Phu Pha Lek National Park

Most of the forest in Phu Pha Lek National Park is productive. It is the source of the main rivers—which can be called “Forest of Water” an only one remained and very important for people in upper Northeastern Thailand, of Song K้hram River, Shi River, Uun River, Huy Lamphanchard, Huy Kracher etc. There are also the main reservoirs, under the patronage of His Majesty the King, such as Nam Uun Dam, Lampaow Dam and about 20 reservoirs around the park for people to use in consuming and agriculture.
Geographical Features
Phu Pha Lek National Park, locates between latitude 17 o 15;'– 16o 49 ' north and longitude 103o 15' – 103o 50' east, is a part of Phu Phan Mountain Range lying east and west about 54 kilometers and approximately 200 – 600 meters above sea level. The highest mountain is Phu Ang Sor about 695 meters above sea level. The area is the source of many big and small important-rivers such as Song Kram River, Yam River and Uum River. The soil in semi-evergreen forest is sandy soil, and in mixed forest and deciduous forest is laterite. And the stone is mostly sandstone.
Weather Condition
The weather in this area is monsoon climate. Summer is from March to May; it is very hot approximately 40 o C so that can often cause forest fire everywhere. Rainy season is from June to October and about 1,000 – 1,300 mm. of rain all the year round. Winter is from November to February; it is cold approximately 15 -20 o C.
Varieties of Plants and Wild Animals
There is deciduous forest spreading all over the foot and top of mountains which consists of valuable plants such as Siamese sal, ingyin, Hiang (a kind of Dipterocarpaceae) and eng, and lower bracken such as slender bamboo (a kind of Graminceae) and Krajeaw (a kind of Zingiberaceae). At the valley is mixed forest, and plants found are rosewood, ironwood, Burmese ebony, Makhaa Tae, and many kinds of bamboo such as sang, Khao Larm bamboo, Rai, Ruag and wild bamboo. Along the streams are semi-evergreen forest, and plants found are Yang, Krabak (a kind of Dipterocarpaceae), Malabar ironwood, Tabak (a kind of Lagerstroemia), Makhaa mong, and lower bracken such as rattan, palm and many kinds of herb. And animals found are wild boar, barking deer, mouse deer, monkey, langur, squirrel, land monitor, snake, and many kinds of bird. The other kinds of animal are also in being threatened condition because local people still hunt.

Location and Journey

Phu Pha Lek National Park Ban Thawat, Pathumwapi Sub-district,, Song Dao, Sakhon Nakhorn, Thailand 47190 Tel. : 0 4272 7003 Head's name : Pramoun Sriha Position : Forestry Technical Officer, Professional Level

By Car

Phu Pha Lek National Park’s office is located in Song Dao district, Sakon Nakhorn Province. It is very near Udon Thani Province so that more convenient way to enter the area is to start from Udon Thani Province. Use national road number 22 (Udon Thani - Sakhon Nakhorn), turn right at Km. 95 (Sawang Dan Din Jail of the province) to ARD Road Ban Tai – Don Som Hong, turn right at Km. 17 (Ban Pone Junction) to ARD Road Ban Pone Swang – Phu Par Lek, and go another 6 kilometers to Phu Pha Lek National Park’s temporary office. Approximately 82 kilometers from Udon Thani Province to Phu Pha Lek National Park’s temporary office.

Accommodations

This national park no bungalows available. Please bring your own tents and food or rent the the tents that prepared by the park.

Meeting Room

Tourist Attractions

Historical

Dinosaurs Grave Dinosaurs Grave locates in the middle of Phu Pha Lek Mountain, Song Dao district, Sakon Nakhon, and near the edge of Phu Phan Forest, Kham Muang district, Kalasin province. There are many animal stony-bones which crystallized during fossilization; some are still in the ground and stone, some are fossils of plants and animals and some are stony plants. Now, there is no clear evidence what animals and how old they are. The area, about 1,250 Rais (2,000,000 squares meters), has been estimated that more than hundred of animal remains haunting so that can be suitable for the name "Dinosaurs Grave".

