อุทยานแห่งชาติเอราวัณ

Nam Tok Erawan - Erawan Falls

Useful Information

F090-124 — Rimstone pool in the forest, Erawan National Park, Thailand. Public Domain.

Location:	Erawan National Park
Open:	All year daily 8-16:30. [2019]
Fee:	Foreigners: Adults THB 300, Children THB 200. Locals: Adults THB 100, Children THB 50. [2019]
Classification:	Tufa Deposits Sinter Terraces
Light:	n/a
Dimension:
Guided tours:
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	partly accessible
Bibliography:
Address:	Erawan National Park, Mu 4, Tha Kradan Sub-district, Amphur Si Sawat, Kanchanaburi 71250, Tel: +66-3457-4222, Fax: +66-3457-4288. E-mail:
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History

1975	Thailand's 12th national park Erawan National Park founded.

Description

F090-000 — Rimstone pool in the forest, Erawan National Park, Thailand. Public Domain.

น้ำตกเอราวัณ - Nam Tok Erawan (Erawan Falls) is the main attraction of Erawan National Park. It is actually a valley with a series of cascades formed by rimstone pools. The whole area is karstified and the water of Nam Tok Erawan is very rich in limestone. The limestone is deposited by the water and forms dams. The yellow and white of the dams contrasts with the turquoise of the limestone rich water and the deep green of the surrounding rain forest.

There is a series of waterfalls with a 2 km long trail connecting them. The pools are very popular with the locals for bathing, and the place is very crowded on weekends and especially on Songkran (Thai New Year). The Huai Mae Khamin Waterfall, which is one hour drive away, is at least as beautiful as the Erawan Waterfall, but much less crowded.

The falls are named after the Erawan, the three-headed white elephant of Hindu mythology. It is also known under the names Airavata or Gajendra. The seven-tiered falls are said to resemble the Erawan, but we could not find the number seven in any legend connected with it. However, this elephant has so many aspects, names, and legends, so we guess that some just took the chance to name this spot after his favourite elephant without caring about an explanation.

There are also five interesting caves which can be visited, Tham Mi (ถ้ำหมี), Tham Ruea (ถ้ำเรือ), Tham Wang Badan (ถ้ำวังบาดาล), Tham Phrathat (ถ้ำพระธาตุ), and Tham Ta Duang. They are located all over the park and not developed, but all are accessible on self-guided tours on easy trails. Ask at the Park headquarter for detailed info and bring a torch. The visit to the caves is included in the Erawan National Park day ticket.

ถ้ำพระธาตุ (Tham Phrathat) is located 12 km north of the Erawan Waterfall. A ranger equipped with a lantern accompanies the cave expedition. First, a well-maintained 600 m long path leads through bamboo forest to the cave entrance at 726 m asl. The cave consists of several chambers and is decorated with impressive stalactites and stalagmites. Bats live in the cave.

ถ้ำหมี (Tham Mi, Bear Cave) is located near Wat Thapsila. The temple is reminiscent of the Golden Rock (Kyaiktiyo Pagoda) in Myanmar. Mi translates as bear in Thai, the cave was named after the local lore that the cave was once inhabited by wild bears. The cave has five chambers decorated by stalactites and stalagmites.

ถ้ำวังบาดาล (Tham Wang Badan) is located at Wang Bahdan Ranger Station, north of Nam Tok station in Chaiyaphruek village, 54 km from Erawan Waterfall. A 1.5 km trail leads from the ranger station to the entrance of the cave. The cave is 500 m long and quite deep. The lower chamber of the cave contains water where fish live. The cave is currently closed. We could not find out if the vertical parts require special equipment, probably it is closed due to the technical dificulties.