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It was a huge success for the second Big Mountain Festival in Khao Yai last 9-11 December in Bonanza. So let’s get ready and bookmark the next one, December 2011!! The biggest music festival in Thailand is a modern “Woodstock” … Continue reading
Jim thompson farm & Isaan Village
Jim Thompson farm
Jim Thompson organize farm tours in the December/ January cool season only.
The Jim Thompson Farm is open daily from Saturday 18 December 2010 through Sunday 9 January 2011. from 9.00 am until 5.00 pm. Open on weekends (Saturday and Sunday) from 15 january to 13 february 2011.9.00 am until 5.00 pm.
” Situated in the Pak Thong Chai district of Nakhon Ratchasima province, the project area initially covered 600 rai (about 96 hectares/237 acres).The Jim Thompson Farm was opened to the public for the first time in 2001 and has since evolved into one of Isan’s most popular agro-tourism and eco-tourism attractions. It is open to visitors only once a year during the peak of the cool season.
The Jim Thompson farm tours provides a unique opportunity for visitors to observe up close and personal the full life cycle of the silkworms and the silk farming process as part of the Isan way of life. Other highlights include a tour of the vegetable plots and ornamental plant nursery.
The Isan and Khorat villages are star attractions featuring antique houses unique in architecture and in pristine condition.”
(Adults Baht 60 and Children Baht 40).
Jim Thompson Farm
Tambol Takob, Amphur Pak Thong Chai,
Nakhon Ratchasima, (Korat) Province
E-mail: farmtour@jimthompson.com. Tel: 02-762-2566, 085-660-7336, 044-373-116
Web: Jim Thompson farm
Jim Thompson recently open ‘Ho Kum Koon’, a tribute to Pak Thong Chai as the Nation’s Major Silk-weaving District. Located at the entrance of the Thai Silk Company’s Pak Thong Chai factory in Nakhon Ratchasima, Ho Kum Koon Tourist Information Center is open daily from 9:00 to 18:00 hrs. For more information, please call 044-441-558 Ext. 3123. picture@Jim Thompson
Pak Thong Chai Silk Village
One of the most famous silk villages in Thailand, showcasing elaborate silk-weaving process, and offering beautiful Thai silk at reasonable price, Korat silk is famous for its high quality. Pak Thong Chai Village is one of Thailand’s most famous silk-weaving villages, where villagers retain their creative skills in producing beautiful Korat-texture silk. Though many Thai silk factories have been set up here at the village, independent local weavers still produce exquisite hand-woven Korat silk as souvenir items. Open daily. (Clik for map)
Phimai National Museum is in Phimai, about 60 kilometers from Nakhon Rachassima, on the road to Khon Kaen. The museum display a collection of arte-facts and information on the cultural prosperity of ancient Isaan. Arte-facts found in the lower North eastern Thailand are displayed here, including pre-historic items like pottery, tools and stone ornaments. Arte-facts from later periods include stone temple boundary markers from the Dvaravati period, Khmer building parts, and a bas relief of King Jayavoraman VII found at Phimai Sanctuary, the museum’s most outstanding exhibit. The Phimai museum is open 9.00 a.m. – 4.00 p.m. daily.
Buddha Sheltered by a seven-headed naga, Phimai Museum
The Museum exhibitions are divided into 3 parts: Part 1 : Second floor exhibition. This exhibition shows the development of communities in the lower part of northeast Thailand from prehistoric to recent periods.
Part 2 : Ground floor exhibition. This exhibition shows the archeology and history of the town of Phimai. It includes the town environment, the construction of Prasat Phimai during the 11th – 13th centuries, and evidence of the flourishing religion, culture and economy of the time.
Part 3 : Outdoor exhibition. This displays sandstone objects used in the construction of Khmer temples such as Prasat Phimai. These includes lintels, door columns, motifs, lotus bud-shaped crowns (the apex of the tower) and miniature tower.
Boundary Marker (Sema Stone) Dvaravati Style. 9th - 10 th centuries A.D. Phimai Museum
Cultural Center of Nakhon Ratchasima Rajabhat Institute is at Saranarai Road. The center has a good collection of images and history of historical sites, as well as information on ancient arts, tools and currency. It is open during government office hours.
Maha Wirawong National Museum is opposite the Provincial Hall in Khorat. The Maha Wirawong museum has on display artifacts found in Nakhon Ratchasima and nearby provinces such as stone Buddha statues from the Khmer and Ayutthaya periods, earthenware, bronze Buddha statues and woodcarvings from an ancient temple. It is open during 9.00 a.m. – 4.00 p.m. from Wednesday to Sunday. It is closed on Monday, Tuesday and public holidays.
Old Khorat City is 32 kilometers from the present city. The old city of Sema is a city from the Dvaravati period that is 37 kilometers from Nakhon Ratchasima city. Only a wall-like earth ridge remains. However, an important artifact stored at Wat Thammachak Semaram is the reclining red sandstone Buddha image that is the largest and oldest in Thailand. The image is 13.30 meters and 2.80 meters high. It was built around 657. There is also a Buddhism wheel sculpted from a large boulder.
