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THE
NORTH I CENTRAL
&
EAST
COAST I THE
NORTHEAST I THE
SOUTH |
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 Dong
Phaya
Yen
is a
mountain
range
in
central
Thailand.
As
the
southwestern
extension
of
the
Phetchabun
mountains,
it
is
part
of
the
division
between
the
Chao
Phraya
river
valley
and
the
Khorat
Plateau
of
northeastern
Thailand.
It
has
a
length
of
about
230
km,
and
is
continued
by
the
Cardamom
Mountains
to
the
south
and
the
Dongrak
escarpement
to
the
east. |
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The
mountains
are
drained
to
the
north
by
several
tributaries
to
the
Mun
River,
while
the
south
drains
into
the
Prachinburi
River.
The
area
changes
in
altitude
between
100
m
and
1,351
m
above
sea
level,
with
the
Khao
Rom
as
the
highest
hill.
Several
national
parks
are
located
in
the
mountains,
the
most
famous
one
is
the
Khao
Yai
National
Park,
which
was
the
first
national
park
of
Thailand.
Other
parks
are
the
Ta
Phraya
National
Park
at
the
boundary
to
Cambodia,
the
Thap
Lan
National
Park,
Pangsida
National
Park,
Phra
Phutthachai
National
Park
and
the
Dongyai
Wildlife
Sanctuary.
Altogether
6155
km²
are
protected
in
these
parks. |
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Dong
Phaya
Yen
was
once
known
as
Dong
Phaya
Fai
or
Jungle
of
the
Fire
Lord
because
this
area
was
once
the
vast
forest
where
malaria
killed
most
travelers
who
dared
to
pass
this
forest.
However,
the
majority
of
the
forest
have
been
destroyed
since
the
beginning
of
20th
century
and
Vice
King
(Uparaja)
Pinklao
later
changed
the
name
of
the
forest
from
Dong
Phaya
Fai
to
Dong
Phaya
Yen
to
imply
that
the
wild
forest
has
been
tamed. |
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In
2005
the
forests
of
the
Dong
Phaya
Yen
mountains
were
inscribed
on
the
UNESCO
World
Heritage
List
under
the
name
Dong
Phaya
Yen
–
Khao
Yai
Forest
Complex. |
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Khao
Yai
National
Park
is a
national
park
in
Thailand.
It
lies
largely
in
Nakhon
Ratchasima
Province
(Khorat),
but
also
includes
parts
of
Saraburi,
Prachinburi
and
Nakhon
Nayok
provinces.
It
was
the
country's
first
national
park,
established
on
September
18,
1962.
A
major
role
in
its
establishment
was
done
by
Boonsong
Lekakul,
one
of
the
20th
century's
most
famous
conservationists
in
Thailand. |
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The
park
is
the
second
largest
in
Thailand.
It
covers
an
area
of
2,168
square
kilometers,
including
evergreen
forests
and
grasslands.
Its
altitude
mostly
ranges
from
400
to
1000
m
above
sea
level.
There
are
3,000
species
of
plants,
320
species
of
birds
and
67
species
of
mammals,
including
Asiatic
black
bears,
Asian
elephants,
gaur,
tigers,
gibbons,
Indian
sambar
deer,
Indian
muntjac,
dholes,
and
wild
pigs.
Its
waterfalls
include
the
80
metre
Heo
Narok,
and
Haeo
Suwat
made
famous
from
the
film
The
Beach.
Namtok
Sarika
is
popular
with
the
Thais. |
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Recent
wildlife
studies
show
that
animal
ranges,
particularly
the
few
resident
tigers,
are
impacted
by
human
activity
near
the
center
of
the
park.
This
study
has
not
impacted
the
government's
call
for
private
lodging
concessions
within
the
park
itself. |
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The
park
is
often
visited
by
travellers
from
Isan,
Bangkok
and
beyond,
for
whom
there
are
over
50km
of
hiking
trails. |
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In
1984
the
park
was
made
an
ASEAN
Heritage
Park,
and
on
July
14
2005
the
park
together
with
other
parks
in
the
Dong
Phaya
Yen
mountains
was
inscribed
as a
UNESCO
World
Heritage
Site
under
the
name
Dong
Phaya
Yen–Khao
Yai
Forest
Complex.
Lands
adjacent
to
the
national
park
are
increasingly
developed
into
luxury
hotels
and
golf
courses
for
weekending
visitors
from
Bangkok.
Such
development
limits
wildlife
corridors
and
permanently
reduces
future
conservation
and
land
acquisition
ability. |
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The
fee
is
400
baht
for
foreigners
(200
for
children),
and
40
for
Thais.
Food
is
available
from
private
concessions
within
the
park.
As
well,
night-time
"wildlife
spotlighting"
is
available
via
pick-up
trucks
in
the
early
evening.
Animals
sighted
usually
are
limited
to
deer
and
civet
cats,
and
only
rarely
include
elephants. |
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