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46-452: Up until the mid-19th century, the area of Pak Chong district and Muak Lek to its west was covered by a thick jungle known as Dong Phaya Fai (later to become known as Dong Phaya Yen), through which passed an important though harshly inhospitable route through the mountains that provided access into the Khorat plateau from the town of Sara Buri . The population centre of Pak Chong was originally

92-648: A shortcut into a small cave under the waterfall cliff. One urban legend reports that Haew Su Wat was named after a thief named Suwat who, in order escape government authority, jumped into the basin. However, there's no verifiable proof of this actually happening so the origin of the name is currently unknown. According to the Department of National Parks (DNP), which manages the park, visitors to Khao Yai have risen from 671,569 in 2008 to more than 1.2 million in FY2016 . From October 2015 to September 2016, 471,514 vehicles entered

138-528: A small village on the eastern fringe of the jungle, which, according to writings of Prince Damrong Rajanubhab , was the farthest point carts from Khorat could travel before needing to continue on foot through the rugged hills. When the Northeastern Railway was built through the area in 1898 during the reign of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V), a cutting was made through the hills at the village, leading it to become known as Ban Pak Chong, meaning 'village at

184-495: A town municipality ( thesaban mueang ) in 2005. Pak Chong is the biggest district of Nakhon Ratchasima by area, at 1,825.17 square kilometres (704.70 sq mi). It is bordered by Nakhon Ratchasima's districts of Sikhio to the northeast and Sung Noen , Pak Thong Chai and Wang Nam Khiao to the east, Prachantakham district of Prachin Buri province and Pak Phli and Mueang Nakhon Nayok districts of Nakhon Nayok province to

230-488: A valley between the surrounding hills, the original railway was forced to snake through the area in a large U shape as it passed the town to the east. As part of infrastructure work to upgrade the railway to double-track from 2016 to 2024, a 50-metre (160 ft)-high viaduct—the first of its kind in Thailand—was built to cross over the valley and the town altogether. A new station was built 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) west of

276-829: Is a national park in Thailand . Established in 1962 as Thailand's first national park, it is the third largest national park in Thailand. Khao Yai National Park is in the western part of the Sankamphaeng Mountain Range, at the southwestern boundary of the Khorat Plateau . The highest mountain in the area of the park is 1,351 m (4,432 ft) high Khao Rom . This park lies largely in Nakhon Ratchasima Province (Khorat), but also includes parts of Saraburi , Prachinburi and Nakhon Nayok Provinces. The park

322-450: Is home to a variety of animals. It is one of the few places in Thailand where wild elephants still survive. They are regularly seen and are a major tourist attraction. Other larger animals include gibbons, pig-tailed macaques, muntjacs and sambar deer. Other large animals include barking deer, porcupine, and civet. Other species that can occasionally be seen include sun bear, Asian black bear, gaur, otter, dhole and jackal. In early-2017 it

368-430: Is one town ( thesaban mueang ) in the district: There are four sub-district municipalities ( thesaban tambons ) in the district: There are nine sub-district administrative organizations (SAO) in the district: Muak Lek district Muak Lek ( Thai : มวกเหล็ก , pronounced [mûak lèk] ) is a district ( amphoe ) of Saraburi province , Thailand . It occupies the province's easternmost part, in

414-416: Is the park's 2nd highest mountain, the highest being Khao Rom. Similar to Khao Rom, reaching the peak of the mountain is also only possible on foot. Reaching the peak of the mountain takes no less than 7 hours. Before reaching the absolute summit, one must also climb up a rope. With such difficult challenges climbing the mountain, The Lottery Club once awarded a 60,000 baht prize to a woman who would conquer

460-677: Is the third largest in Thailand. It covers an area of 1,353,472 rai ~ 2,166 km (836 sq mi), including tropical seasonal forests and grasslands . Elevations mostly from 400–1,000 m (1,300–3,300 ft). There are 3,000 species of plants, 320 species of birds such as red junglefowl and coral-billed ground cuckoo , and 66 species of mammals, including Asian black bear , Indian elephant , gaur , gibbon , Indian sambar deer , southern pig-tailed macaque , Indian muntjac , Ussuri dhole and wild pigs . There have been no tigers in Khao Yai for at least 20 years. Its waterfalls include

506-522: The Bangkok–Nong Khai high-speed railway , which will have a station at Pak Chong. Some long-distance trains from Bangkok to Udon Thani or Nong Khai and all trains to Ubon Ratchathani stop at Pak Chong, as well as the local trains connecting Kaeng Khoi Junction with Nakhon Ratchasima railway station and beyond. Pak Chong is divided into 12 sub-districts ( tambons ), which are further subdivided into 219 administrative villages ( mubans ). There

