Explore the Caves Khao Khanap Nam,Krabi, Thailand. Elsie Gabriel

Explore the Caves Khao Khanap Nam,Krabi, Thailand.
Kayak Trip to Khao Khanap Nam,Krabi,Thailand.

Elsie Gabriel

Drifting in the beautiful lagoon, exploring the spectacular rivers, inlets and limestone caves on your own personal kayak, is how one can best enjoy Krabi, in Thailand. As one of the first settlements in southern Thailand, Krabi offers numerous cave destinations which are rich in archeological treasures, artifacts and cave drawings.

Thailand is not all about the sunshine, massages, night life, beach swims and food, it is deeply embedded in history to say the least, and do not forget to unearth that aspect of it.

Krabi is a southern province on Thailand's Andaman seaboard with perhaps the country's oldest history of continued settlement. Krabi has many cliffs and caves where ancient colour paintings, stone tools, beads, pottery and skeletal remains have been found. The mountainous geography, broken by highlands and plains on the mainland, and 130 big and small islands in the Andaman Sea make Krabi a perfect place for recreation.

We were privileged to stay at the Maritime Park and Spa Resort which features over 25 acres of tropical gardens, and is located approximately two miles from Krabi Town, and ten miles from Krabi International Airport. The hotel has a jungle pathway which leads out into the natural river waters and exotic mangroves leading to the spiritual caves.

As you emerge out into clearer waters, you are over whelmed by natures bounty.

The tail boat takes us lowly to the mystic Khao Khanap Nam caves surrounded by a couple of raged hills. Stretching  out of the natural waters is the Khao Khanap Nam rocky structures, where there are several magnificent caves with impressive clusters of stalactites and stalagmites. A number are said to be the home of spirits and are steeped in local forklore, containing images and items of spiritual worship. One climbs a staircase to see caves with endless stalactites and stalagmites. It is quite dark inside with little rays of light seeping in.Finally, make your way through the cave's numerous grottoes until you arrive at a viewpoint overlooking the mangrove forest and sprawling ocean. It's quite a sight to behold. Almost ethereal. Step into the cave's cavernous mouth to marvel at the ancient paintings and pictoglyphs found inside. Wander through the numerous stalagmites and beneath the beautiful stalactites to study the paintings and understand a piece of Thailand’s rich cultural past.

Of course my lessons in Spiritual ecology came reeling in, rushing in to help me to reawaken my self with the mystery of the existence of the ‘Earth’. I almost froze soaking in the awakening. There is nothing greater than Gods creation, nothing compares to this. When I headed down from the stairs I saw numerous skulls and skeletons all elaborately laid out on the sandy beaches below. The guide explained how ‘ancestors’ were worshipped and honored and then the skulls explained their ornamental value, sacred and surrounded by flowers and twigs. Deep.

 The only other way tourists can get there is by boat from the Chao Fah Bridge in Krabi. The two iconic magnificent hills, roughly 100 meters high, flank the Krabi River running between them to form a picturesque post card. Kilometers of pristine Mangrove forest, home to an astonishing variety of birds are spotted which have drawn birdwatchers from all over the world. While cruising in a longtail boat or a sea canoe, keep your eyes open for species such as Gurney’s Pittas, Brown-winged Kingfishers, Flame backs, Pacific Reef Eagles and Dollarbirds.

It takes 15 minutes to reach Khao Khanap Nam’s twin peaks by ‘long tail boat’ from Chao Fa Pier.A boat can be rented at 300 baht per trip to visit Khao Khanap Nam, mangrove forests and Koh Klang fishery village.

You will enter the small canals of the mangrove forest and see different types of mangrove trees as well as local wildlife, including monkeys, birds, and fish.

Thailand only has a few areas that have been recognized as wetlands of the world and the mangrove forest of Krabi Province, stretching from the city to Koh Si Boya, is ranked in the Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance. The protected area also covers 12 square kilometers of up to 2-kilometer wide tidal mudflats.
So far the best wetlands that I have visited around the world!