National Park in Thailand (Doi Inthanon)

Doi Inthanon National Park Chiang Mai


Doi Inthanon, located in the districts of Mae Wang, Jomthong and Mae Jam, Chiang Mai Province, was designated the 6th national park of Thailand, covers an area of 482.4km square. Doi Inthanon was formerly known as Doi Ang Ka or Doi Luang, which means “Large Mountain” before changing to Phra Chao inthavichayanon, named after the ruler of Chiang Mai.

Vegetation

It is clearly seen that there are various types of forest and plant communities in Doi Inthanon National Park are 6 types of forest : dry dipterocarp, dry dipterocarp intermingled with pines, pines intermingled with oaks, hill evergreen, mixed deciduous, semi-evergreen and abandoned cultivated area.

The variety of forest types is greatly importance for the occurrence of the variety of plant communities. In Doi Inthanon, there are up to 1274 plant species 37 species of which are newly discovered and 31 species of which are firstly discovered in Thailand and only on Doi Inthanon. Of all the plant species found on Doi Inthanon, 8 species are considered as endangered and nearly extinct.

Doi Inthanon National Park is also a station of Thai orchids. There occur more than 90 species of orchid, and the remarkable one is Paphiopedilum villosum (Lindl) Stein. (jungle trail)

Wild Animals

Doi Inthanon National Park is abound in wild animals of over 466 species.

Mammals the 38 species, reptiles not less than 29 species, amphibians 24 species. The most interesting one is Crocodile Salamander. This is the only species of salamander found in Thailand and is limited in its distribution. It is found only in a few localities in the North, such as Doi Chiangdao, Doi Angkang and Doi Inthanon.

Watershed Area

Because of the forest covering the highest peak of Doi Inthanon, there occurs heavy rain and many streams originate. For examples, Mae Ya Waterfall, Wachirathan Waterfall, Siriphom Waterfall, Mae Klang Waterfall, Mae Pan Waterfall etc.

Bird

Doi Inthanon still remain up to 385 species of bird out of the Thai list of 978 species. Of these species, 385 species are residents and 105 species are winter visitors and passage migrants. On the peak of Doi Inthanon, the endemic ankaensis subspecies of Green-tailed Sunbird and indigenous Ashy-throated Warbier can be found.
picture on the wall
Nature Trails

Ang Ka (low diff. – 360m – 2550 m. alt. – swamp) Most frequented by birds and butterflies. Walk along a board walk all the way with only a few steps to navigate.

Kew Mae Pan (medium diff. – 2790 m. 2hr – 2200m alt. – primary hill evergreen forest, grassland – closed in rainy season) Should take about 2 hours allowing for a moderate walking speed and camera stops. Can be done in less than 1.5 hours walking briskly.

Further information pls log on: http://www.dnp.go.th/ vegetables selling stall

vegetable sell by local resident