Activities : Historical Sight Seeing Cave/Geological Touring

Pre-historic Wall Painting There is Pre-historic Painting, about 3,600 years ago, on a big rock. In the picture, painting with dense-red color, showing portly women standing in line, their hands on other shoulders, looks like they are doing an activity. The area is in Pa Dong Phanna and Pa Dong Pra Chao, Phu Takam Village, Tha Sila Sub-district, 18 kilometers away from the park’s office.

Activities : Historical Sight Seeing

Beautiful Nature

Caves There are many interesting caves which are appropriate for traveling and adventure such as Phu Pha Lek Mountain such as Klap Cave, Thong Chang Cave, Thong Kham Cave etc.

Activities : Cave/Geological Touring

Di Mi Waterfall Di Mi Waterfall, in the ridge of Phu San Ta Saeng and Phu Pha Daeng, Wang Sam Mo district, Udon Thani province, is a medium waterfall which has water all year round. It is the source of Huai Lam Phan Chat flowing to Lam Pao Dam, Kalasin province and to Chi River.

Activities : Nature trail study Waterfall Traveling

Dong Ko Cliff Dong Ko Cliff is a high cliff on the peak of Phu Pha Lek next to the east of Suriyan Cliff. The area is also a good view point which traveler can enjoy seeing dense forest and complicatedly high mountains.

Activities : Nature trail study View

Hin Darn Man Pla Forest Hin Darn Man Pla Forest is the forest of sandstone boulders complicatedly overlapping each other. The area is about 2,000 Rais (3.2 squares kilometers) and has beautiful grass and flower field which consists of very beautiful flowers such as Eriocaulon henryanum Ruhle, many kinds of Hypoxis daceae and Burmanniaceae etc.

Ho Song Dao Ho Song Dao located on the peak of Phu Pha Lek Mountain about 700 meters above sea level. Traveler can see surrounding scenery almost 360 degrees so that suitable for studying stars at night and Meteor shower clearly. Every time having Meteor shower, there are crowded with thousands of travelers.

Activities : View Stargazing

Kaeng Kula Waterfall It is a small waterfall falling from the north part of Phu Pha Lek Mountain. There is water all the year round and more water in the rains so that becomes Yam River flowing to Nam Un Dam, Sakon Nakhon Province.

Activities : Waterfall Traveling

Kao Chan Waterfall (Nine Levels Waterfall) Kao Chan Waterfall is cascading from the Peak of Phu Pha Lek Mountain. The water, only eight months in a year, runs to Huai Ma Fai Reservoir and to Chi River.

Activities : Nature trail study Waterfall Traveling

Lan U-sa Sawan Lan U-sa Sawan is a plain on the peak of Phu Pha Lek Mountain about 1,550 Rais. The area is groves forest and has boulder groups alternating with grass fields look like artificial garden. There are many wild flowers such as many kinds of Hypoxis daceae and Burmanniaceae, Eriocaulon henryanum Ruhle, Dusita (Utricularia delphinioides Thor. ex Pell) etc.

Activities : Nature trail study flowers admiring

Nam Chok Cliff Nam Chok Cliff is a high cliff on the east part of the Peak of Phu Pha Lek Mountain. The area is a good view point which traveler can enjoy seeing Huai Huat Reservoir until out of sigh in Udon Thani Province and Khon Kan Province, and wonderful scenery of sunset in the evening.

Activities : Nature trail study View

Reservoirs There are medium-size reservoirs in Phu Pha Lek National Park which have beautiful sceneries such as Huy Nam Yard Reservoir, Huy Ma Fai Bon Reservoir, Kra Cher Reservoir and Huy Had Reservoir.

Suri Yan Cliff Suriyan Cliff is a high cliff on the highest peak of Phu Pha Lek Mountain. The area is a good view point which traveler can enjoy seeing the attraction of sunrise in the morning.

Activities : Historical Sight Seeing View

Tat Pha Thong Waterfall

Activities : Waterfall Traveling

Facilities

Men's restroom There are toilets for men.

Women's restroom There are toilets for women.

Phu Pha Lek National Park Ban Thawat, Pathumwapi Sub-district, Amphur Song Dao Sakhon Nakhorn Thailand 47190 Tel. 0 4272 7003 E-mail reserve@dnp.go.th