THAILAND'S northeastern region has seen civilizations come and go over the centuries. In the 1970's, an archeological excavations at Ban Chiang, 50 kms cast of Udon Thani, unearthed the remains of a Bronze Age civilization that flourished over 5,000-7,000 years ago. A thousand years ago, the area was also part of the ancient Khmer empire that gave birth to Angkor Wat. The Khmer ruins at Phimai and Phanom Rung are fine examples of this great civilization that preceded Sukhothai-Thailand's first established capital.

But even before human begins roamed the plateaus of "Isan", the region was once home to a more ancient species of animal-the dinosaur. The discovery of new dinosaur bones at the Phu Wiang National Park in Khon Kaen province has brought excitement to the world at large. Thai people are even more excited to learn that the fossils are the "grandfather" of all tyrannosaurs, the oldest example of the fierce, mcat-eating dinosaur ever found.

The discovery was reported by a team of Thai and French researchers. The report has just been published in the well-known science journal "Nature". Researchers have named this new species of dinosaur the Siamotyrannus isanensis. It is 20 million years older than earliest known Tyrannosaurus rex, the feared beast of the popular movie "Jurassic Park". The meat-eating dinosaur was first found at the Phu Wiang National Park in Phu Wiang district,Khon Kaen province in 1987. The study on its hip bones, spine and legs was completed early this year and published in the latest issue of the journal "Nature".
The Department of Mineral Resource says the new dinosaur found in Thailand is only 6.5 metres longs, about half the size of the Tyrannosaurus rex. The excavation and study on the fossils of this dinosaur were conducted through cooperation between Thailand's Department of Mineral Resources and the University of France. The project started in 1979, and a plant-eating dinosaur was discovered in Phu Wiang in 1984 . It was named Phuwiangosaurus sirindhornae in honuor of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn.
The new discovery of dinosaur fossils in Phu Wiang has made a name for Thailand. It may prove that this tyrannosaur evolved in Asia and spread to North America. The story of dinosaurs has always attracted people of all ages and nationalities. The first dinosaurs fossils were found about 175 years ago in Connecticut,USA. Since then, a great many others have been found in other parts of the world. These fossils are mainly dinosaur bones, teeth and eggs. Scientists can put the bones together into whole skeletons and from the skeletons they can tell what the dinosaurs actually looked like. By studying fossil teeth, scientists can tell whether a dinosaur ate plans or meat. Meat eater has pointed, sharp teeth for teaching meat. Dinosaurs that ate plants had flat, blunt teeth designed for chewing.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand, the Department of Mineral Resources and other agencies concerned are joining hands in establishing a dinosaur museum will be completed by the year 2,000. When completed, the museum will become a tourism attraction in Khon Kean. It will also serve as a study centre for these who are interested in the ancient dinosaurs, which died out millions of years before the first humans appeared on Earth.
Information About Phu Wiang

Phu Wiang National Park
Phu wiang is a name of a mountain and Amphur in Khorn Kean. Royal Forest Department declared this national park on December 8,1991, becoming 71th national park of Thailand, covers an area of 325 km2 Dinosaurs' skeletons and steps are found in this park. Beside this, human sheletons, Iron equipment, the sleep Lord Bhuddha in Thawarawadee Period and also point in before history. The topography on the mountain is a big hold of a volcano peak, which covered by dipteracarp and dry evergreen forest.
Phu Wiang National Park
P.O.Box 1, Nai Muang Sub-district, 
Amphur Phu Wiang   Khorn Kaen
Thailand 40150
Tel. 08 5852 1771   E-mail reserve@dnp.go.th

Read More

Date 2 Apr 2008 - 4 Apr 2008
Place Prasat Phanom Rung,  Burirum ProvinceA splash of sunlight penetrating an ancient temple cloister signals a distinctive celebration at Prasat Phanom Rung.
Knowing the exact moment to witness a spectacular sunrise through the doorway of an ancient Hindu temple requires a detailed calculation.
The most auspicious day is 3 April; the time, 0602.32 at sunrise, as the amber sun is perfectly aligned in the centre of the main doorway to a temple standing on a former volcanic mountain in northeast Thailand.

Actually, the sun rays pass straight through 15  perfectly aligned doorways of Prasat Phanom Rung, a revered and ancient Hindu monastery, just four times a year -– two  sets of sunrises, in April and September, and two sets of sunsets, in March and October.

 
These spectacular solar-related events, that also bear religious significance in the Hindu faithful, span just three days –- 2, 3 and 4 April. The second day is considered the most auspicious as the sun is visible dead centre of the outer doorway of this Khmer Hindu temple. Sun rays cast light through 15 aligned doorways that span 75 metres of the temple’s inner courtyard illuminating a revered lingam deep in the main sanctuary. On the other two days, the sun passes one of the corners of these doorways.

