Take a good traveling anytime!
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To Explore the jungle of Tham Tharn Lawd National Park |
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The droplets of water on the leaves of the thick branches are evidence of the rain that fell the night before. The fertile jungle in Chalerm Rattanakosin National Park - more popularly known among tourists as Tham Tharn Lawd National Park - in Nong Prue district of Kanchanaburi welcomes tourists with a particular freshness at this time of year. The clock never stops. As if on clue, the rains come at about the same time every year to wake up the sleepy creatures in the forest and bring them back to life, signalling the beginning of the season for exploration and adventure in this vast wilderness. Tham Tharn Lawd National Park offers an interesting natural tourist site in Kanchanaburi. The green area boasts more than 18,750 acres of greenery, with grottoes, cascades and valleys suitable for trekking and experiencing a close brush with nature. The nature trail through Tham Tharn Lawd Noi and Tham Tharn Lawd Yai may look short distancewise, but it could easily tire countless numbers of amateur trekkers. Trekking in the rainy season in particular, special attention must be given to the preparation of trekking gear. If trekkers intend to spend the whole day in the jungle, they are well advised to bring enough food and drinking water for the trek. They must also bear in mind that the Tham Tharn Lawd Noi cave is only illuminated from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., hence they must return before 4 p.m. From the National Park Office, trekkers know they have arrived at Tham Tharn Lawd Noi when they reach the stream called Lum Kraproi that flows throughout the year. With a height of 1.5 meters, the first stretch of the cave presents tourists with the first challenge as they have to be careful not to hit their head on the ceiling. The glittering stalactites and stalagmites in the central stretch are sure to draw the breathe of amateur explorers The wind that passes through the cave helps dispel the humidity from the cave's cavity, and the cool, ever-running Lum Kraproi stream means that the explorers will need to rub their hands to keep warm before they bid farewell to the bats in the cave and head for the other end of the tunnel where they return to the warm light. The shady jungle is blessed with plants of different species, including dry evergreen, mixed deciduous and bamboo forests, whose leaves dance in the cool breeze. Walking against the direction of the stream to enjoy nature is bliss in itself. The trail offers a diverse range of life. The trunks of big trees that shoot into the sky to compete for the sun serve as a fertile ground for various species of ferns, mosses and mushrooms. Wild flowers in colorful shades dot shrubs along the way, with climbers so intertwined that it is difficult to disentangle them. Even fallen trunks on the trail offer a habitat for small insects that gather in a big fascinating community. Small birds on branches greet visitors with their beautiful songs, interspersed with calls from insects which hide themselves so well that it is difficult to locate their whereabouts. With some luck, one may catch a glimpse of the puffy tails of squirrels as they swing from branch to branch. This national park is home to a variety of wildlife including Asiatic black bears, bear cats, leopards, bantengs, gaurs, deer, barking deer, monkeys, and tapirs. As they live deep in the jungle, spotting them is not likely. Observant trekkers thus take satisfaction in finding the footprints, or paw prints, left by the animals as they hunted for food along the trail. From trekking the plain that crosses the brook to climbing the steep mountains in the distance, those who are ill-prepared may want to cut short their immediate challenge, resolving to conquer this same trek on their next trip. The unpolluted beauty of the three-tiered Trai Treung Waterfall in the thick forest and the wonders of Tham Tharn Lawd Yai, the final frontier of adventure, are the rewards awaiting those trekkers who are determined to win the formidable trek. Here they will be awed by the greatness of nature, which comes in the form of a huge cut in the limestone mountain with a light tunnel on top. After a brief rest, the return trip can now be more leisurely. This offers a great opportunity for jungle trekkers to keep track of every little detail that may have been overlooked at the beginning of the trek. Watching colorful butterflies and dragonflies with flimsy wings on the way, or studying the fruits that fell from the trees for their shapes and colors, constitute other pleasant activities. Given enough time, trekkers may want to walk through the thick jungle to savor its freshness and to enjoy a view of Tharn Ngern and Tharn Thong waterfalls not too far from the National Park Office. Watching jets of water splashing over rock creases and clashing with solar beams to create a rainbow makes a pleasant end to an impressive day in the jungle. The National Park offers accommodation and camping site for visitors who wish to watch the stars as they sleep under the trees. For those who prefer the sound of the flowing Kwai Yai River, Kanchanaburi offers many hotels and resorts, including the beautifully landscaped Cumsaed River Kwai Resort or Kasalong Resort Hotel. The fatigue from the day's trekking seems to shorten the night. But the cool breeze of the forest and the trail in the mountains are like dreams that linger on, drawing nature lovers to the embrace of the jungle time and time again. | ||||||
| Last Updated ( Wednesday, 29 October 2008 ) | ||||||