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552-466: The Dong Phaya Yen Mountains which divide the central and northeastern regions. Originally a formidable jungle, much of the forest cover was cleared in the 20th century, though several forested hills remain, with natural features serving as tourist destinations—parts of Khao Yai and Namtok Chet Sao Noi national parks are within the district area. Dairy farming is an important industry in

598-636: The 80 m (260 ft) Heo Narok (เหวนรก), and Heo Suwat (หวสุวัต) made famous by the film The Beach . Around 1922 some people from Ban Tha Dan and Ban Tha Chai villages in Nakhon Nayok Province built a settlement within the forest in the Sankamphaeng mountains. Up to 30 households cultivated the land. The area was formally recognized by the government and classified as Tambon Khao Yai within Pak Phli District . Due to its remoteness from

644-526: The Bangkok middle-class. Development of holiday properties is a major driver of real estate development in the Khao Yai area. The Royal Thai Army 's special combat training camp is in Nong Taku, Khanong Phra subdistrict. It trains five classes of 300 soldiers each per year in the 56-day training course. Mittraphap Road , designated National Highway 2, is the primary highway that carries traffic between Bangkok and

690-557: The Dong Phaya Yen pass. Pak Chong town lies slightly north of the district's physical centre, while its southern area, abutting Khao Yai National Park and generally also known as Khao Yai, has developed into a spread-out resort area. The town of Klang Dong—meaning 'middle of the jungle'—lies southwest of Pak Chong town along the road and railway, to the district's west. The majority of the population of Pak Chong district as well as Pak Chong town are employed in agriculture, with maize being

736-476: The abundance of orchids present there. This waterfall gets its source from the Huai Lam Takhong flowing through a 25 meter high cliff. The basin of the waterfall is suitable for swimming, however, the national park prohibits swimming due to fear of turbulent flood waters. In the rainy season, the falling water will make a scattered mist of water vapor. In the dry season, the waterfall will recede, revealing

782-511: The area. When the Thai government pushed for the development of a dairy industry with Danish assistance in 1960s, Muak Lek was chosen as the site of the Thai–Danish Dairy Farm and its training centre, which opened in 1962. Muak Lek district used to be a subdistrict ( tambon ) under Saraburi province's Kaeng Khoi district . It was created as a district on 27 December 1968, when the area of

828-556: The authorities it became a refuge for criminals and fugitives. After an attempt to capture the suspects in the area, in 1932 the villagers were relocated into the plains some 30 km away and the tambon status was cancelled. In 1959 the prime minister, Field Marshal Sarit Thanarat , instructed the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of the Interior to create a process whereby national parks could be established. Khao Yai National Park

874-463: The cement factories in neighbouring Kaeng Khoi district also extend into Muak Lek's area. The district is crossed by Mittraphap Road —designated National Highway 2—and the northeastern railway line on their way through the hills and into Isan. The under-construction (as of 2022) Motorway 6 , with an access ramp serving Muak Lek, is expected to supplant Mittraphap as the most direct route from Bangkok to Nakhon Ratchasima . As Khlong Muak Lek forms

920-520: The central Khao Yai area and runs in a northeasterly direction to the Mekong . The Sai Yai River system drains from the eastern basin, turning sharply into the southern floodplains and on to the Gulf of Thailand . The Nakhon Nayok River system drains from the southwest watershed into Nakhon Nayok Province to the south. The Saraburi Province drainage system drains westward from the far west of Khao Yai. Khao Yai

966-517: The district at its southern end. Khlong Muak Lek , a stream originating from Khao Yai, separates Muak Lek district from Pak Chong as it flows northwards to join the Pa Sak River . Muak Lek town lies on the western bank of the stream, with the Muak Lek Waterfall in its vicinity. The Chet Sao Noi Waterfalls lie downstream to the north, and the eponymous national park covers forested hill areas in

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1012-604: The district's economy, its natural attractions, agritourism and outdoor activities attracting visitors who usually visit along with further attractions in Pak Chong district's Khao Yai area . Several resorts and Scout camps are located in the district. The campus of Asia-Pacific International University is also in Muak Lek, just west of the town, as is the new campus of the Royal Thai Air Force Academy . Some quarries of

1058-444: The district's southern edge, which was established as the country's first national park in 1962. Proximity to the national park would later contribute to the district's development as a tourist destination, especially in the 2000s to 2010s. The local government of Pak Chong town was first established as a sanitary district ( sukhaphiban ) in 1956. It was established as a subdistrict municipality ( thesaban tambon ) in 1981 and became