Useful links:Thailand museums
Balloon festival
Earth, Wind & Fire are the principal organizers of Hot Air Balloon events and this year will stage the fourth of the Thailand International Balloon Festival, the largest outdoor event in Thailand, hosting audiences of between 150,000 and 300,000 on site and watched by millions on Thailand’s TV channels. Foreign media companies also feature the events.
A week of sport, excitement, fresh air and fun in the beautiful surroundings of Nakorn Nayok
Groups of enthusiasts are getting together to share their common interest in a particular sport, to display their talents, enroll others into their group and teach newcomers how to succeed in doing new sports or skills.
All the activities take place in one of the 4 elements, Earth, Water, Wind and Fire.
Held at Khao Yai (War Dog Battalion, Pak Chong), the event is expected to attract over 300,000 spectators to witness a colorful showcase of hot air balloons from all over the world, including the USA, UK, Germany, France, Italy, Japan and Malaysia.
The first Festival, held in 2007, attracted over 150,000 Thai and foreign spectators and received wide coverage in all media.
Admission is free. Next event should be held 1st week of December.
Khao Yai has three main seasons, with an annual mean temperature of 23 degrees Celsius, though this varies greatly with the seasons.
Rainy Season Is from May to October. During this season most days have high rates of precipitation. The atmosphere is humid with average temperatures of 27 degrees Celsius during the day dropping to 13 degrees Celsius at night. Good waterfalls for travelers.
Cold season Is from November to February. Clear skies, sunny and cool. Average temperatures of 22 degrees Celsius during the day and 10 degrees Celsius at night. Good time for hiking.
Hot Season Is from March to April. Humid with day temperatures of 20-30 degrees Celsius and 17 degrees Celsius at night.
Boat race festival
Phimai Festival and Boat Races is held during Loy Kratong festivities.
The Dragon Boat racing festival has been taking place in Nakhon Ratchasima for over 100 years.
The festival features cultural performances, a procession depicting life in the Khmer period, a light-and-sound khmer show, traditional arts and craft stalls and exciting boat races.
These longboat races take place on the Mun River, a tributary of the Mekong, and are held at the same time as the Prasat Hin Phimai Festival and the national festival of Loy Kratong, usually in late October or early November.
Phimai Temple in Isan. photo@BillBradley
Phrasat Hin Phimai Temple
The Phimai historical park protects one of the most important Khmer temples of Thailand. It is located in the town of Phimai, Nakhon Ratchasima province, about 60 km from Khorat city.
The temple marks one end of the Ancient Khmer Highway from Angkor. As the enclosed area of 1020x580m is comparable with that of Angkor Wat, Phimai must have been an important city in the Khmer empire. Most buildings are from the late 11th to the late 12th century, built in the Baphuon, Bayon and Angkor Wat style. However, even though the Khmer at that time were Hindu, the temple was built as a Buddhist temple, as Buddhism in the Khorat area dated back to the 7th century. Inscriptions name the site Vimayapura (which means city of Vimaya), which developed into the Thai name Phimai
Phrasat Hin Phra Nom Rung
Phanumrung historical site
Prasat Hin Phanom Rung (Phanom Rung Stone Castle), is a Khmer temple complex set on the rim of an extinct volcano at 1,320 feet above sea level, in Buriram province in the Isan region of Thailand, about 120 km from Khorat city. It was built in sandstone and laterite in the 10th to 13th centuries. It was a Hindu shrine dedicated to Shiva, and symbolises Mount Kailash, his heavenly dwelling. (Phanum Rung complex map)
Khao Chan Ngam Cave paintings
Located 44 km from Khorat, the cave is located on a back yard of Wat Khao Chan Ngam. The cave paintings are dated from 3000 years ago. We can found there, paintings of men, women, children in various actions, such as sitting, dancing, standing with a dog, and firing arrow with bows.
The bodies themselves are clear to see with the calf section distinctively large.
Posted in Khao Yai Attractions, Khao Yai travel guide, Pak Chong Cultural sites, Pak Chong tourism, Pak Chong travel guide, Places of interest in Khao Yai
Tagged Culture, Historical sites, Khao Chan cave, Nakhon Ratchassima province, Phanom Rung temple, Phimai korat, Phimai temple, Temple, Thailand, Travel Khao Yai
Khao Yai view@kawpodmd
Remember if you walk a relatively long trail inform the office ahead. For all overnight treks in the jungle you must inform the park office, and walk with a park’s ranger. Check the local weather forecasts and conditions before heading to a trek or hike in a park.
Trekking is the best way to enjoy parks in Asia such as Khao Yai to really spot wildlife and enjoy tropical forest.
Rainy season is one the best time to enjoy trekking in Thai national parks as well, nature is awake, and waterfalls runs fully as most of them would be very dry other parts of the year.
