The Forest, the Vast Sky and The Nature Trail

As small an area as it is , Uthai Thani abounds with rich and fertile forests and hills. It therefore has many tourist attraction and interesting nature study sites. These include: The Wildlife conservation Area of Huay Kha Khaeng, a World Heritage Site, Whit Wang Phar, or Wang Ai-Thao Falls, as its boundary.

In addition, there are the Pha Rom Yen Water fall, Cyber Waterfall, or Hin Lard Waterfall, and Lan Hin Turn. a rock terane where rocks lie in a fascination and imposing manner on top of one another. There's also Hup Pah Tard, a limestone rock circle where the sky acts as a roof around a four-acre area of pristine, primordial forest.

Khao Plara is another attraction of Uthai Thani, and is an areas used for trekking, it is located in the sanctuary of Prathu Cave, which has invaluable prehistoric paintings and is surrounded by charming nature, whereas Phuwai Cae of Ban Rai is praised for its spectacular stalactites and stalagmites. the cave is inhabited by a multitude of bats, some species of which of which are very rare. These are some of the natural sites and phenomena worthy of a visit.


A nature Study at Huay Kha Khaeng

Around 1965, an exploration was conducted in the forest area of Huay Kha Khaeng when a buffalo that was believed to have been extinct was spotted. This revived interest in the forest and is considered the starting point of forest conservation that led to Huay Kah Kaeng being declared a Wildlife Conservation Area. The forest is well-known among nature lovers as is hosts a habitat of several important wild animals of Thailand and houses a diversity of plants, as well as the waer source of the Huay Thap Salao, a major river. Huay Kha Khaeng is the rivers' main branch and it was selected by UNESCO as a a World Heritage Site on December 13,1991.

Huay Kah Khaeng Wildlife conservation Area covers the boundaries of six district of these provinces: Three Districts in Uthai Thani, namely Lan Sak, Banrai and Huay Khot: tow disricts in Kanchana buri, Thong Pha Phum and SangkLa Buri; and one district in Tak Province, Um Phang. The area, combined with the Wildlife conservation Area of Thung Yai Naresuan, covers a total of 11 million rais, and has become the largest extensive forest in Thailand and the Southeast Asian Region.


Huay Kah Khaeng-Thung Yai Naresuan was awarded the honor of being a World Natual Heritage Site because of its diversity of dry evergreen forest Tropical rain forst, mixed deciduous forest and prairie land. It also serves as habitat for several kins of animals and plants some of which are very rare and in many cases, almost extinct, suchas wild buffalos, gaurs, the banteng, tigers, clouded leopards, Indian leoprd cats, Asian tapirs, sumatran serow, peacocks and horn bills.


The Wildlife conservation Area aims to conserve both the wild animals and the forests. It is not like other natural parks that are geared toward providing nature sudy tours for the general pubic. The sanctuaries are very sensitive areas. If more tourists are allowed to visit them, it many result in damage to the ecological system. There, the Huagy Kha Khaeng conservation Areas is a restricted area with strict rules and regulations to provide protection to the flora and fauna that are indigenous to that area.

The Huay Kah Kaheng-thung Yai Naressuan Wildlife conservaton Area is a well-known World Heritage Site and three spots in the area have relax the rules to allow people to go in for nature studies. These are the areas around the main office at Lan Sak Districkt, The Cyber Forest Protection Unit at Huay Khot District, and the Huay Mae Dee Forest Protection Unit at ban Rai District. Nature trails have been arranged for tourists to experience the forest flora and fauna, and study nature up close.

A few guesthouses are available and tourists can bring tents to stay overnight by paying a fee of only 20 baht per person. a large group can be accommodated by contacting the forestry Department 15 days in advance.

At the Mai office there is a statue of Sueb Nakhasathian, the former head of the Wildlife conservation Station, facing southeast as if he were safeguard the forest and the wildlife by putting his life at stake. Nearby, there is also a hall built in his honor for activities nd an exhibition related to his past. His house has been preserved and statues of other forest rangers who died fulfilling their duties to protect the wildlife and the forest for the future generations have been erected . all this ash contributed to the area being awarded the little of World Heritage Site.

Hup Pha Tard Primordial Forest

One of the " Unseen in Thailand" features

Hub Pha Tard foest is part of Huay sok limestone mountain in Lan Sak District, which was first settle by a Buddhist monk, Phra Kharu Santi Thammakoson (Luang Pho Yot) the abbot of Tham Thong Cafe in 1979. The cave was transformed into the entrance to the valley five years later. Admission fee is 20 baht per person.

The cave forms a long dark cavern leading to an area where sunlight comes down into tow large grottoes. The first one has the atmosphere fo a primordial fors, lush with variety of trees, many of wich are very rare, suchas C.Velutina, Caryota, Terameles Datiscaceae and Fagerlindia Rubiacease. This is an abundance of a tree known in Thaias " Tard," which belongs to the palm family.

The second grotto is separated from the first by a natural stone door. It is surrounded by the limestone mountain with the sky as its roof. The sun can shine through and the fresh air circulates freely here.

Inside the palm valley of Hup Pah Tard there is a cool, shady atmosphere, rich with moisture all year round. its fertility attracts animals such as monkeys, sumatarn serows. Siamese firebacks, pheasants and many other kinds of birds.
To preserve the rare animals, the area has been declared a sanctuary.



