This Is Thailand

Wat Tham Phon Sawan

Wat Tham Phon Sawan is in Tambon Lamphayon.  An asphalt road of 105 kilometers from the city leads to the temple.  It is around 10 kilometers from Tak Fa District Office on the Tak Fa-Khok Samrong road.  The temple has a modern three-story pavilion.  At the rear of the temple is Phon Sawan Cave that is divided into 2 sections.  The first section is a small room while the second section is a larger room with Buddha images and various structures like a replica waterfall with a stream in the caves center.  The cave is cool and cozy and has electricity and waterworks.

Getting There: From Nakhon Sawan, take the Asian Highway to Chai Nat for about 52 kilometers and turn left into Highway No. 1 past Amphoe Tak Fa for about 46 kilometers.  Then turn left into Wat Tham Phon Sawan.  It is around 98 kilometers from the city.

Salween National Park

Covering a forested area of 721 square kilometers, the Salawin National Park is on the bank of the Salween or Salawin River on the Thai-Myanma border, about 164 kilometres south of Mae Hong Son. The Salawin River originates from Tibet before winding through China, Thailand and Myanmar for a total distance of more than 3,000 kilometres.  The river is regarded as the borderline between Myanmar and Thailand for a distance of 120 kilometres.

Visitors wishing to take a boat along the river have tocontact the park headquarters for their safety during the journey. The headquaters also provide accommodation and other facilities.  To get to the headquarters, one can take Route 1194 from Mae Sariang district for about 4 kilometres, then turn right and continue along a dirt road for 4 kilometres. The best time for boat trip is from March to April when the water level is low and sandy beaches appear.  Sceneries along the riverbanks are captivating with forest and mountains and dotted with small hamlets.

Admission Fee : Adult 100 Baht  Child 50 Baht

For more information, contact Salawin National Park: P.O. Box 8, Mae Sariang, Mae Hong Son 58110 or www.dnp.go.th