautifully carved fascade. Behind the Wiharn Phar Phut is a tiny tower-like structure, the Ho Phra Phuttabat. It houses a Buddha footprint sculpture. The building is generally only open on important festival dates, and may never be entered by women.

On the other side of the chedi and the main wiharn are two other small open chapels. Although very weathered, both have some rather interesting details and murals.

A doorway on the south side of the gallery leads you to several other buildings, as well as the temple's museum. On the way, you'll pass an ancient bodhi tree whose branches are supported by a forest of crutches.

The two museums are not very interesting, even though one houses the Phra Kaeo Don Tao, a supposed 'copy' of the Emerald Buddha and made at the same time. But it lack most of the subtlety of the Emerald Budda, and the setting doesn't do it justice. For a close-up look at the Emerald Buddha, you're better advised to visit Wat Phra Kaeo in Chiang Rai, where they have a recently made copy in a beautiful setting. However, there is a beautiful 400 year old scripture library in amongst the museums that is worth a look.

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