1104-418: The district, having been introduced to the country here in 1962. Up through the 19th century, the area of Muak Lek district, together with Pak Chong district to its east, was covered by the thick jungle of Dong Phaya Fai (later renamed Dong Phaya Yen), through which passed an important though harshly inhospitable route through the mountains into the Khorat plateau from Saraburi . The Northeastern Railway

1150-417: The entire Isan region. It links Pak Chong westward to Muak Lek and northeastward to Sikhio. While the original route passed through the town of Pak Chong and continues to serve as its main thoroughfare, the main highway now bypasses the town to the south. The under-construction Motorway 6 , which is scheduled to open in 2022, will feature an access ramp for Pak Chong and Khao Yai on Thanarat Road (Highway 2090),

1196-471: The former Tambon Muak Lek was split into three tambon containing 33 villages, and formed a new district named Muak Lek. The new district started operation on 21 January 1969. On 7 May 1970 the permanent district office building was opened. In 1988 the northwestern area was split off from the district to form the new Wang Muang district . Muak Lek, in the east of the province, is the second-largest district of Saraburi by area. Neighbouring districts are from

1242-514: The limits of the protected area of the forest. Illegal logging is also a problem in the area of the park. Khao Rom is the highest mountain in Khao Yai National Park, measuring up to 1,351 meters above sea level. Reaching the peak of the mountain is only accessible on foot, which few people attempt to, except for forestry officers Since this mountain is spiral shaped, it is called Khao Laem (เขาแหลม; Lit: Spiky Mountain). Khao Laem

1288-423: The main access road linking the town to the national park's main northern entrance. The State Railway of Thailand 's Northeastern Line passes through the district with stations at Klang Dong, Pang Asok, Bandai Ma, Pak Chong, Sap Muang, Chanthuek and Khlong Khanan Chit, Pak Chong railway station being the only class 1 station. As of 2022, the railway is being upgraded to double-track , along with construction of

1334-484: The main produce, followed by cassava. Cattle rearing forms an important industry in the district, which is one of the country's top dairy producers, along with neighbouring Muak Lek. Several factories in diverse industries including sack-weaving, electronics, rock-crushing and livestock feed production serve as a major source of employment. Tourism is also a large contributor to the economy, with tourists coming to visit Khao Yai National Park as well as other attractions in

1380-476: The mountains, marks its western boundary. The Lam Takhong , also originating in Khao Yai, flows northwards through the district, passing through Pak Chong town and emptying into the Lam Takhong Dam reservoir in the district's northeast. Pak Chong district is the main entry point into Isan from the central region , as the primary routes of both road and rail traverse the district from west to northeast through

1426-411: The mouth of the cutting'. At the time, the village was part of Tambon Khanong Phra of Amphoe Chan Thuek, which became renamed as Tambon Chanthuek of Amphoe Sikhio in 1939. In 1949, Ban Pak Chong was upgraded to subdistrict ( tambon ) status. It was upgraded to a minor district ( king amphoe ) effective 1 January 1957, consisting of the four subdistricts Pak Chong, Chanthuek, Klong Dan, and Mu Si. It

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1472-431: The north clockwise: Phatthana Nikhom , Tha Luang , and Lam Sonthi of Lopburi province ; Sikhio and Pak Chong of Nakhon Ratchasima province ; Mueang Nakhon Nayok of Nakhon Nayok province ; and Kaeng Khoi and Wang Muang of Saraburi. The district lies in the hills of the Dong Phaya Yen Mountains , which separate central Thailand from the northeastern region ( Isan ). Khao Yai National Park occupies part of

1518-610: The original location. The district is divided into six sub-districts ( tambons ), which are further subdivided into 65 villages ( mubans ). Muak Lek itself has township status ( thesaban tambon ) and covers parts of tambons Muak Lek and Mittraphap. There are six tambon administrative organizations (TAO). The missing numbers 3, 6 and 8 were the tambon which now forms Wang Muang. Khao Yai National Park Khao Yai National Park ( Thai : อุทยานแห่งชาติเขาใหญ่ , RTGS :  Utthayan Haeng Chat Khao Yai , pronounced [ʔùt.tʰā.jāːn hɛ̀ŋ t͡ɕʰâːt kʰǎw jàj] )

1564-470: The park, together with other parks in the same range and in the Dong Phaya Yen Mountains further north, was proclaimed a UNESCO World Heritage Site under the name "Dong Phaya Yen–Khao Yai Forest Complex". As the lands adjacent to the national park are becoming increasingly developed into luxury hotels and golf courses, acquiring land for future wildlife conservation efforts is becoming problematic. Homes and residential villas have been built illegally within

