Krajeaw Flower Festival this June

June 1 - July 31, 2007:
The Siam Tulip Festival of Chaiyaphum, Pa Hin Ngam National Park

Kra Jeaw or Siam Tulip is local annual plant, which found normally from Lan Hin Ngam to Sud Paen Din Viewpoint. The viola pink Siam Tulip will bloom at the beginning of rainy-from June to August.

The unique geographical landscape of Chaiyaphum Province in the northeast of Thailand gives rise to a range of natural attractions of exceptional beauty. Of these, the fields of pinkish-purple Siam Tulip, or "Dok Kra Jeaw", come in to full bloom in the early part of the rainy season. Held over two months each year, the Blooming Kra Jeaw Flower Festival celebrates the “Dok Kra Jeaw” flower which blooms at this time of the year. The flowers grow in abundance in Pa Hin Ngam (Forests of Beautiful Rock) National Park which hosts this annual festival. Known as the “Siam tulip”, the sight of these pinkish-purple flowers in bloom is a wonderful spectacle.

Also commonly called 'patumma', 'bua sawan' (heaven lotus), or 'bua bok' (the land lotus), the Siam Tulip is a member of the ginger genera - Curcuma or Zingiberaceae.The unusual form, bright colour and long-lasting quality of the Siam Tulip has made it an increasingly popular choice for floral decorations. It is in high demand and is currently being cultivated in the form of cuttings or ornamental plants for local consumption as well as for export overseas, predominantly to Japan and the Netherlands.

Pa Hin Ngam (ป่าหินงาม) is a National Park in Chaiyaphum province in Thailand. The name Hin Ngam means beautiful stone, where Pa means forest.

The park is located at the boundary of the Phetchabun mountain range with the Khorat Plateau. The steep cliff at the 846 m high Sut Phan Din viewpoint allows a great view into a valley of the Sonthi River and the Sab Langka Wildlife Sanctuary. The name Sut Phan Din (สุดแผ่นดิน) means end of land, reflecting the steepness of the cliff. This cliff also marks the watershed between the Chao Phraya and the Mekong rivers.

The park got its name from the strange rock formations in the Hin Ngam Rock Ground, located at the western end of the park. Erosion has carved several large rocks into striking and unusual shapes.
The forest is semi-evergreen forest mixed with deciduous forest. The main plants are Siamese sal, ingyin, Burmese ebony, Lithocarpus collettii A. Camus, Payom (a kind of Dipterocarpaceae), pride of India, San (a kind of Dilleniaceae) etc. Animals found are barking deer, wild boar, hare, pangolin, porcupine, bamboo rat, palm civet, squirrel, monkey etc.

Attractions

Lan Hin Ngam or The Hin Ngam area is a strange looking rock formation. The fascinating rock garden is located in the west of headquarters, and can be reached by car. Sud Paen Din viewpoint is a steep cliff at the Peak of Pung Hoei Mountain, located about 2 km from headquarters. Accommodations and facilities

Hotels - resorts located nearby this national park. Or you can stay in Saraburi and drive to see all above attractions in one day. Please click here to make a reservation with the Hotel booking online.

How to get there
From Nakhon Ratchasima take the highway no. 205 to the north. The road turns itself to the north-west and west. After driving for about 110 km you will get to the intersection with route no. 2354. Turn right (to the north) into 2354 and drive for about 20 km. There is a road on your left side to the headquarters, which is about 14 km length.

National Park Entry Fees

• Adult: Baht200.-/person
• Children(0 - <>
• Bicycle: Baht10.-/bicycle
• Motorcycle: Baht20.-/motorcycle
• 4 - wheel car: Baht30.-/car
• 6 - wheel car: Baht100.-/car