Elephant

in the past, there were a number of elephants including those trained for warfare during Ayutthaya period such as " Chao Pharay Borom Khachenchattan," King Narai the Great's elephant.

There was a story of the abundance of elephants in this area that they were so many that the ground sank and became a canal called " Khlong Tha cChang."

Even though the abundance of elephants are just a legend, the remains of elephant tusks are kept in Uthai Thani families and they can be seen on the tables used for a annual festival at the end of Buddhist Lent Day.

Ancient Paintings at Khao Plara

These are located within the limestone part of the sanctuary at Prathun Cave, situated at Mu 3, Ban Huakhao Plara,Tambon Thungna Ngam, Lan Sak District.

The cave is located on a steep hill in the middle of the plain where local farmers grow corn and tapioca. At the peak of the hill on the south side is a cave known as Prathun Cave , which contains color paintings dating from prehistoric times.


The name " plara" means " slated fish" and is derived from the old folk tale that in the past the path from Uthai Thani town to this cave was so rugged that it took a long time to reach it, causing the fish that the people caught to be spoiled. The fishermen therefore salted the fish to preserve them. Hence, name Khao plara was adopted for the cave.

The ancient paintings here are believed to be 3,00 -5,000 year old. There are about 40 pictures on the wall opposite the entrance. The pictures are drawn in lines as well as painted, depicting the activities of the people at that time: a man catching a bull with a rope: and animals such as deer, dogs, chickens and a turtle painted in black and reddish brown. These are said to be the most beautiful and clear of all the ancient paintings in Thailand.

archeologists have divided the paintings into four groups: people surrounded by domestic animals; people an bulls ; ritual activities; and " others," which are mainly paintings of animals. The paintings at Khao Plara are similar to the ones at Pha Taem of Ubon Ratchathani.


The Bats of Khong Chai Mountain

The mountain is also part of the sanctuary of Prathun Cave, which is the second largest mountain after khao Plara. It is a steep limesone mountain consisting of many spectacular caves: Khong Chai Cave, Phonsawa Cave, Namthip Cave and Khangkhoa Cave.

The front of the mountain looks like the entrance to a large tunnel. Inside, there are some stone tools and pieces of pottery. It is believed to have been the living quarters of prehistoric people. The name of the mountain is derived from a legend about the villagers in the area in ancient times who once heard the loud sound of a gong ringing at nighttime on the Buddhist Sabbath.
This would remind them of when troops returned from war and stopped here to rest and beat the gongs to announce their victory.


The cave is inhabited by a multitude of bats with hairy bodies, brown wings, wringkled lips and flat noses. This species of bat preys on beetles an moths. The bats' droppings can be sold and used for fertilizer. Visitors to the cave often go at dusk to wait for the bats to come flying out, making a spectacular sight.


Winter Migratory Birds at Huay Sai Reservoir.

originally , Huay Sai was a natural pond. After the construction of an irrigation system, the pond was expanded to become a reservoir of 50 rais.

In November each year, thousands of brids call" grebes" migrate here from Siberia and stay until May. the best time for bird watching is either first thing in the morning or at dusk.


Lan Hin Turn


On an area covering 36 rais of granite mountain, to the east of Lan Sak District, you'll see some giant rocks stacked on top of one another in different positions and shapes, as if a giant machine had come and constructed the fascinating formation. the area is also full of golden teak trees.

Cyber Falls

The name comes from the Karen language. In Thai, the falls are known as " Hin Lat." The area is over seen by a forest protection team of the same name. The waterfall originates in a stream high on a mountain in Huay Kha Khaeng Wildlife conservation Area. Water cascades down over many platforms with a large pool to receive it at the bottom, forming a superb sight. The area is surrounded by rattan plants and trees forming a giant shaded canopy, which keeps the area cool and is an ideal spot for relaxing.


hot Springs at ban Samor Thong

The hot spring is located in Tambon Khok khwai at the Huay Khun Kaew Reservoir. Formerly a natural hot spring gushing over the ground's surface, the water is clear, but with a sulfur dioxide semll. The temperature of the spring sits between 80-86 C, hot enough to boil an egg in five minutes. The hot spring has now been modified into a public park 4,00o square meter with bathing pools for visitors to enjoy a healthy bath.

The public park has three hot spring wells 4-5 meters deep, with cement rimes around them one meter high. In the middle of the park sits a Buddha statue some 20 meters tall painted in gold, which can be seen from a good distance. Near the statue you'll find a reservoir. This landscape forms a beautiful scene and a pleasant atmosphere. visitors can enjoy fishing or cycling around the reservoir.



Phu Wai Cave

This cave is located inside the Park Protection Unit 3 of Phu Toei Ntional Park, Ban Rai District. It is a large cave with mythical looking stalactites and stalagmites in the shape of mushrooms and Roman pillars. There are also round rocks and a waterfall. some buddha images have been placed in the cave for good luck. There are nine species of bats living in the cave : round-leaf bats, great round-leaf bats, black-bearded tomb bats, spotted-wing fruit bats , intermediate round-leaf bats, north Malaysian horseshoe bats, Dobson's horseshoe bats, Harwick bats and Tickell's bats.

There is a 300- meter walkway meandering through the cave. Several other caves nearby are also very beautiful, but the path to them has not yet been opened for visitors. however, tourists can stay overnight in tents in camping areas set aside for this purpose.