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Thailand - Chiang Mai 2 (Doi Inthanon)

[ChiangMai] Doi Inthanon
"Doi Inthanon" is in the "Doi Inthanon National Park" and the highest mountain, 2,565 meters above sea-level. There is a board saying "This is the highest spot !" with its altitude on the mountaintop, and around the summit, there are two monuments; one is for the current King (King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX)) and the other is for Queen (Queen Sirikit) like the picture below. Because it's around the top of the mountain, the view in front of you is expansive and so wonderful. :) (The scenery by a panoramic image I made. The left tower is the monument for the current King and the right is for the Queen.) (The scenery by a panoramic image I made. The left tower is the monument for the current King and the right is for the Queen.) Explanation board there says; (the details are at the bottom) Doi Inthanon was called "Doi Luang" or "Doi Ang Kaa (Kang)".　In 1871, Prince Inthawitchayanond of Chiang Mai (The 7th King of Lanna Thai Kingdom) who loved this place ordered his people to bring him here when he passed away. In 1897, his daughter, Princess Dara Rasamaee (or Rasmi) changed the name of this place to "Doi Inthanond", and in 1915, she built a chedi to put the ash of her father. The temperature of this place is from -8 to 22 degrees Celsius and the average is 12 degrees through the year, and because of this cool or cold climate, various plants grow such as rhododendrons, Quercus and Castanopsis species, mosses, ferns and orchids. When I visited here, it was the beginning of the year and very cold. The temperature was around 7 degrees Celsius. A woman working at a shop said it was about 3 degrees the day before. By the way, there are military facilities around the top of the mountain but photos are prohibited. :)
Doi Inthanon - Now, hurry to the top !
Gate 1 (You have to go through a gate to reach the top.)	Gate 2 (Some people are selling some flowers to make offering of.)	Around the top (Finally, reached around the top. Another mountains can be seen below. Wonderful. :) )	To the top ! (Walk to the top. About 50 meters from the parking lot. Two elephants will welcome you. :D )
Gate 1 (You have to go through a gate to reach the top.)	Gate 2 (Some people are selling some flowers to make offering of.)	Around the top (Finally, reached around the top. Another mountains can be seen below. Wonderful. :) )	To the top ! (Walk to the top. About 50 meters from the parking lot. Two elephants will welcome you. :D )
The Top ! (This is the top, 2,565 meters high. Everybody takes a ceremonial photo. They wear a jacket because it's cold. :D)	Chedi (This is the chedi built for the King Inthawitchayanond in 1915.)	To Visitor Center (Walking from the top, you can visit a visitor center and you will see a 14" telescope of Ministry of Science & Technology.)	Visitor Center 1 (Now, Visitor Center here. You can have a cup of coffee. Cool ! (15 Baht - about 50 yen.))
The Top ! (This is the top, 2,565 meters high. Everybody takes a ceremonial photo. They wear a jacket because it's cold. :D)	Chedi (This is the chedi built for the King Inthawitchayanond in 1915.)	To Visitor Center (Walking from the top, you can visit a visitor center and you will see a 14" telescope of Ministry of Science & Technology.)	Visitor Center 1 (Now, Visitor Center here. You can have a cup of coffee. Cool ! (15 Baht - about 50 yen.))
Visitor Center 2 (Offerings can been seen (here also) like this. Bills are offered with a stick.)	To the monuments 1 (After the top, let's go to the monuments for King and Queen. The road is paved.)	To the monuments 2 (Now, the monuments are around the corner. The view from here is glorious also.)	To the monuments 3 (If you look to the right, there is a tower, right ? That is the monument. Change cars and let's head to it. :) )
Visitor Center 2 (Offerings can been seen (here also) like this. Bills are offered with a stick.)	To the monuments 1 (After the top, let's go to the monuments for King and Queen. The road is paved.)	To the monuments 2 (Now, the monuments are around the corner. The view from here is glorious also.)	To the monuments 3 (If you look to the right, there is a tower, right ? That is the monument. Change cars and let's head to it. :) )

