Trang Mountain Life

Written by admin on January 7th, 2014. Posted in Trang : Place to see

Roi Chan Pan Wang Waterfall

Roi Chan Pan Wang Waterfall“Hundreds of step, thousands of palace” is the translation of “Roi Chan Pan Wang” into english. The waterfall is another 29 kilometers from Khlongchee Crossroads (on Route no 4) in Wangwiset District. With beautiful forests on both sides, clear cold water flowing through layers of rocks like ladders. Para Rubber trees stand like soldiers in a straight rows on the way to the fall. It is a nice experience for a tourist, specially from the west, to walk through Para Rubber Trees. Free parking is available. And cars are taken care of by the local people.

As soon as visitors reach the area, the local store owners will kindly find the most pleasant and coolest place for your parking. At the first stop, there is a big sign with poet describing the fall, wrote by a monk named “Luang Por Prawate Tanawaro”. This gives a much more vivid picture of the fall than the normal “welcome” sign. The further you go up high (by stairs), the more amazed you become with the strange shapes of the rocks. The “stairs” are not too steep but they continue like never ending. The mountain is called “Kao Nor jujee”, the border of Trang and Krabi. Overhere is the only place that you have a good chance to catch a glimpse of the “Taoraw” – a very rare and colourful bird.
 
 
 

Nam Tok Pak-Jaem (Pak-Jaem Waterfall)

Pak Jaem WaterfallFor the one who seeks for the “virgin fall”, Nam Tok Pak-Jaem is the one you are looking for. Begin the journey at Lampura Barrack, continue the vovage about 20 kilometres (Route no. 4123) to reach the sign “Namtok Pakjaem”. Hang a right and continue for about 2 kilometres, you will reach the office of the Botanical Department – “Kaopu Kaoya” and you can park your cars/motorbike here.
About 30 minutes of walking up the waterfall, on the winding path full of large and small trees creepers and rock of various shapes and sizes, the first tier of the fall will be reached. The weather is cool and it is nice to walk having singing birds as your companions. The fourth tier, “Tone Ai Lae” is the most beautiful one, by the way. 
 

 

 

 

Palien Waterfall Routes

From Trang, takes 21 kilometres to the Yantakao District (via Route no. 404). Then continue through Tapaya Village in the Palien District. Not far ahead is another road on the left. This is the gate way to the three waterfalls in the south. This road is rough in some parts but on the whole it is a smooth asphalt road and comfortable to drive along. Hadlao is the first village you will arrive at – 17 km from Trang. At the crossroad, turn right and go on driving for another 2 kms until you reach the far end of the road. On the right-hand side there are three routes all leading to the falls. Each waterfall has a unique atmosphere. The names of the three falls are Chong Banpot (Nam Pan), Tone Tok, and Tone Teh.
 
 

Chong Banpot, water garden in Asoka forest.

Chong BanpotNot too far from the Huathanon Crossroad, on the right, there is a path leading to a canal bridge. Continuing on. you will find yourself at a very pleasant edge of woods. Walking across the wooden, narrow logs, you will see the “water garden” in the Asoka forest ahead. In a dense 10 rai forest, inumerable little falls are scattered widely in one area. Then altogether, they flow down along limestones and various-sized Asoka trees. If you wants to walk through these, there are paths heading to the same place. All of them come from the same origin “Lingpang Canal”.

Villagers call these falls “Nam Pan”, according to their appearance. “Nam Pan” means “scattered water” “pan” is a word of the southern dialect, meaning “scattered everywhere”. The main waterfall “Chong Banpot” is further along and it is named because of its location. The fall is located between two mountains (“chong” means “gap” and “banpot” means “mountain”)

Uncle “Lae”, the old owner of the Para Rubber tree plantation who donated his land for use as a public path to the fall, says that over 10 years ago, no villages were settled at the original canal.
 
The area contains enourmous trees and is abundant with various kinds of wild animals. During summer, more water can be seen than during the rainy season now. Also, in some places where the water is deep, several types of fish may be found. The most popular fish is the “Sod”, weighing up to two kilograms fishes are once caught by the local. Chong Banpot now become welknown among tourists and hence make it quite full with garbage left by the ignorant tourists.

 
 
Tone Tok water flowing through sedimentary rocks

Tone TokIn the past, Tone Tok had only walking path along the rim of the woods which was about one km in length, but nowadays there is a 3 km road for visitors do not mind driving up on rough and bumpy roads.
The landscape is full of Para Rubber plantations and sometimes rice fields depending on the geographical condition. High and low tophills have many shapes which rouse the visitors’ imaginations. On the far left, they can see the faraway top of the waterfall very clearly.

When arriving at the first tier of the fall, the most impressive feature is the wide cliff with water flowing down like rain, passing through many layers of huge and flat rocks, and then combining together into a big pond: tempting everyone to jump into.
 
