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| Krabi
Province |
Khao Khanap Nam |
Welcome
to Krabi, Land of Lively town Lovely People |
Introduction |
Krabi
is a southern province on Thailand's Andaman seaboard with perhaps
the country's oldest history of continued settlement. After dating
stone tools, ancient coloured pictures, beads, pottery and skeletal
remains found in the province's many cliffs and caves, it is thought
that Krabi has been home to homo sapiens since the period 25,000
- 35,000 B.C. In recorded times it was called the 'Ban Thai Samor',
and was one of twelve towns that used, before people were widely
literate, the monkey for their standard. At that time, c. 1200 A.D.,
Krabi was tributary to the Kingdom of Ligor, a city on the Kra Peninsula's
east coast better known today as Nakhon Si Thammarat.
At
the start of the Rattanakosin period, about 200 years ago, when
the capital was finally settled at Bangkok, an elephant kraal was
established in Krabi by order of Chao Phraya Nakorn (Noi), the governor
of Nakhon Si Thammarat, which was by then a part of the Thai Kingdom.
He sent his vizier, the Phra Palad, to oversee this task, which
was to ensure a regular supply of elephants for the larger town.
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| So followers
many emigrated in the steps of the Phra Palad that soon Krabi had
a large community in three different boroughs : Pakasai, Khlong
Pon, and Pak Lao. In 1872, King Chulalongkorn graciously elevated
these to town status, called Krabi, a word that preserves in its
meaning the monkey symbolism of the old standard. The town's first
governor was Luang Thep Sena, though it continued a while as a dependency
of Nakhon Si Thammarat. This was changed in 1875, when Krabi was
raised to a fourth-level town in the old system of Thai government.
Administrators then reported directly to the central government
in Bangkok, and Krabi's history as a unique entity separated from
the other provinces, had begun. |
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During
the present reign, the corps of civil servants, the merchants, and
the population generally of Krabi and nearby provinces have together
organized construction of a royal residence at Laem Hang Nak Cape
for presentation to His Majesty the King. This lies thirty kilometers
to the west of Krabi Town on the Andaman coast.
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Size, Location and Boundaries |
Krabi
is on the Andaman Sea coast of south-west Thailand, between 7' 30"
and 8' 30" north latitude, and 98' 30" and 99' 30"
west longitude. Total area is 4,709 square kilometers bounded thus
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North
: Connects with Phang-nga and Sura Thani Provinces.
South
: Connects with Trang Provinces and the Andaman Sea.
East
: Connects with Trang and Nakhon Si Thammarat Provinces.
West
: Connects with Phang-nga Provinces and the Andaman Sea.
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Geography
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Krabi's
mountainous physical geography is broken by highlands and plains
on the mainland.The provincial administration also covers more
than 130 islands in the Andaman Sea. Natural forest cover is chiefly
mangrove and Cassia trees. Krabi's sandy clay soil conditions
are perfect for a variety of agricultural products, including
rubber trees, palms, mangos, coconuts, and coffee. The Krabi River
flows 5 kilometers through the city and falls into the Andaman
at Tambon Pak Nam. There are other streams as well : the Khlong
Pakasai, the Khlong Krabi Yai and the Khlong Krabi Noi in the
province's highest range of mountains, the Khao Phanom Bencha
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Climate |
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Weather
in Krabi is typically that of the tropical monsoon, providing
the province with just two seasons, the hot season from January
to April, and the rainy season from May to December. Monsoon winds,
which change according to season, blow from the southeast, the
southwest, and the northeast. Temperatures range between 16.9
and 37.3 degrees Celsius and the yearly rainfall averages 2,568.5
millimeters.
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| Attraction |
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Attraction according to zone area: |
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| 1. Amphoe Muang (Krabi Town) |
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| Hat Noppharat Thara - Mu Ko Phi Phi
National Park |
The
Royal forest department had surveyed and established the 75 million-year
shell cemetery (Susan Hoi), Hat Noppharat Thara - Mu Ko Phi Phi
and near-by islands in Nong Thale sub-district, Ao Nang sub-district,
SaiThai sub-district and Pak Nam sub-district of Amphoe Mueang Krabi,
389.96 sq.km, as the 47th National Park of Thailand so called "Hat
Noppharat Thara-Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park". There after,
it had been expanded to cover the shell cemetery and near-by islands,
0.02 sq.km. After that the area of Nong Thale sub-district, Amphoe
Mueang Krabi, Krabi province which is the area of the Royal Thai
Navy and the Royal Palace area has been excluded from this national
park and left only 387.90 sq.km. This 2 kilometer long beach is
about 18 kilometers north-west of Krabi. It is a scenic beach lined
with casuarina trees and is popular among locals especially at weekend.