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Doi Inthanon - Monuments for King and Queen
Phra Mahathat　Nophamethanidol: for the current King (King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX))  A little lower than the top of the mountain, 2,142 meters, but there stands two magnificent towers; one is for the current King (King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX)) and the other is for Queen (Queen Sirikit) located at the 2,142-meters up of the mountain. You have to go though a gate before entering this site. You can pass it on foot or in a  shared taxi called "Songthaew". The towers for the King "Phra Mahathat Nopha methanidol"(or Noppha Methanidon) on the left hand (the picture left) and for the Queen "Phra Mahathat Noppholbhumisiri" (or Nopphon Phumisiri) on the right dominate the skyline. (Picture: Phra Mahathat Nophamethanidol for the King)
Phra Mahathat Nophamethanidol (This was build for the celebration for the King's 60th birthday of 5th in December, 1987 (2530B.E.). Started construction in 5th August, 1986 (2529 B.E.) and finished 1988 (2531B.E.))	Phra Mahathat Nophamethanidol (This was build for the celebration for the King's 60th birthday of 5th in December, 1987 (2530B.E.). Started construction in 5th August, 1986 (2529 B.E.) and finished 1988 (2531B.E.))	Scenery from the top (You can see the great view from the top of the tower.)	Top of the tower (There are big wooden decoration with various patterns such as animals on the top of the tower.)
Phra Mahathat Nophamethanidol (This was build for the celebration for the King's 60th birthday of 5th in December, 1987 (2530B.E.). Started construction in 5th August, 1986 (2529 B.E.) and finished 1988 (2531B.E.))		Scenery from the top (You can see the great view from the top of the tower.)	Top of the tower (There are big wooden decoration with various patterns such as animals on the top of the tower.)
The head of the tower (The head is four-sided pyramid shaped.)	Inside the tower (A Buddha image sits inside the tower. People are praying.)	Around the tower (The tower is surrounded by a great nature. You can enjoy the beautiful atmosphere.)	The explanation (In Thai language but an explanation of the tower for the King. Try it if you are good at Thai language. :) )
The head of the tower (The head is four-sided pyramid shaped.)	Inside the tower (A Buddha image sits inside the tower. People are praying.)	Around the tower (The tower is surrounded by a great nature. You can enjoy the beautiful atmosphere.)	The explanation (In Thai language but an explanation of the tower for the King. Try it if you are good at Thai language. :) )

For the Queen called "Phra Mahathat Noppholbhumisiri"  This is another tower for the Queen called "Phra Mahathat Noppholbhumisiri" against the tower for the King "Phra Mahathat Nophamethanidol". The tower for the King is hour-sided pyramid shaped, on the other hand, this tower for the Queen is feminine and elegant, circular cone shaped. This was build for the celebration of the Queen's 60th birthday. The construction started in 11th January, 1991 (2534 B.E.) and finished on 8th March, 1993 (2536B.E.). (Picture: Phra Mahathat Noppholbhumisiri for the Queen)
Buddhist paintings (The wall of the tower is decorated with pictures in violet. It looks like they are Buddhist paintings.)	Inside of the tower (There is a white Buddha image inside. I guess this is because the tower is for the Queen.)	Wall paintings (If you look up, you will see Buddhist paintings all around the roof.)	The explanation (Explanation of the tower for the Queen. This is also in Thai language but try it if you are good at Thai language. :) )
Buddhist paintings (The wall of the tower is decorated with pictures in violet. It looks like they are Buddhist paintings.)	Inside of the tower (There is a white Buddha image inside. I guess this is because the tower is for the Queen.)	Wall paintings (If you look up, you will see Buddhist paintings all around the roof.)	The explanation (Explanation of the tower for the Queen. This is also in Thai language but try it if you are good at Thai language. :) )
Looking down (The scenery from the tower. The tower on the right is for the King.)	From the King's tower (The view from the opposite (the King's tower.). People are walking up the long stairs.)	The open space down the tower 1 (Pictures of the King and Queen are displayed for in hope of the long life of them in the open space.)	The open space down the tower 2 (I don't know what the truck on the right is for but the car around the center is the shared taxi called "Songthaew" in which you can come here and go back through the gate.)
Looking down (The scenery from the tower. The tower on the right is for the King.)	From the King's tower (The view from the opposite (the King's tower.). People are walking up the long stairs.)	The open space down the tower 1 (Pictures of the King and Queen are displayed for in hope of the long life of them in the open space.)	The open space down the tower 2 (I don't know what the truck on the right is for but the car around the center is the shared taxi called "Songthaew" in which you can come here and go back through the gate.)

