Doi Inthanon
| ดอย อิน ท นนท์ / Doi Inthanon | ||
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 Phra Mahathat Napapon Phumsiri Chedi commemorates Queen Sirikit's 60th birthday |
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| height | 2565 m | |
| location | Thailand | |
| Mountains | Thanon Thong Chai | |
| Coordinates | 18 ° 35 ′ 0 ″ N , 98 ° 29 ′ 0 ″ E | |
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| particularities | Highest mountain in Thailand | |
The Doi Inthanon ( Thai ดอย อิน ท นนท์ ) is a mountain in the province of Chiang Mai and 2565 meters the highest mountain in Thailand .
The mountain is located around 50 km (as the crow flies) southwest of Chiang Mai in the middle of the national park of the same name . The area is sparsely forested and inhabited by mountain people, mainly the Hmong and Karen . Through various projects sponsored by the king (“Royal Projects”), the hill tribes were convinced to plant vegetables and flowers instead of opium . Some of these farms can be visited by tourists.
A road about 50 kilometers long (from Chiang Mai 103 km) leads to the summit, in the vicinity of which you can visit several impressive waterfalls (for example the Vachiratharn waterfall) and caves with bats. Visitors must buy tickets at a control station at the entrance to the National Park.
About 200 meters below the summit, the "glorious Thai army with the help of the Thai people" (text on a plaque) has erected a memorial to its royal couple: on the 60th birthday of King Bhumibol Adulyadej (1987) and Queen Sirikit (1992) a chedi built in a modern style. Both chedis are decorated with relief mosaics on the outside, on the king's chedi in a reddish brown tone, on the queen's chedi in various shades of purple. Inside there is a large Buddha statue, which is said to be made of jade . The interior walls are decorated with painted tiles depicting the life of the Buddha.
Temperatures at the summit are significantly lower than in the rest of Thailand, which leads to a completely different vegetation. Ivy climbs up on thick oak trees that are overgrown with moss because of the high humidity. In the middle of a forest there is a shrine dedicated to the namesake: Prince Intha Witchayanon, a regent of Chiang Mai, known as the "Seventh Chao Luang" (r. 1870–1897), recognized the importance of this mountain region for the surrounding area at an early stage. He determined that his remains should be interred here.
The mountain was therefore initially known as Doi Luang ("Royal Mountain"). When the prince died in 1897, his ashes were buried in a small chedi that soon became a destination for pilgrims. In his honor, the mountain has since been abbreviated to his name: Doi Inthanon. Next to the shrine there is a nature trail and military radar systems.
Impressions
Wachirathan waterfall
Napapon Phumsiri Chedi of the Queen
Sign at the summit
Shrine to Prince Intha Witchayanon
