Doi Inthanon, Chiang Mai

Well, we couldn't very well be this close to the highest point in Thailand without visiting it, could we?

Of course not, Spike! That's why we took an entire day to visit Doi Inthanon. Now, before you start to wonder, the answer is, "No."

No?

You heard me. No.

Care to explain, Captain?

No, as in, "No, we did not hike to the top of the mountain."

Of course we didn't hike! Doi Inthanon is 2,565 meters, or 8,415 ft above sea level!

Exactly.

Okay. Whatever, Captain. This day we went on a small group tour through Trip Guru. Our tour was to include two different waterfalls, the peak, a Karen village that grows coffee, a local market, and the twin pagodas.

Although Doi Inthanon is in the Chiang Mai province, it is a bit of a drive from the city of Chiang Mai. With Trip Guru, we were in a nice SUV with a driver and guide named Jim.

There is a fee to enter the national park, payable at the entrance, of about $10 per person. Our first stop was the Sirithan Waterfall. This waterfall is a two-minute walk from the parking lot. At the bottom of the path is a viewing platform. We were there in the middle of the dry season. During the rainy season the volume of water is a whole lot bigger.

   

 

   

We then continued driving up the mountain until we reached the on-road parking area at the top. The elevation makes the weather a lot different from the 33C temperature in Chiang Mai!

We were happy to see that there was a nice raised wooden pathway to reach the summit. This helps protect the environment since small seedlings and roots cannot be trampled. It also ensures people stay on the path!

   

 When we finally reached the summit...

Really, Captain? It took what, five minutes of easy walking?

Maybe I meant the long drive. Anyway, don't interrupt, Spike. When we finally reached the summit, we were able to take our turn standing at the highest point in Thailand marker. It's the little circle in front of us in the second picture. Also at the top is the burial stupa for the last king of the Lanna Kingdom. Doi Inthanon was a special place to him, and he requested to have his ashes interred here.

Across the road from the summit walking trail is a nature trail and a memorial site. The nature trail is mostly a raised walkway. Trees do grow across it, so you might have to watch your head! The memorial site is to the victims of a helicopter crash years ago near the summit. 
 

 

 

 

 Also at the top is an observatory. The temperature was now at 14C.

We drove down the mountain. Still on Doi Inthanon are the twin pagodas. To get to the pagodas, we parked in an off-site parking lot and took a free Songtaan to the pagodas.

King Rama X, the current king, had these built to honor his parents on their 60th birthdays. The first to be built was Naphamethinidon, which means "by the strength of the land and air" in 1987 to honor his father. This grey stupa has scenes from the life of Buddha inside and more Buddhist images on the murals outside it. The light purple stupa, Naphaphonphumisiri, was built in 1992 to honor his mother. The name of this stupa means "being the strength of the air and the grace of the land." Inside this stupa are scenes of his mother's life as she aids the people of Thailand.

Not to worry, however; you won't have to climb up to the stupas. There are escalators to go up to each stupa. The stairs can be used for descending.

Naphamethinidon

Naphaphonphumisiri

The gardens of the king's stupa are under construction. The queen's gardens are complete and beautiful. From them, pictures can be taken that have both stupas in them. They are also popular for people in traditional hill tribe clothing for picture taking. We met members of the Hmong people doing just that.

     

View from the pagodas

 Our lunch was at a local farmer's market run by the Karen people who are allowed to live on Don Inthanon.  

 

 

So who are the Karen? 

The Karen is a term for several ethnic groups who inhabit the mountains of Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar (Burma). 

 

The village we visited has 100 families. Of them, 94 are Buddhist while 6 families are Christian. They grow two types of coffee and have a handcraft center for traditional weaving. The students have a large school, and there is a church for the small group of Christians.

 

 

 

 

    

The village church

   

 Our last stop of the day was the Wachirathan Waterfall. This was a short walk up a path from the parking lot. There are bathrooms and a restaurant here.

 

 

 

After spending time at the waterfall, we drove back to Chiang Mai.