1610-516: The park. The congestion has led to demands to close the park to private vehicles. During one of its busiest periods, New Year's week from 30 December – 3 January 2016, the park received 156,574 visitors. They left in excess of 23 tonnes of waste behind. As litter was a serious problem at the park, in 2020 the park started mailing litter to the homes of visitors who left it there. Khao Yai National Park has three main seasons, with an annual mean temperature of 23 °C, though this varies greatly with

1656-458: The seasons. Limestone is present towards the eastern end close to the Dângrêk Mountains . Sandstone outcrops exist in the south and north of the park. Shales and schist are also present. In the south, steep slopes made of granite and conglomerates are seen. There are four drainage areas in the park which are vital catchments for four river systems. The Lam Takhong River drains from

1702-747: The south, and Muak Lek of Saraburi province to the west and northwest. The district lies within the hills of the Dong Phaya Yen Mountains, which form the southwestern boundary of the Isan region (northeastern Thailand). The district is limited in the east by the Khorat Cuesta , which forms a ridge marking the edge of the Khorat Plateau , while the ridge of the Sankamphaeng Mountains , covered by Khao Yai National Park, forms its southern border. The stream Khlong Muak Lek , flowing northwards from

1748-417: The summit of the peak. The recipient of the award, Catherine B. Buri, conquered the summit in 1972. The path used to travel to the summit of the mountain is also used as a wildlife corridor by animals, therefore many animal tracks are found here. Ascending the mountain also affords the opportunity of seeing various forms of wildlife. Haew Narok is a waterfall formed from Tha Dan canal. It is known as one of

1794-456: The tallest and most beautiful waterfalls of Khao Yai National Park. Originally, before the Prachin Buri - Khao Yai road was cut, it is only accessible on foot and would take at least 6 hours to make it there, but after the finishing of the Prachin Buri - Khao Yai road, it is easily accessible by cars since the road passes near Haew Narok Waterfall. There is a parking lot just 1 kilometer away from

1840-578: The vicinity. The majority of Muak Lek district's population practice agriculture, with maize being the most common crop. Dairy farming is an important component of Muak Lek's economy, the district being a major centre of dairy production in the country as it is home to the headquarters of the state enterprise the Dairy Farming Promotion Organization of Thailand (DPO), in Mittraphap Sub-district. Tourism also contributes to

1886-451: The waterfall. Upon reaching the waterfall, there is a staircase going down about 50 meters, which is quite narrow and steep. In the rainy season, there is typically a lot of rain water but in the dry season, there is little to no water falling down the cliff. Pha Kluai Mai Waterfall gets its water source from Huai Lam Takhong. To get there, you have to park your car at Pha Kluai Mai tent yard and walk on. The waterfall gets its name from

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1932-409: The wider Khao Yai area to the south of the district. Agritourism draws visitors to major farms and vineyards, Khao Yai being one of Thailand's two wine-producing regions along with Hua Hin . Numerous resorts, golf clubs, cafés, art galleries and shopping centres are scattered throughout the area, many of which feature novelty European-themed architectural styles and cater to domestic tourists, mainly

1978-690: Was announced that 18 tigers, including five males, seven female and six cubs, were filmed by surveillance cameras in the Dong Phaya Yen-Khao Yai world heritage site in June 2016 and February 2017 in a joint effort of the Department of National Parks, the Freeland Foundation , and the Panthera Corporation . The last time that tigers were seen by surveillance cameras in Khao Yai National Park was in 2002. On 18 September 2017, Google celebrated

2024-471: Was built through the pass in 1898, with a station at Muak Lek town. Conditions during the construction were harsh, with many workers perishing to disease. Knud Lyne Rahbek (1878–1897), a Danish assistant railway surveyor and the son of chief engineer Knud Rahbek, died here and is buried in a prominent grave near the station. The forests of Dong Phaya Yen were rapidly cleared following the construction of Mittraphap Road in 1955, which vastly opened up access to

2070-475: Was then established on 18 September 1962, declared by royal proclamation in the Government Gazette (Book 79, Section 89) as the first national park in Thailand. A major role in its establishment was played by Boonsong Lekakul , one of the 20th century's most famous Thai conservationists. It was named after the defunct tambon, Khao Yai. In 1984 the park was made an ASEAN Heritage Park , and on 14 July 2005

2116-455: Was upgraded to a full district in July 1958. The forests of Dong Phaya Yen were rapidly cleared following the construction of Mittraphap Road in 1955, which vastly opened up access to the area. Most of the land became dedicated to agriculture, particularly plantations of maize and cassava, following government incentives. Only scattered forested hills remain, leading up to Khao Yai National Park on

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