Doi Inthanon & The Great Holy Relics Pagoda
My journey to The Great Holy Relics Pagoda in Doi Inthanon National Park near Chiang Mai, Thailand!
I planned my two day trip to Doi Inthanon and The Great Holy Relics Pagoda more than a month in advance of my trip to Thailand. I had seen amazing images of The Great Holy Relics Pagoda as well as other scenes from the park (i.e., waterfalls and nature trails). I greatly desired to see as much as I could in two days and of course take pictures of my own. Ultimately, I needed more time (perhaps at least 3–7 days) to fully enjoy all of the sites that this incredible park has to offer. I did my best in the time that I had.
Chiang Mai Arrival
Once I arrived in Chiang Mai, I confirmed my reservation with a private driver for two trips over the next two days to Doi Inthanon. I chose a private driver to maximize my time taking pictures rather than dealing with transportation issues and delays. My driver and personal guide, as well as his wife for the second day, were amazing people. My days began at 7AM and lasted until 7PM in the evening. Each drive to and from Chiang Mai was an adventure itself. My drivers shared so much valuable information about the history of the park and sites, the best locations for photography including many that I had not discovered, and took me wherever I wanted to go. I did not miss any of the key spots through their incredible help and guidance.
Doi Inthanon Background
Doi Inthanon National Park (nicknamed “The Roof of Thailand”) was established in 1972 and sits within The Thanon Thong Chai Range, in the Chom Thong District of Chiang Mai Province, approximately 60km west of Chiang Mai, which is about a one and one-half hour drive. This massive park and national heritage site contains many notable destinations including Doi Inthanon (the country’s highest mountain at an elevation of 2,565m) and The Great Holy Relics Pagoda.
Doi Inthanon National Park is home to many different and unique species of plants and animals as well as home to approximately 4,500 villagers including those of Mae Klang Luang known for its rice production and gorgeous paddies and terraces. The park contains many notable rivers, including The Mae Klang, Mae Pakong, Mae Pon, Mae Hoi, Mae Ya, Mae Chaem, Mae Khan, and a part of Ping River which generates electrical power for the region and country, as well as countless waterfalls the largest and most famous being Wachirathan Waterfall as well as The Mae Klang Pha Dok Sieo waterfall depicted in a famous Thai movie. The park also offers incredible hiking trails such as Pha Dok Sieo (also known as The Mae Klang Waterfall Trail), Ang Ka Luang and Kew Mae Pan nature trails, and of course many opportunities for birdwatching.
For more of my images from Doi Inthanon, please visit my website and this gallery:
https://www.geoffpiperphotography.com/Galleries/Doi-Inthanon-Thailand/
For more information about this park and experience, visit its website located here:
http://nps.dnp.go.th//parksdetail.php?id=121&name=DoiInthanonNationalPark
Great Holy Relics Pagoda || My First Trip
On my first trip to The Great Holy Relics Pagoda, I arrived in the mid-afternoon about 2 hours before sunset. This gave me plenty of time to enjoy the grounds, learn the history of the pagodas and take many daytime pictures.
As golden hour drew near, I headed towards the gardens behind The Queen’s Pagoda to my preferred spot that I had located earlier while scouting the grounds. I had hoped for a full garden of colorful flowers, but apparently I missed that opportunity by about one month. Most beds laid barren because the King’s crew was busy replanting the gardens. While some flowers and their colors remained, I can only imagine how amazing the gardens would look fully planted and in bloom. The pond was loaded with poi which surfaced often blowing bubbles reminding me of their presence. While shooting, I realized the best spot was high up on a hill ultimately unreachable at this time because Kew Mae Pan Nature Trail (which overlooks the gardens in certain areas) was closed at this time, and to climb the hill would require scaling a barbed wire fence against a warning sign. I did not chance that due to the military’s presence that day.
Medley of Monks
While I took pictures from the edge of the pond in the gardens, the most remarkable thing happened: a group of young monks led by their teachers arrived to frolic in the sun and take pictures from the bridge. This was one of my favorite moments while in Thailand and I was lucky enough to capture an image of it (seen above as the blog post featured image)! After they finished taking their pictures, acknowledging they were in my shot (which was not at all a problem to me, it was well worth the wait), each waved, smiled and laughed. It was a wonderful experience. During my shoot, many interested tourists dropped by to say hello, to ask about my shot and to share travel stories.
Royal Twilight
As the sun dipped below the horizon, clouds wisped and the sky changed from an orange glow to a royal purple twilight all paying homage to the King and Queen. There is something inviting, happy, colorful, fun and special about this place, the chedis, pond, fish and the gardens. I vow to return for the Spring, Summer and full blooms.
Thailand: Travel Photography Book
My first journey to Thailand began with planning while living in Sydney, Australia in the Aussie’s late Fall to Winter of 2018. For many years, my friends had told me their stories about their travels to Thailand, and I had seen many amazing photographs depicting the country’s depth of history and culture as well as its beautiful architecture and landscapes. I had to go asap! This blog post features stories from just Doi Inthanon, but if you are interested in more about my journeys in Thailand, and seeing more images from those trips, please check out my book at the following links:
Helpful Links
http://nps.dnp.go.th//parksdetail.php?id=121&name=DoiInthanonNationalPark