Noppharat Thara beach is attractive to those who prefer swimming
and sunbathing in tranquil surroundings.
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Remark: Chaya resort is across of Noppharat Thara beach
(or Hat Noppharat Thara),
just only about 15 meters away.
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| Ao Nang |
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Ao
Nang is a large bay with scenic beaches and 83 small islands. Its
famous beaches include East Rai Le,
West Rai Le, Tham Phra Nang
which stretch to the foot of a conspicuously prominent limestone
range. Accommdation and other facilities including diving shops,
boats for rent and sightseeing by canoe are available. From Ao Nang
tourist may hire boats to visit nearby islands of Poda, Thap and
Mo which have white sandy beaches, clear water and colorful fishes
and coral. |
Susan Hoi (Fossil Shell Beach)
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| Susan Hoi (Fossil Shell
Beach) |
| The
shell graveyard at Ban Laem Pho was once a large freshwater swamp,
home to a kind of snail. Over eons dating from the Tertiary Age,
about 40 million years ago, |
| about 40
million years ago, these snails lived and died by the million, to
the extent that the dead snails formed a layer upon which existed
the living. |
| Eventually, weather changes precipitated
the swamp's disappearance, but by then the layer |
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| of fossilized snail shells was forty
centimeters thick, resting on ten centimeters of lignite below which
is the subsoil. Because of geographic upheaval, this Shelly limestone
is now distributed in great broken sheets of impressive magnitude
on the seashore at Laem Pho. |
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| Khao Khanap
Nam |
| These
two hills, roughly 100 meters tall, flank the Krabi River running
between them to form a distinctive vista and the town's most prominent
landmark. To visit them, take a long-tail boat from Chao Fa Pier.
Travel time is just 15 minutes. From there take stairs leading up
to caves with stalactites and stalagmites. A large number of human
skeletons have been found here. It is theorized that they and the
remains of people who came and established a home at Kanab Nam,
but were cut off by an inundation and quickly perished |
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Tham
sua |
or "Tiger
Cave" is located about 3 kilometres from Krabi Town. Inside
the cave there are what appear to be tiger paw prints in the stone.
The surrounding area is covered with large trees hundreds of years
old, particularly in the Khiriwong Valley. Mountains are on all
sides and there are smallers caves in great number. Aside from being
the site of a meditation center, it is also a places of archaeological
and historical interest. Stone tools, pottery remains, and the mold
for making Buddha footprints have been found in excavations.
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| Tham Sadet |
is located at Ban Nong Kok, Tambon Sai Thai, 7 kilometres
from the town on Highway No. 4034. It is a beautiful cave with stalactites
and stalagmites. In 1909 the future King Rama VI visited the cave
here, earning it the title "Sadet" indicating the presence
of royalty.
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Sa Kaeo |
| composed
of eight small natural swamps in a vast valley of Tambon Khao |
| Thong. This forms part of a which
is being turned into recreational area. Sa Kaeo is accessible by
the Krabi-Nai Sa route (Highway No. 4034), a distance of 28 kilometres |
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| Mu Ko Phi Phi |
| An archipelago of six islands consists
of Ko Phi Phi Don and Ko Phi Phi Le as the major islands. The superb
scenery of the islands includes high hills with jutting clifts surrounded
by marvelous beaches and emerald sea, hiding underneath a bank of
coral reefs and colorful marine life. Places to visit of Mu Ko Phi
Phi include |
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| Ko Phi Phi
Don |
covers
a total area of 28 square kilometers. An outstanding attraction
is Ao Ton Sai, a vast bay with a curving white sandy beach stretching
to a mountain range which reaches into the sea. Beside Ao Ton Sai,
there are also othe scenic beaches and bays around the island which
can be reached by boat. At the north end of the island is Laem Tong
where a sea gypsy village is located and which is renowned for its
underwater natural beauty. Day trip around the island by boat is
recommended.
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| Ko Phi Phi
Le |
| An island
of steep cliffs, covers a total area of 6.6 square kilometers. Phi
Phi Le has several beautiful bays such as Pi Le which reaches into
a valley and gives a lake-like scenery. This part of the sea is
almost encircled by steep cliffs. |
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To the south of Pi Le is a small bay called Lo Sa Ma which hides
in a fold of a steep rock and provides a good spot for snorkeling.