Located about 120 km east of Nakhon Ratchasima, the gateway to the northeast region, Prasat Phanom Rung presents a picturesque setting high above the surrounding countryside. A series of steps lead to this ancient monument that stands on the peak of an extinct volcano offering panoramic views of rice fields and hazy mountains on the border with Cambodia.

While photographers will not want to miss the opportunity to capture the  3 April sunrise perfectly aligned within the lintels of the doorways, most visitors will settle for the evening festivals and a colourful light and sound show organised by the Tourism Authority of Thailand performing nightly from 2 to 4 April.

Officially known as the  “Ascent of the Mountain Annual Festival” or the “Festival Of The Thousand Year Miracle of the Phanom Rung Grand Shrine” the celebrations start with the religious significance of the sunrises, but continue with community festivities on each of the three days, well into the night.

The 80-minute light and sound show, that start at 20:00, highlights the history of Prasat Phanom Rung and explains the significance of the sunrise and its alignment with the temple’s courtyard doors.
The show is described as an “extravagant outdoor Son et Lumiere performances led by a large cast of actors, dancers and acrobats.”
This evening spectacular, held within the temple complex, compliments the daytime activities that start with the sunrise ceremonies and are followed by colourful festivities throughout the day. In the afternoon there is almost a carnival spirit as visitors enjoy the local food specialities sold at stalls, the folk music and dances as well as handicraft displays.  Many visitors are tempted to stay on to admire the floodlight sanctuary, or slumber through night under the stars to ensure they have a prime spot to participate in the sunrise ceremonies on the following morning.
source from www.tourismthailand.org

Read More

The Khao Kor Memorial was built to worship the bravery of soldiers, police officers, and civillians who sacrificed their lives fighting the communists.Other than history, this place offers a very nice view of winding roads on the way up the hill

Khao Kor memorial

location in Khoa Kor Peak , about 500 meters away from Weapon museum uphill
This Memorial was built in commemoration of soldiers, police officers and civils who sacrificed their lives in fighting the communist terrorists, of triangle shape and marble carved names of the brave men on the left wall with description of the Memorial sighificance

Than Krungthep 
Location Khoa kor Peak , in front of the Memorial Than Krungthep is not far from the Memorial , the inside of which keeps well-preserved war bunkers. ON its side is a shady shelter for tourist leisure,while the rear is a steep cliff that offers another nice viewpoint of Khao Kor.
Realistic bunkers and the wavy treeless mountains sea on Than Krungthep donw below attract tourists to visit all the time.

Read More

In the old days, Khoa Kor was abattlefield between communist and Tha govenrment leaving a number of historical remains , especially at this Weapon Museum where there is a nice viewpoint other than Khao Kor war account to study

Localtion On Khoa Kor :Phetchaboon Province

Weapon Museum
Location: On the way up Khao Kor , about 500 meters before Khao Kor Memorial.
The Weapon Museum or Than It-Thi as called by the locals was named after Colonel It-Thi Simarak, a military officer who played an important role in seizing Khao Kor back from the communist terreists. Kept in the musuem are armaments including tanks, coannons, tractors, helecopters,  remains of F-5 fight- ing aircraft , ordnance vehicles and  bunkers.Its localtion on the mountaintop offers a high-angled view of beautiful piling grassland mountains in the rear.
Admission fee: 10 Baht/ Person

How to get there

From the town of Phetchabun, take Highway 21, to the kilometer marker 236, then turn left to Highway 2258 and turn right to Highway 2196 to Khao Kho. The total distance from Phetchabun is thirty-seven kilometers

Source from Trips Magazine and photo by EZytrip.com

Read More

Location: Khoa Yah Peak
Khoa Kor Palace, about 1,100 meters hight on Khoa Yah mountaintop, was built in between 1984-1985 B.E. as HM the King's residence during royal visits in the area.
The Palace's landscape of a bout 15 rai is beautiful with winterland flowers and a shady pine forest on its side. For  Adventures, Khoa Yah offers a panoramic viewpoint for a sea of mountains in Ampher Khoa Kor taking 800 Meters long on foot to reach. Tourists who conquer Koa Yah Peak may purchase a certificate as souvenir.

 

Khao Kor Place on Khoa Yah was built between 1984-1985 as aresidence of HM The King. Other than the surrounding cold-climate flower gardens and pine tree to admire, a nice viewpoint and 770 Meters long hiking activity are there for tourists to try

The viewpoint around the pine trees beside the Khoa Kor Palace, though not as high as on Khao Yah , offers a nice view of wavy treeless mountains sea second to no others

Information from Trips Magazine and photo by EZYTrip.com

Read More

November 1 - December 5, 2007
On Doi Mae U-kor, Mae Hong Son
The hills and valleys of Mae Hong Son, one of Thailand's most naturally scenic areas, turn to gold when the Dok Bua Tong wild sunflower (Tithonia Diversifolia) comes into full bloom during this period.

