Inthanon Chanthalasy

Doi Inthanon (, ) is the highest mountain in Thailand. It is in Chom Thong District, Chiang Mai Province. This mountain is an ultra prominent peak, known in the past as Doi Luang Ang Ga (''Grand Mount Ang Ga'') or meaning the 'crow's pond top'. Near the mountain's base was a pond where many crows gathered. The name ''Doi Inthanon'' was given in honour of Inthawichayanon, King of Chiang Mai, who was concerned about the forests in the north and tried to preserve them. After his death, his remains was interred at Doi Luang, which was then renamed in his honour.

Today, the summit of Doi Inthanon is a popular tourist destination for both foreign and Thai tourists, with a peak of 12,000 visitors visiting the summit on New Year's Day. In addition to a range of tourist facilities on the summit, there is a weather station operated by the Royal Thai Air Force, with the Thai National Observatory also based there.

Geography

Doi Inthanon is the highest peak of the Inthanon Range () of the Thanon Thong Chai Range, a subrange of the Shan Hills in the Thai highlands stretching southwards from the Daen Lao Range system, separates the Salween watershed from the Mekong watershed. Other high peaks of the Daen Lao Range are Doi Luang Chiang Dao (), Doi Pui (), and Doi Suthep ().

In 1954, the forests around Doi Inthanon were conserved, creating Doi Inthanon National Park, as one of the original 14 national parks of Thailand. This park now covers 482.4 km² and spreads from the lowlands at elevation up to the peak at . Given the varied climatic and ecological areas regions, the park supports a range of animal species, including around 500 bird species.

On the lower slopes of Doi Inthanon, near the Karen hill tribe village, Ban Sop Had, are the Wachirathan waterfalls (), where the Wachirathan (lit. "Diamond Creek") tumbles over a granite escarpment. ()

Climate

The climate is typically tropical and fairly cool on the summit of Doi Inthanon. In the winter, the average temperature is in January and temperatures can sometimes drop below . On 21 December 2017, an all-time low temperature of was recorded at 06:30 at km 44.4. From March to June, temperatures are pleasant, especially at higher altitudes. The rainy season runs from April to November when it sometimes rains for more than two hours daily.

Geology

Geologically the mountain is a granite batholith in a north–south oriented mountain range. The second-highest peak of this range is Doi Hua Mot Luang at .

Environmental issues

In 2014, visitors to the mountain left behind of rubbish.

Places

* On the summit of Doi Inthanon stand a stupa cotains Inthawichayanon’s ashes.
* On the main road to the summit of Doi Inthanon stand two adjacent chedis, one called ''Naphamethinidon'' (นภเมทินีดล), meaning 'by the strength of the land and air', and the other, ''Naphaphonphumisiri'' (นภพลภูมิสิริ), meaning 'being the strength of the air and the grace of the land'. These temples were built to honor the 60th birth anniversary of King Bhumibol Adulyadej in 1987, and the 60th birth anniversary of Queen Sirikit in 1992, respectively.
* Kio Mae Pan Nature Trail
* The Inthanon Royal Project Research Station: The agricultural station was a King Bhumibol Adulyadej project to help eliminate opium cultivation. It contains a rhododendron garden, and greenhouses for growing ferns, flowering plants, and vegetables.

Gallery

File:5th Unit Doi Inthanon National Park, Thailand.jpg, 5th Unit Doi Inthanon National Park
File:Stupa of Inthawichayanon (I).jpg, Stupa of Inthawichayanon
File:Doi Inthanon, View of the mountains, Thailand.jpg, View west from Doi Inthanon
File:Doi Inthanon, View from Royal Pagoda, Thailand.jpg, View from the Royal Pagoda
File:Doi Inthanon, Vegetation on the slopes, Thailand.jpg, Vegetation on the slopes of Doi Inthanon
File:A waterfall in Doi Inthanon National Park.jpg, Wachirathan Waterfall
File:Doi Inthanon, King’s Pagoda, Mural, Carving, Art relief 2, Thailand.jpg, Mural carvings on King's Pagoda
File:Doi Inthanon, Royal Chedi, Thailand.jpg, Royal Chedi
File:Doi Inthanon, Royal Stupa 2, Thailand.jpg, View from the top
File:Doi inthanon control and reporting center.JPG, Doi Inthanon control and reporting center on the summit

See also

* List of mountains in Thailand
* List of Southeast Asian mountains
* List of Ultras of Southeast Asia
* Doi Inthanon rock frog
* List of elevation extremes by country

References

External links

*

thaibirding.com on Doi Inthanon

www.DoiInthanon.net

"Doi Inthanon, Thailand" on Peakbagger

{{Authority control

Mountains of Thailand
Thanon Thong Chai Range
Geography of Chiang Mai province
Two-thousanders of Asia
Highest points of countries