Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Waterfalls at Erawan national Park Thailand



It's been a long-standing dream of mine to capture breathtaking photos of waterfalls and add them to my photography portfolio. I had been planning for months, but it wasn't until last weekend that I finally got the chance to make it a reality. We embarked on a hiking trip to the stunning Erawan National Park, and the experience was nothing short of magical.


Background





The Erawan National park is a 550 square kilometers park in Thailand, best known for its seven-tiered waterfall. Erawan got its name from its seventh fall which looked like a three-headed elephant from the Hindu mythology named Erawan. Erawan is located at Kanchanaburi, a province in the western part of Thailand.





The park is so huge (550 square kilometers), but the main attraction are the seven-tiered waterfalls with its emerald green water and scenic trails. The entire trail is just 2 kilometers long, not much of a hike if you ask me. Although it is short, some parts are steep and slippery that made the hike last for about 2 hours in ascend.





The photographs





The grandeur of the Erawan Waterfall left us in awe. The cascading waterfalls plunging down the limestone cliffs created a mesmerizing display of vibrant pools. In addition, we were also fortunate enough to stumble upon some smaller, yet equally stunning waterfalls that seemed to have been left nameless.







This is the very first waterfalls to greet trail hiker, around a 20 meters walk from the visitor's area. This is where a lot of picnic goers are chilling.








After a few minutes of walk you'll see the first waterfall named Ly Kung Lung. A few people can be seen swimming and hanging out in here, also vast number of fishes can be seen.








About 170 meters from the visitor's area lies the second falls, Wung Macha. It's a popular spot for swimming among visitors and can get quite crowded. Beyond this point, food and drinks are not allowed to preserve the cleanliness of the upper trails.














The third waterfall, Pha Num Tok, is located approximately 220 meters away from the visitor's area. You'll find pools filled with skin-nibbling fishes at this spot, providing a free fish spa experience. However, if you're someone who is easily ticklish like me, swimming here may not be the best idea.











Captured on the way to the fourth waterfall, this small yet picturesque cascade caught my eye despite being unnamed.












The fourth waterfall, named Oke Nank Phee Seah, is located approximately 520 meters from the visitor's area. This spot is popular for the natural water-slide formed by the big rocks, where many visitors enjoy sliding down into the pool below.












I couldn't resist taking a picture of this charming little waterfall located near a small wooden bridge on the way to the fifth waterfall. It definitely caught my attention.











The 5th waterfall, known as Bua Mai Long, located 1.12km away from the visitor center, is a picturesque set of small cascades amidst limestone formations with numerous travertine pools in the area. In my opinion, it is the most scenic waterfall among all. I enjoyed my time here a little longer, soaking in the beauty of the place. Fortunately, there weren't many crowds here, and I found the place peaceful and relaxing. As we continued on the trail, it became rougher, and the journey ahead promised more adventure.











As we trekked towards the sixth waterfall, the path became increasingly challenging with steep, narrow, and slippery terrain. Along the way, we encountered several small waterfalls that made it difficult to distinguish the sixth one. Eventually, we arrived at Dong Prouck Sa, located 1.42km from the visitor center. Despite the effort it took to reach it, the beauty of the waterfall made it all worthwhile.


After a challenging trek, we finally arrived at the seventh and final waterfall










After the challenging trek, we were rewarded with a breathtaking view of the tallest waterfall in the park, called Phu Pha Erawan. It seemed like not many people were willing to make the effort to go all the way here, but the serene atmosphere and stunning waterfalls we passed along the way made the exertion worthwhile. Phu Pha Erawan is located about 2 kilometers from the visitor's area




All photos are taken by using either my Fuji X100 and my Nikon D3100.




Behind the scene photos


As we made our way through the park, we couldn't resist taking snapshots of each other to capture the beautiful scenery. Here are some of our favorites.







































Getting to Erawan National Park is actually quite easy. If you're coming from Bangkok, just take a bus from the southern bus terminal (Sai Tai Mai) to Kanchanaburi town. The fare is around 110 baht per person, and the trip takes about 2.5 hours. From Kanchanaburi, take another 1.5 hour bus ride to Erawan National Park, which costs 50 baht.

The park entrance fee is 200 baht for tourists and 20 baht for Thai people.

While you can do the trip in one day, it's recommended to leave early from Bangkok to make the most of your time. Alternatively, you can book a room near or inside the park to stay overnight. You can make your reservation through the Erawan National Park website.

If you're planning to visit Erawan National Park, I highly encourage you to go for it. The park's beautiful waterfalls and natural scenery are definitely worth the trip.

If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to send me a message. Cheers!




Alex






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