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Another attraction is Tham Viking,
a huge vast and airy cave which is home to a large number of swallows.
On the cave wall are ancient paintings of sailing ships similar
to those used by ancient Vikings. It takes about 30 minutes to get
to Phi Phi Le by boat from Phi Phi Don.
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| Ko Phai |
lies to the north of Phi Phi Don. There
are lovely beaches on the north and east sides, and coral gardens
spreading to the south.
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| Ko Yung |
also lies to the north of Phi Phi Don.
There is a rocky beach on the eastern side, a small beach in a fold
of the hill and perfectly preserved coral gardens.
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2. Amphoe Ao Luk
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| Than Bokkhorani National Park |
| covers 37.5 rai (1 rai = 160 square
meters) in Tambon Ao Leuk Tai, one kilometer from the Tambon Ao
Leuk Neua Market intersection on the Ao Luk Sak road. The park is
shady and forested by many different species of trees growing around
the attractive pool after which the park is named, the Sa Bokkhorani.
Species include the wild gardenia, asoka, and Apocynaceae. |
The Sah Bohk Koranii flows through a winding passage in the mountain.
At the north end of the pool is a footprint of the Buddha carved
in wood and a shrine of Chao PhoTo Yuan - To Chong.
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| Tham Lod Nua - Tham Lod Tai |
can be reached by taking
the Ao Luk-Laem Sak route for about two kilometers. Then take a
right turn to the Bo Tho Pier then transfer to a rental boat along
the Ta Prang canel. About ten minutes after passing a mangrove swamp
will be the Tham Lod Tai, which is a cave beneath a limestone hill
with a stream flowing through narrow passages. The main attractions
are beatiful stalactites and stalagmites. The Tham Lod Nua is a
large cavern with meandering passages longer than at the Tham Lod
Tai. They are navigable only during low tide.
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| Tham Phi
Hua To or Tham Hua Kalok |
| is located
in Amphoe Ao Luk on Phi Hua To Mountains, which are surrounded by
mangrove swamps. The cave is accessible by the same route as Tham
Lod Tai with its entrance not far beyond the canel to Tham Lod Tai. |
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From the entrance, the cave divides
into 2 routes, the left one leading to a vast chamber pierced by
a shaft of light, while the right routeleads to a hall believed
by archaeologists to have been once a shelter for prehistoric people.
Rock paintings can be seen within the cave. The paintings, 70 of
them, are painted in red and black and portray people as well as
animals. The cave was named Phi Hua To or Big-headed Ghost owing
to the unusually large skulls discovered there. A large pile of
shells were also found in the cave.
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| Tham Phet |
| is 3 kilometers from the intersection
at Ao Luk Nua market. In front is enshrined an image of Buddha.
The name of this cave "Phet" means diamond, and indeed
sparking stone casts beautiful reflections on the cave wall. The
best way to get there is to first contact the National Park Office
at Than Bokkhorani for guide.
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| Tham Chao Le |
is a beautiful cave on the west side
of Laem Sak. Inside, there are stalactites and stalagmites as well
as prehistoric cave paintings of people, animals and various geometrical
shapes.
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| Mu Ko Hong |
comprises a number of large and small
limestone islands. Ko Hong itself is the largest island. These limestone
island have a beach and coral reefs in both deep and shallow water
levels. Boats leave for Ko Hong from Ao Nang and the trip takes
about one hour. A canoe trip to Ko Hong organised by some travel
agents at Ao Nang is a popular activity among tourists.
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| Thai Term Glossary: |
English spelling given here tries to
approximate Thai pronunciation. Posted signs may be spelled differently.
When seeking help from a Thai for directions, point to the Thai
spellings given after each place name.
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Thai Pronunciation
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English Word |
Amphoe
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District |
| Ao |
Bay |
| Ban |
Village or house |
| Chao Le |
the sea gypsies |
| Hat |
Beach |
| Khao |
Mountain or rocky island |
| Khlong |
Stream or canal |
| Ko |
Island |
| Laem |
Cape, point or headland |
| Muang |
Town or city |
| Nai |
Inner |
| Namtok |
Waterfall |
| Nok |
Outer |
| Noi |
Small |
| Pak |
Mouth (of a river, etc. The p in pak is pronounced much
like b) |
| Rai |
1600 square meters (Flat Measure) |
| Tham |
Cave |
| Tambon |
Sub-Prefecture |
| Wat |
Thai temple |
| Yai |
Big |
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Thai 
