Doi Inthanon

Doi Inthanon

Naphamethinidon and Naphaphonphumisiri, two chedis near the summit of Doi Inthanon
Highest point
Elevation 2,565 m (8,415 ft)
Prominence 1,850 m (6,070 ft)
Listing Country high point
List of Ultras of Southeast Asia
Coordinates 18°35′15″N 98°29′12″E / 18.58750°N 98.48667°E / 18.58750; 98.48667Coordinates: 18°35′15″N 98°29′12″E / 18.58750°N 98.48667°E / 18.58750; 98.48667 
Geography
Doi Inthanon
Thailand
Location Chiang Mai, Thailand
Parent range Shan Hills
Geology
Mountain type granite batholith
Climbing
Easiest route drive

Doi Inthanon (Thai: ดอยอินทนนท์, pronounced [dɔ̄ːj ʔīn.tʰā.nōn]) is the highest mountain in Thailand.[1] It is in Chom Thong District, Chiang Mai Province. This mountain is an ultra prominent peak, known in the past as Doi Luang (meaning "big mountain") or Doi Ang Ka, meaning the "crow's pond top". Near the mountain's base was a pond where many crows gathered. The name Doi Inthanon was given in honour of King Inthawichayanon, one of the last kings of Chiang Mai, who was concerned about the forests in the north and tried to preserve them. He ordered that after his death his remains be interred at Doi Luang, which was then renamed in his honour.

Today, the summit of Doi Inthanon is a popular tourist destination for both foreign and Thai tourists, with a peak of 12,000 visitors visiting the summit on New Year's Day. In addition to a range of tourist facilities on the summit, there is also a Royal Thai Air Force weather radar station at the summit and the Thai National Observatory (TNO) at km44.[2]

Geography

Doi Inthanon is the highest peak of the Inthanon Range (Thai: ทิวเขาอินทนนท์) of the Thanon Thong Chai Range, a subrange of the Shan Hills in the Thai highlands stretching southwards from the Daen Lao Range. This range, the southwesternmost of the Shan Highland system, separates the Salween watershed from the Mekong watershed. Other high peaks of the Loi Lar Mountain Range are Doi Luang Chiang Dao (2,175 m), Doi Pui (1,685 m), and Doi Suthep (1,601 m).

In 1954, the forests around Doi Inthanon were conserved, creating Doi Inthanon National Park, as one of the original 14 national parks of Thailand.[3] This park now covers 482.4 km² and spreads from the lowlands at 800 m elevation up to the peak at 2,565 m. Given the varied climatic and ecological areas regions, the park supports a range of animal species, including over 360 bird species.

On the lower slopes of Doi Inthanon, near the Karen hill tribe village, Ban Sop Had, are the Wachirathan waterfalls (Thai: น้ำตกวชิรธาร), where the Wachirathan (lit. "Diamond Creek") tumbles over a granite escarpment.18°32′30″N 98°35′57″E / 18.541790°N 98.599247°E / 18.541790; 98.599247

Climate

The climate is typically tropical and fairly cool on the summit of Doi Inthanon. In winter the average temperature is 6 °C (43 °F) in January and temperatures can sometimes drop below 0 °C (32 °F). From March to June, temperatures are pleasant especially at higher altitudes. The rainy season runs from April to November, sometimes it rains often more than 2 hours per day.

The two chedis

On the main road to the summit of Doi Inthanon stand two adjacent chedis, one called Naphamethinidon (นภเมทินีดล), meaning "by the strength of the land and air", and the other, Naphaphonphumisiri (นภพลภูมิสิริ), meaning "being the strength of the air and the grace of the land". These temples were built to honour the 60th birthday anniversary of King Bhumibol Adulyadej in 1987, and the 60th birthday anniversary of Queen Sirikit in 1992, respectively.

Geology

Geologically the mountain is a granite batholith in a north-south oriented mountain range. The second-highest peak of this range is Doi Hua Mot Luang at 2,340 m.

Interesting places at Doi Inthanon[4]

The Great Holy Relics Pagoda Nabhamethanidol and Nabhapolbhumisiri

Tourists always worship and walk around the garden to see the beautiful scenery and take the pictures.

Kio Mae Pan Nature Trail

You will enjoy your nice short trekking for about 2.78 km. along the beautiful view and forest, as well as seeing wildlife and rare plants on the walk way. Moreover,  Kio Mae Pan is the place where you can see Azalia (The rose that is thousand years old). [5]

  

Wachirathan falls

Originally called “Tard Khong Yong”.  It is another place that is worth to visit while you are at Doi Inthanon. The spray of water makes the area around the falls cool and fresh and it also makes a nice scenery to take some pictures. Moreover it has Thai food for sale near the water fall that tourists can buy and eat near the beautiful scenery and on the fresh air.

The Royal Agricultural Station Inthanon

The Royal Agricultural Station Inthanon is the King’s Personal Project for eliminating opium growing.  It consists of many parts. [6]

Rhododendron Garden

The garden consists of a wide species of Rhododendron plants such as Azalia and other species

Ferns Greenhouse

The hall houses assemble a variety of ferns. Some species are nearly extinct and some are very rare.

Flower Plants Greenhouse

The hall displays various kinds of flowers that are very beautiful and many tourists love to take picture at this hall.

Hydroponics Vegetables Greenhouse

The hall houses where the vegetables are grown by the hydroponics gardening system.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Doi Inthanon National Park". Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT). Retrieved 21 July 2015.
  2. ↑ "Thai National Observatory (TNO)". National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand (NARIT). Retrieved 21 July 2015.
  3. ↑ "Doi Inthanon National Park". Department of National Parks (DNP) Thailand. Archived from the original on 2007-09-29.
  4. ↑ "ดอยอินทนนท์ การเดินทางไปดอยอินทนนท์". ไปด้วยกันท่องเที่ยว. Retrieved 2017-04-26.
  5. ↑ "Explore Kew Mae Pan Nature Trail : Doi Inthanon National Park". mychiangmaitour.com. Retrieved 2017-04-26.
  6. ↑ "สถานีเกษตรหลวงอินทนนท์ | Home". www.royal-inthanon.com. Retrieved 2017-04-26.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.