“Rainy season in Thailand runs between May to October, trekking through the forest during this time doesn’t drain much energy since the weather is not sweltering. But many people are unwilling to explore the jungle during the rainy time since the entire area is rather slippery and wet. In evergreen forest it is fraught with blood-sucking leeches eagerly waiting ofr their victims. But all of these natural difficulties make the journey a memorable experience. Certainly obstacles scatter in every nook and cranny, but they will also bring them a challenging experiences. For a part of you enjoyable episode you should follow these recommendations.
1. To prevent water, always take a fly sheet that can serve as a temporary roof. Also bring a light-weight raincoat that can serve as the fly sheet in case of urgency. Cloths and other stuff should be put into plastic bags first before packing then in your backpack. Shoes made of Gore-tex material are suitable for trekking since they are 100% waterproof, hence making the shoes dry and ventilated well.
2. comfortable and lightweight clothes made from synthetic fiber are recommended. Cotton textile is unsuitable since it absorbs water and dries so slowly.
3. Search for perfect and safe location to make camp. do not make camp in a water course or under the canopy of big tree since broken twigs and branches might fall down. Beside fly sheet should be stretched out. Drainage ditches should be dug around the camping area.
4. Be careful of poisonous creatures like scorpions, centipedes and snakes. These animals always seek refuge in dry areas such as in the tents, sleeping bags and shoes. Please check thoroughly before using these stuff. sprinkling insecticides ( DDT is available in Thailand and work best) or lime powder around the tent setting might help.
All tourist should bear in mind that they all are responsible for keeping the natural world be just like before we step in.
Be careful while playing or swimming in a fall. Be accompanied while strolling around the area. Inform the officials if wanting to go trekking since getting lost in the jungle, falling down, being attacked by wild animals and hitting by swift rapids can occur at all time.”
Source: Department of national parks
And don’t forget to buy the trek and trails guidebook at the park headquarters for more informations about trails and options.
Trekking Trail
These trails involve one to three days trekking and camping around Khao Yai. For more information, refer to ‘Khao Yai National Park Trekking Trails and Adventure activities in and around Khao Yai’ guidebook. [Ask at the parks office to purchase a copy].
Hiking trail
There are 6 Hiking Trails which are about 2-8 kilometers and 1-5 hours of walking. Travelers have to ask for permission from the park’s officer before taking a trip.
Natural Trail
This trail, leading to Kong Kaeo Waterfall, includes interpretative information for those wishing to understand more about the forest they are visiting.
The Kong Kaew Nature Trail, which begins behind the Visitor’s Centre, introduces the hiker to the flora of Khao Yai. It can be walked comfortably
in a half hour along a trail that crosses a swinging bridge, runs along the riverbank and passes Kong Kaew Waterfall.
Haeo Suwat watefall
This travel blog photo’s source is TravelPod page: I will jump from the falls like Leonardo
Khao Yai has 44 waterfalls that flow abundantly in the rainy season. Heo Narok (Heu Waterfall), the largest, drops 150 metres in three stages, the tallest being 60 metres.
Heo Suwat Waterfall (Namtok Heo Suwat)
This is a famous waterfall that cascades from a 20-meters high cliff. It was made world famous for being used as film location for the movie The Beach with Leonardo Di Caprio. The waterfall, which is located at the end of Thanarat Road and being accessible by car, is only 100 meters by foot from the parking lot or a 3-kilometer walk from Pha Kluai Mai Waterfall. Visitors can view the falls from a distant viewpoint that offers a high-angle view of the waterfall through the trees or from the waterfall itself. However, please note that in the rainy season the water flows rapidly and caution should be taken.
The Beach, film locations
Kong Kaeol Waterfall (Namtok Kong Kaeol)
This is a low waterfall, which is especially lovely in the rainy season originated from Huay Lam Takhong that divides Nakhon Nayok and Nakhon Ratchasima Provinces. The waterfall can be reached by a walking distance of 100 meters from the tourist service center. Visitors can enjoy swimming at the waterfall or taking short nature trips on nearby nature trails.
Pha Kluai Mai Waterfall (Namtok Pha Kluai Mai)
This is a medium-sized waterfall in Huay Lam Takhong with two separate bodies of water flowing down rock levels to merge at the bottom. In the area visitors can find the Red Dendrobium orchid that is the symbol of the waterfall. The waterfall is about 7 kilometers from the park office and can be reached by car and on foot. In addition, there is a trail from the waterfall that leads to Heo Suwat Waterfall.
Heo Narok Waterfall (Namtok Heo Narok)
This is the largest and highest waterfall in the park with 3 levels. The first level is about 60 meters high and water from this level flows straight down to the second and third levels, with a total drop of at least 150 meters. The water has considerable strength in the rainy season and is quite dangerous, but refreshing, when it comes splashing down on rocks at the bottom. The area around the waterfall is the usual feeding grounds of wild elephants. There have been occasional accidents when elephants drop from the cliff and die. For a beautiful view of the waterfall, visitors can walk 1 kilometer from the main road to a viewpoint. The waterfall itself is located to the south of the Park Office on the way to Prachin Buri.
There are also other lesser waterfalls in the park like Namtok Mai Plon, Namtok Heo Sai and Namtok Heo Prathul.
Baan Saranya Lodge & Restaurant Khao Yai 