The Tales of Doi Inthanond (From the explanation board)

 As the highest peak of Thanon Thongchai Range, Doi Inthanond is the core part of Doi Inthanond National Park which its highest spot lays upon the point where boundaries of Chom Thong, Mae Cham. and San pah Tong districts meet, pronouncing the well-known place which all Chiang Mai citizen pay their respects to it.

As Doi Luang and Doi Ang Kaa were its former names. Doi Luang means the huge high mountain while Doi Ang Kaa (Kang) has its long original story, "And Kaa (Kang)" means a natural pond full of rainwater having been used by crows. The pond lay 300 meters west of the highest spot. In 1871, during the reign of Prince Inthawitchayanond of Chiang Mai who wholeheartedly loved this place, the Prince once ordered that, whenever he died, his followers must bring his remains to be posted here as a symbolic shrine for demonstrating to all next generations of Chiang Mai to deeply convince his leadership in protecting the most precious watershed area of the high country and to raise their deep concerns in helping protect the dense montane forest here forever as a fountain of water supplies for lowland Chiang Mai and its vicinity. For his gracious leadership, the name "Doi Ang Kaa (Kang)" has been changed to "Doi Inthanond" by his daughter, Princess Dara Rasamaee, a lovely consort of King Rama V in the year 1897.

Lying 2565.334 meters over the mean sea level, at its highest spot. Doi Inthanond has its cold humid air throughout the year. its temperature ranges from -8 degrees celcius to 22 degrees celcius with its 12 degrees celcius average. Cold humid atmosphere helps originate beautiful rhododendrons, Quercus and Castanopsis species, and several kinds of mosses, ferns and orchids of both ephiphytic and ground types.

Doi Inthanond National Park is in the National Parks system being administered by the National Parks Division, Royal "ores" ? Department of the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives.

[ChiangMai] Doi Inthanon - Wachiratharn Waterfall
This is a waterfall called "Wachiratharn" in Doi Inthanon in Chiangmai. It's also known as "Tad KhongYong" and located 750 meters above sea level in the mountain. This is a waterfall called "Wachiratharn" in Doi Inthanon in Chiangmai. It's also known as "Tad KhongYong" and located 750 meters above sea level in the mountain.  We stopped by here on the way back from the monuments for King and Queen above.  Speaking of waterfall, I had never seen a big one like this in Thailand (if my memory is correct, waterfall I saw before was a small one in Koh Samui), but this one was literally a waterfall.  It was moving. After taking photos, we enjoyed seeing scenery and relaxed. Why don't you drop by here when you go to Doi Inthanon ? :)
Wachiratharn waterfall 1 (Here there is ! It's called "Wachiratharn". A lot of people come to see it.)	Wachiratharn waterfall 2 (You have to walk up for a while, then you'll see the great splash of the waterfall.)	Wachiratharn waterfall 3 (Close-up of the water fall.)
Wachiratharn waterfall 1 (Here there is ! It's called "Wachiratharn". A lot of people come to see it.)	Wachiratharn waterfall 2 (You have to walk up for a while, then you'll see the great splash of the waterfall.)	Wachiratharn waterfall 3 (Close-up of the water fall.)

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• Other pages related to Chiang Mai
  • Chiang Mai 1: Doi Suthep, Doi Pui, Elephants
  • Chiang Mai 2: Doi Inthanon National Park
  • Chiang Mai 3: MaeSa Elephant Camp, Shrine near Khun Tarn
  • Chiang Mai 4: Baan Tong Luang
  • Chiang Mai 5: Doi Ang Khang
  • Chiang Mai 6: Khantoke dinner, Thai dance
  • Chiang Mai 7: Sunday Market

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