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Phu Kradung National Park
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Phu Kradueng National Park , located in Amphoe Phu Kradueng of the Loei Province, is one of the famous national parks of Thailand, with a high point of 1360 m. Every year tens of thousands of people come to make the climb up this famous mountain. It received the title of a nationally protected forest in the year 1943, and was proclaimed a national park on the 7th of October 1959, the second national park of Thailand after Khao Yai National Park.
hu comes from the Thai word Phukao meaning mountain.
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Encyclopedia
Phu Kradueng National Park , located in Amphoe Phu Kradueng of the Loei Province, is one of the famous national parks of Thailand, with a high point of 1360 m. Every year tens of thousands of people come to make the climb up this famous mountain. It received the title of a nationally protected forest in the year 1943, and was proclaimed a national park on the 7th of October 1959, the second national park of Thailand after Khao Yai National Park.
History
Phu comes from the Thai word Phukao meaning mountain. It's used the same way as Mt. is used in English. The name Kradueng comes from the word Krading (???????) a word of the Loei Province aboriginals. Also Phu Kradudng (????????) can be translated as Ra Kang Yai (?????????) meaning a large bell. This name comes from a legend relating to a Buddhist holiday. During the holiday many of the towns people heard the sound of a large bell. They believed it to be the bell of Indra.
The beauty of the mountain is reflected in local folk tales. One person named Phran, who fled from another village, believed that Phu Kradueng had never been climbed before. He led his bull to the top of the mountain. He found it full of beautiful deer, and pine forests. There were many different types of plants, trees and wild animals. After this he stayed, and lived his life surrounded by the beauty of the mountain.
Nowadays, Phu Kradueng is extremely popular with young Thais, particularly university students. Accommodation on the mountain itself is limited to a "tent city" with hundreds of canvas tents available for rent. The sense of isolation and scenic beauty is further spoilt by annoying and unnecessary loudspeakers intermittently announcing food availability, sleeping hours, and other concerns in Thai.
Travelling to Phu Kradueng
Autobus
The easiest route to Phu Kradueng, is to take a bus from Khon Kaen to Pha Nok Kao. Get off in front of Raan J Gim (??????????). From there a minibus is available to take you to the central office of the park. The minibus takes approximately half an hour. The park office closes at 15.00, as climbers will not have enough time to climb the mountain before dark.
Park Trails
The Main Trail to the top from Amphoe Phu Kradueng
This is a very old and historic trail. Travelers start their way on the trail in Amphoe Phu Kradueng at the main park office. There are many places to rest on the way up. These rest plateaus are called Sum. There are seven of these plateaus on the way up. In order of ascent, they are:
- Sum Hake The word Hake most travelers believe this means to be out of breath, because of its resemblance to the sound made when out of breath. The real meaning of Hake is sacred or holy object in the local dialect. This plateau is approximately one kilometre from the bottom.
- Sum Bawn This plateau is approximately 700 metres from Sum Hake.
- Sum Kok Kawk (???????) This plateau is approximately 360 metres from Sum Bawn.
- Sum Kokwaa (????????) This plateau is approximately 880 metres from Sum Kok Kawk.
- Sum Kokpai (???????) This plateau is approximately 580 metres from Sum Kokwaa
- Sum Kok Doon (???????) This plateau is approximately 300 metres from Sum Kokpai.
- Sum Krae This plateau is approximately 585 metres from Sum Kok Doon.
Travelers must start off at the park's main office at the base of the mountain. They can then begin their climb up to the Sum Krae plateau. On the plateau there are several vendors selling food and water, and it is a good place to rest. There is also a washroom available there. After this plateau there is still 1020 metres to the top. This last 1020 metres to the top is the hardest and steepest part. There are ladders and ramps at parts where it is impossible to walk. Once at the top of the mountain, there is still a 3.6 kilometre walk to the park office at the top and the campsite. At the campsite there are tents available and lodging buildings. There are many hiking trails on top of the mountain, to the many cliffs and waterfalls of the mountain.
Many climbers hire porters to carry their belongings to the top of the mountain for them. As a result, the main trail is often crowded with long lines of porters and following climbers.
Trail to the top from Amphoe Nam Nao
Travelers can climb the mountain from Amphoe Nam Nao. This is a new trail, to open in 2005. There aren't as yet any places to stop and purchase food and drinks on the way up on this trail.
Trails at the top of the Mountain
There are two areas of trails on top of Phu Kradueng. One is the normal open to public trails, while the other is the closed off forest. In the normal area, there's a waterfall trail and a cliffs trail. The closed forest has two areas, named area one and area two.
Waterfalls Trail
Cliffs Trail
 - Pha Nok Ann Cliff (????????) This cliff is located on the east side of the mountain. Approximately 1.1 kilometres from the campsite and tourist office. This is an important tourist spot, where many people go to watch the sun rise. In the summer and rainy season, this cliff is above the clouds, creating a beautiful view of the sun rise.
- Pha Mak Duk Cliff (?????????) This cliff is located on the west side of the mountain. It is located approximately 2 kilometres from the campsite and tourist office. Travelers who have little time come here to watch the sunset, due to its closeness to the campsite.
- Pha Jam Sil Cliff (???????) Approximately 600 metres from Pha Mak Duk Cliff.
- Pha Na Noi Cliff (????????) Approximately 600 metres from Pha Jam Sil Cliff.
- Pha Yiap Mek Cliff (???????????) Approximately two kilometres from Pha No Noi Cliff.
- Pha Daeng Cliff Approximately 1.5 kilometres from Pha Yiap Mek Cliff.
- Pha Lom Sak Cliff (?????????) Approximately 2.5 kilometres from Pha Daeng Cliff. This cliff is located on the west side of Phu Kradueng mountain. Most people who climb the mountain, will go to watch the sunset at this cliff. On a nice clear day, it's possible to Phu Pha Jid Mountain (???????) of Nam Naao National Park(????????????????????).
Closed Forest 1 (Waterfalls Trail Khun Phawng)
Closed Forest 2 (Sawng Lok Cliffs Trail)
Wild Animals Native to Phu Kradueng
* Deers Travelers who climb to the top of Phu Kradueng will definitely see at least one deer. One group of dears is looked after in the camp site. This allows these deer to not be scared of humans, thus letting the other deer to not be bothered by travelers. The first deer's name is Kam La which means the last born. The second deer's name is Kam Pir (???????) which means religious scripture.
- Grubs Small insects that are called Thak . These insects are very common to Phu Kradueng beyond the little recognition they receive. Most people don't like these insects, although they are important to Phu Kradueng's environment (As most people believe they're disgusting).There are a lot of these insects during the rainy season. They have made residence in many of the building on Phu Kradueng. There are also many near the waterfalls and in the closed forests. These grubs are similar to those found in Khao Yai National Park or Khao Luang National Park, yet are of bigger size.
- Elephants
- Mountain Crabs
Famous Plants and Trees of Phu Kradueng
- Maple Tree or Fai Deun Ha (??????????) The leaves of these trees turn red during the winter season(In Thailand the month of December). If travelers want to be sure that they will see red leaves they can and should phone the park before hand.
- Nepenthes Can be found close to the Pha Na Noi and Pha Dang cliffs.
- Siam Tulip This tulip can be found close to Pha Yiap Mek and Pha Dang cliffs. This flower blooms beautifully annually during the month of April. In the month of May you can still find many of these flowers blooming but insects and other animals will have begun to eat them.
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