HOT Magazine HOT Magazine Issue - 9, 10 Volume 5 | Page 35

A Mystical Cavern
Sam Roi Yot National Park is 40
kilimetres south of Hua Hin and
covers 98 square kilometres. The park
is divided into two sections by the
limestone peaks it takes its name from
"Mountain (Khao) of Three Hundred
Peaks (Sam Roi Yot)". The entry fee
of 200 baht gives you access to both
sections for a day, although it’s worth
more than a day visit.
The park's highlight for many is
the coastal section. Phraya Nakhon
Cave is short-listed among the most
magnificent caves in Southeast Asia,
and it is truly beautiful. Although
there are several caves in the park,
Phraya Nakhon is the most famous,
thanks to the presence of Kuha
Karuhas (Royal) pavilion.
The cave is formed from two
caverns with natural erosion of the
limestone providing a dramatic
result. Light streams down through
large openings in the cavern roof
to illuminate the darkness and
encourage plant life.
At the centre of the main cavern,
bathed in light and framed by trees
on one side and stalactites and
stalagmites on the other, sits the
beguiling Kuha Karuhas (royal)
pavilion with its saddled roof,
sparkling upturning finials and statue
of Phraya Nakhon.
Folk stories suggest one-time local
ruler, Phraya Nakhon, stumbled upon
the cave after his ship was forced
ashore in bad weather some 200
years ago. His dramatic discovery has
since been recognised by visits from
several Thai Kings, including visits
by recently deceased King Bhumibol.
In 1890 to mark the first royal visit
from King Rama V, the Kuha Karuhas
pavilion was built. Its precise
positioning ensured sunlight showers
over it mid-morning.
The ceiling of the cavern is estimated
at 50 metres high, with various
side caves accommodating spooky
shrines, and another area occupied by
Pagoda stone cairns giving the sense
of an ancient graveyard.
The cave is a two-kilometre walk
(which takes around an hour) from
the track entrance at Bang Pu village.
Bring sensible walking shoes and
enough water as the track is a little
challenging. It’s best to be in the
cave around 10 a.m. to see the royal
pavilion sunlit in the most glorious
light.
There are beach side restaurants
awaiting your return to Bang Pu
village for a rewarding, tasty and
inexpensive lunch!
Blessed with Beaches:
Hua Hin is a beach town and
developing a reputation as the best
place in Thailand for kitesurfing
thanks to nearly 10 months of ideal
wind conditions. The shallow warm
waters also make it one of the safest
places to learn this sport. But when
you tire of the five-kilometre arc of
sand in front of the town there are
other beaches to choose from…
Khao Takiab beach is the next
beach immediately south of Hua Hin
and stretches for seven-kilometres
south to the small community of
Khao Tao. The northern end of Khao
Takiab is where the action is. Beach-
side boutique resorts, small cafés
and local restaurants line the beach
offering umbrella covered sun beds.
Eucalyptus and Casuarina trees also
provide their own natural cooling
shade. You can get an Thai-style or
European hour-long massage for 300
baht and, for the more active, there’s
horse riding along the beach or golf
at the Sea Pines Golf Course that
borders the beach.
Sai Noi beach is directly south of
Khao Takiab and only 15 kilometres
from central Hua Hin. This small
beach with its own Beach Club is
where you can ‘get away from it’
whilst enjoying all the facilities and
service the Beach Club and beach
front facilities have to offer. The drop-
off from the beach is pronounced
here, but you can use of the Beach
Clubs two pools if you prefer.
Dolphin Bay is just 45 kilometres
south of Hua Hin and is named for
the pod of Indo-pacific humpback
dolphins, five or six of which are pink,
that live in the bay for 10 months of
the year. The bay’s five kilometre
beach is ideal for sunbathing, beach
volleyball, and long walks or jogging,
especially at sunrise or sunset.
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