When the flowers fade, the seeds are collected and made into insecticides.

Doi Mae U-kor mountain peak in Khun Yuam district of Mae Hong Son is considered to be the an excellent location to enjoy the splendour of the sunflowers in full bloom.

Contact information:
TAT Northern Office - Region 1
Tel : +66 (0) 5324 8604, (0) 5324 8607, (0) 5324 1466
Fax : +66 (0) 5324 8605
E-mail : tatchmai@tat.or.th

IMPORTANT
Event dates and programme details may be subject to change.
Many of the festivals and events listed on Thailand's official calendar of annual events are traditional Buddhist or folk festivals, the date of which is either determined by the Buddhist lunar calendar and waxing and waning moon. These are not staged events. The festivals reflect the rhythm of life in rural Thai villages and local traditions as observed in times past. To ensure you have the most updated information, please reconfirm details prior to travel.

Contact:
Tourism Authority of Thailand
Email: info@tat.or.th
Website: www.tat.or.th
Tel: +66 (0) 2250 5500 (120 automatic lines)
Fax: +66 (0) 2250 5511 (two automatic lines)

FOR EVENT INFORMATION,
please call 1672.

Address:
1600 Petchaburi Road, Makkasan, Rajatevee
Bangkok 10400
Thailand

Read More

Is a picturesque gorge about 105 kilometres from Chiang Mai City and teak forests and mountains frame it. During the 
rainy season, the rapidly flowing river crashing on the boulders and through the ravine give a dramatic picture of nature's strength. A bridge connects the two sides of the narrow, steep gorge. The National Park Office has tents and sleeping equipment for visitors to rent at modest prices. For more information contact Recreation Department of The Royal Forest Department, Bangkok 10900 or tel. 0 – 2579 – 5734, 0 – 2579 – 7223, 0 – 2561 – 4292 – 6 ext. 724, 725 or contact the Ob Luang National Park, Hod district tel. 0 – 5322 – 9272

The Mae Chaem River was originally called the “Salak hin”. The river created a big but narrow canyon , which is called Ob Luang. The rocks and cliffs are subject to erosion by the strong currents of the river and have formed the canyon and strangely shaped rockformations. The water have to force it’s way past rocks and boulders obstructing the course which is magnificent sight.
From 1966 to 1991 the park was administered as a forest park. After more surveys by the Royal Forest Department it was gazetted, in 1991, as the 68th national park of Thailand. The area supports a wide variety of natural attritions like waterfalls, cave, hot springs and historical sites, which serve people education and recreation. At present the total park is 630 km² and is entirely located in Amphur Chomthong, Hod and Mae Chaem, Chiang Mai province, Thailand.

Topography
The extensive, north-south running, mountain range of the park is the same range of which Doi Inthanon, the highest mountain of Thailand.

Climate
The park receives a monsoonal climate and has three distinct occasional heavy thunderstorms and strong winds.

Flora and Fauna
Due to this national park consists of the mixed forest, drydipterocarp forest, dry-evergreen forest, hill-evergreen forest and moutain-pine forest lets you can find many kinds of plant such as Tectona grandis Linn.f., Dipterocarpus, Pterocarpus macrocarpus, Xylia kerrii, Hopea odorata Roxb, Toona ciliata, Afzelia xylocarpa, Diospyros mollis Griff., D. fusca, Rose wood, Terminalia alata Heyne ex Roth., Queen's Crape Myrtle , Queen's Flower, Anisoptera costata Korth., Mammea siamensis (T. Anderson ) Kosterm., Stereospermum spp., Dipterocarpus tuberculatus Roxb., Shorea obtosa, Shorea siamensis and Pteridium aquilinum var. wightianum, etc. Moreover, the important low-level plants such as bamboo, palm and fern also have been found here.
Found animals here are Serow, Tigle, Bear, Deer, Common wild pig, Common Barking deer, White-handed gibbon, Monkey, Viverra megaspila, Rabbit, Silver Carp, Idian or Bengal Monitor and 200 kinds of birds also could be found in this national park, such as White-rumped shama, Scarlet Minivet, Spotted dove, Emerald Dove, Eudynamys scolopacea, Guineafowl, Coucal, hill myna, Parrot, Crested Serpent-eagle, Green peafowl, Siamese Fireback, Red Junglefowl, etc.

Read More