The rocks here are quite different from those in other falls; they consist of thin patterns and colourful layers on a dense surface while the rocks in elsewhere are usually granite or limestone.
Continuing the climb, visitors will find more tiers of the fall. The second one is a smaller fall, but colourful and patterned rocks still can be seen. At the third tier, the water flows like a long tube through sloped rocks. It is a high, two-Ieveled fall which flows through moss and fern covered rocks. This is the reason why none can see patterns and layers in the rocks in this tier. This is an indication of the fertility of the forest in this area. The total number of tiers of Tone Tok cannot be told, but it is challenging trekkers and those who enjoy adventure to discover the number.

 
 
Tone Teh, King of Waterfalls

Tone TehAs soon as the journey ends, one remarkable point on the steep cliff ahead of everyone is seen. It is the flowing water which is like a fine silk wave on the big patch of rocks. Visitors can also hear the noise of the water travelling in the wind occasionally as if it announces that “I am the Greatest”
Tone Teh today is under the responsibility of the Forest Conservation Unit which acts in charge of protecting wildlife in the Bantad Ranges. The office is located on the foot of the hill, on the larqe clear area together with little stores, little rest shelters and parking places for all.
Everyone can reach the top of the fall by walking pass different-sized areas of water and seeing people having a bath. Or some can walk along the concrete road along the rim of the forests, ending at the same place.
The greatness of Tone Teh, the king of waterfall, is its height about 320 metres. The beautiful picture of water being thrown violently through the cliffs, rocks, and toptrees down to the below streams can be seen throughout the year. It never becomes drough though in certain times during summer it has rather less water than usual.
Forest around this area are full of various kinds of plants, especially Rattans. Tone Teh becomes a very good place to study Rattan.

 
  
Choaopa, A new waterfall

ChoaopaFrom the Hadlao Crossroad, to the right, the road leads to Lamsom Village. Turn left at Ban Lamsom School to the road which is suitable only for Land Rovers and motorcycles. At the end, at the foot of the hills, there are durian plantations. First, wade across little waterways, and then climb cliffs, and mountains. Next, walk along the path up the hill for about 10 minutes to the very top of the Chaopa Waterfall or Namtok Clongtong, a local name.

Visitors should take the chance to walk through the forests up to the top part of the hill, so that they can climb down along the limestone ranges, consisting of different levels. As a reward, you will be impressed by the interesting beauty of the falls as you move further up each tier. The virginity of Chaopa is evident in the atmosphere here; the cold, clear and pleasant water, the shade of the surrounding trees, and the green moss – all the charms of Chaopa.

 
  
Route to Kao Chong (Kra-Chong Waterfall)

Kra Chong WaterfallAbout 20km from town along the Trang/Pattalung Road, you will reach the sign “Centre of Nature Study and Wildlife-Kao Chonq”. You can visit the waterfall by following the sign. This compound contains the army troops and other offices belonging to the Department of Botany such as Botanical Gardens, Nursery, Guesthouses etc. So Kao Chong is both a relaxing place and a place for research and study. Inside the centre, there is a museum which contains displays concerning conservation and Botany. There is also an outdoor lecture theatre.

Nam Tok Chong or Kra-Chong was very wellknown in past years. The aspect which illustrates the areas popularity is the fact that many kings used to take trips here. King Chulalongkorn used to stay at “Phratamnak Pronggruthai” and one of the enourmous rocks has King Rama VI’s and his wife’s signatures.
 
Kra Chong WaterfallPreceeding 1981, Nam Tok Chong was a very famous waterfall in the south. Tourists from Trang and the nearby provinces love spending their holiday here. Unfortunately, a big flood in 1981 caused very bad erosion to the whole fall. The pressure of the water during heavy rains also contributed to loss of the beauty of this area. Nam Tok Chong was changed into a sea of sand, and it will take a long time to revive the beauty. Today, Nam Tok Chong has gained back a better shape, but its glorious in the past never been back again. Nam Tok Chong has lost its popularity to other newly discovered waterfalls such as Tone Teh and Sairung Waterfall.

 
Sairung (Rainbow) Waterfall

Sairung Waterfall“A beautiful rainbow of water,
A Wonderful Terrace of rocks,
Fasinating clear water bowls,
Virgin forest”

The above is a description of the beauty of Sairung (rainbow) Waterfall. If you dream of the “world of waterfalls”, your dream will come true if you drive to Sairung Waterfall. Begin your journey at Thanonkot and cross many canals that will take only 14 kilometers to reach the sign showing the way to the fall. Turn left 4 kilometres up the hil from the main road and you will reach the fall.

 
 
 
Praisawan Waterfall

Praisawan Waterfall“The terraced-rocked gardens with clear water,
The beautiful plants creeping on rocks,
The sweet melodies of birds,
A heaven in the middle of the forest,
Among the quietness one is not lonely.”

That is the description of Praisawan waterfall. After visiting Sairung Waterfall, you can continuefor more beauty of Trang waterfalls at Praisawan, From Sairung WaterfalI on the Trang-Palien Road only 4 kilometres, and you will reach the entrance to Praisawan Waterfall. It will be worth the climb up the “stairs” of water to have a look at the second tier of the fall. Visitors can have a swim in the clear water bowl and listen to the sweet sounds of the birds