Tag your trekkie travel buddy
Sometime around 1975 some 40 villagers left Cha-uat district and settled in Khao Na Nai, Suratthani province. The area was at this time under control of the communist party. Villagers had to hold council with the party to negotiate living conditions within the area for those who had now made homes here. As living standards were improved the local population grew. when The Thai Government ended its pact with the Communist party in 1982, temples and schools were opened and the community grew.
The villagers along with a fundraising effort of donations then began work building what is now known as “The Khao Na Nai Luang Dharmma park. This name does not refer specifically to the park but to the Temple and its built on the peaks.
The villagers along with an Abbot began clearing land before building the 'Phutawadi gate', a 9 peak arch that is now the Temple entrance.
The Temple went on to add pagodas which they hoped would be filled with relics of Buddha. The building is not yet completed and like many temples undergoes expansion or renovation work. In the AM and PM light streams through the arch bathing it in colour. The Pagoda containing the relics sits atop a 300m high peak surrounded by limestone mountains.
The wildlife and fauna/flora in the national park is diverse and this is off trail Surat Thani is a gateway to the south and so a visit here is not going too far out of the way. In the right conditions you will get the sea of mist which we have photographed and flown drones through although not at this location. This is one of a few sea of mist viewpoints within Thailand.
This place is becoming a new popular destination among Thai locals. It's mostly accessible by private cars or you hire a driver to get there.
Google Map to this destination
Photo Credit สัญญา ยืนสกุล Aowthai CK Tourism Authority of Thailand - Singapore Branch Office Charat Nirapai khunjoe.vitoonk
Author: Gary C.
Editor: Katie K.