Phu Khadung National Park, Loei Province
Stoty and pictures by Somsit Sulaksanakarn

Phu Kradung National Park, Loei.
Phu Kradung National Park
About 520 kilometers northeast from Bangkok and seventy kilometers from Loei on the Khon Kaen-Loei Highwayis the Phu Kradung National Park located on high plateau.Lush and fertile, it is the home of many types of wildlife. Withan elevation of 1,325 meters. the Park is ideally suitable forcold climate plants and trees. Bungalows and tents are providedby the National Park Section, Forestry Department, and prior reservationshould be made to ensure the overnight stay.


Work of art created by streams of the waterfalls
Phu Kradung one of Thailand's three most popular tourist attractions seems like a familiar place, from word of mounth that has been conveyed on and on, from pioneer travellers to visitors of today.
There are numerous accounts of the beauty of Phu Kradung. People talk about the areas of mist that float over the long ridge, looking like a long white sand against the bright blue sky, or about the cool season when the whole mountain is embraced by the refreshing cold wind that sweeps over the pine trees to the meadows that encompass an area of thousands of rai. These phenomena happen on Phu Kradung, only to remain in the memorable experience of a life time.
The perennial cool weather of Phu Kradung is only a small obstacle when compared to the opportunity to delight in wonderful natural phenomena from dawn to dusk. In the morning of the rainy season, or during the cool seaon, the whole mountain is shrouded with mist, leaving to be seen only dark shadows of pine trees tht look like pictures in fantasy. Later on, the sun shines brighter, and the hazy sky begins to clear up and changes into bright blue, marking the beginning of the time to explore the wonders of Phu Kradung.
The high season during which a great number of visitors come to Phu Kradung is from the end of the rainy season in October, to the advent of the hot season in March, with the peak being from December through mid-January. Most visitors have been there at least once, and for the first timers, they are bound to be back again, attracted by the charms of Phu Kradung.
There are stories behind the origin of the name "Phu Kradung". On one account, local people are said to have heard the ringing sound of a bell, as if it came from a village down in valley, on every Buddhist day of worship and the day before. The people took it as the sound of the bell of Indra, believed to dwell somewhere up in the mountain, because nothing was seen and only the sound was heard. Another hypothesis is that, while walking on certain spots on the mountain with great force, or pounding on the ground with a piece of wood, people heard an echo that sounds like a bell from the hollow openings underground. Thus, the name "Phu Kradung" or "Phu Krading" was coined, from "Phu" meaning "Phu Khao", a Thai word for mountain, and "Kradung", a dialect for "Krading" or a bell.
Among the well-known attractions are Wang Kwang Waterfall near the accommodation are a Phenphop Fall, Phonephop Fall and Khun Thong Waterfall, the most beatiful one on Phu Kradung. Deeper into the dense forest is Pha Nam Phu Fall with its unusual beauty. Along the rim of the cliff from east to west is where the striking beauty of nature is at its best. That is when the sun slowly slips away behind the mountains, marked by lines of pine-trees, that are often taken as the symbol of Phu Kradung.
Every morning of the rainy or cool season, a spectacular phenomenon, the pure, beautiful 'sea of mist' await visitors at Pha Nang Aen and Pha Mesa. For late evenings, Pha Magdook, Pha Nanoi, and Pha Yaibmek are places to appreciate similar wonderful sights. Most popular among hikers are Pha Lomsak, the rocky cliff that leans forward and is lined with pine trees. This spot has become the symbolic landmark where visitors must have their pictures taken.
Another thing of interest to visitors is the pleasure of seeing the "Fire of the Fifth Month" or maple trees. With their glowing red leaves which eventually drift down to the ground, carpeting all the paths in the forest in red. Some fall into and drift along the cold stream created by the water falls, displaying the striking flames that all visitors find most charming and expect not to miss.
The wonders created by nature at the top of this mountain draw tens of thousands of visitors, one group after another, every year. Praised by naturalists as being unspoiled and most accessible, the beauty of Phu Kradung is too great for anyone to see all of it. A visit to this towering mountain will probably best explain.
(Phu Khadung National Park, KINNAREE, Thai Airways International Domestic Inflight Magazine, December 1992, P. 82-88.)



Photo : Phi Ta Khon Festival.
Phi Ta Khon Festival has its origin in a traditional Buddhisttale. When Prince Vessandorn, the Buddha's penultimate incarnation,returned to his city. the welcoming procession was so delightfulthat spirits emerged to celebrate. Phi Ta Khon is celebrated largelyby young men who dress as spirits to parade a sacred Buddha imageand tease villagers, and monks reciting the story of the Buddha'slast great incarnation before attaining Enlightenment.

Phu Luang Wildlife Sanctuary located on the high plateauwith an elevation of 1,550 meters. The area of Phu Luang coveredseveral Amphoes. Wang Saphung, Phu Rud. Don Sai and King AmphoePhu Luang. Phu Luang forest is a blend forest of tropical andcolder mate forest. Wild animals are abundant.
Phu Rua, 1375 meters above sea level, is another majesticmountain with a vast pine-covered plateau on top. A cliff shapedlike the bow of a Chinese junk just over the mountain. There arebuses leaving both from Loei and from Amphoe Lom Sak of Phetchabunto Phu Rua daily. The entrance to the National Park is a walkingdistance from the Amphoe Phu Rua Administrative Office.
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