Phang-nga Phang-nga Phang-nga Ko Si CONTENTS HOW TO GET THERE 8 ATTRACTIONS 8 Amphoe Mueang Phang-nga 8 Amphoe Khura Buri 16 Amphoe Takua Pa 25 Amphoe Kapong 30 Amphoe Thap Put 31 Amphoe Thai Mueang 32 Amphoe Takua Thung 34 Amphoe Ko Yao 36 EVENTS & FESTIVALS 41 LOCAL PRODUCTS AND SOUVENIRS 42 TIPS FOR TOURISTS 44 Diving / Snorkelling 45 Rafting / Canoeing 58 Cruising 58 Trekking / Bird Watching 58 EXAMPLES OF TOUR PROGRAMMES 45 FACILITIES IN PHANG-NGA 45 Accommodations 45 Restaurants 59 USEFUL CALLS 64 Ko Payu Phang-nga Phang-nga is geographically covered mostly Meeting of the Phuket Circle of 1931. Originally, by mountains and forests, with an area of the government centre of Phang-nga was approximately 4,170.895 square kilometres and located at Ban Chai Khai. Then, a city hall was is located some 788 kilometres from Bangkok. constructed at Ban Thai Chang before a new The province is believed to have formerly been one took shape near Tham Phung Chang and called ‘Phu Nga’ after the name of a hill ‘Khao has stood there since 1972 until the present. Nga’ or ‘Khao Phang-nga’, which is located in the heart of the present Phang-nga town. BOUNDARIES Otherwise, it might have been named ‘Phu Nga’ North : borders Ranong and Surat Thani to rhyme with ‘Phuket’. However, how the name provinces. ‘Phu Nga’ became ‘Phang-nga’ as it is currently South : borders Phuket province and the known is assumed to have been eroded by a Andaman Sea. mis-pronunciation by foreigners who came to East : borders Surat Thani and Krabi purchase tin ore which used to be plentiful in provinces. the province. At that time, the name was spelled West : borders the Andaman Sea. ‘Phunga’ or ‘Punga’ which could be pronounced Phang-nga is administratively divided into 8 ‘Phu Nga’, ‘Phang-nga’, or ‘Phangka’. districts; namely, Amphoe Mueang Phang- nga, Amphoe Khura Buri, Amphoe Thap Put, Historical Background Amphoe Kapong, Amphoe Takua Thung, According to Chronicles, before the Rattanakosin Amphoe Takua Pa, Amphoe Thai Mueang, and Period, Phang-nga was a district dependent Amphoe Ko Yao. to Takua Pa City. In the reign of King Rama I the Great of the Rattanakosin Period, it was Distances from Amphoe Mueang upgraded to be of the same status as Takua Pa Phang-nga to Other Districts and Takua Thung and was transferred from the Amphoe Takua Thung 13 kilometres Harbour Department to be administered by the Amphoe Thap Put 25 kilometres Defense Department. King Rama III, in wishing Amphoe Ko Yao 25 kilometres to restore outpost towns on the west coast that Amphoe Kapong 39 kilometres were attacked by Burmese troops, appointed a Amphoe Thai Mueang 57 kilometres civil officer to rule the city and had it dependent Amphoe Takua Pa 66 kilometres directly to Bangkok. Phraya Borirakphuthon Amphoe Khura Buri 118 kilometres (Saeng Na Nakhon) was appointed the first ruler of Phang-nga in 1840. Later, Takua Thung Distances from Phang-nga to Nearby was made a district dependent to Phang- Provinces nga. In the reign of King Rama VII, there was Krabi 86 kilometres an economic recession, Takua Pa was made Phuket 87 kilometres another district administered by Phang-nga Surat Thani 196 kilometres province by the resolution of the Governors’ Ranong 226 kilometres Phang-nga 7 HOW TO GET THERE For further details, please contact the following Phang-nga is accessible by several routes, as airlines: follows: - Thai Airways International, Tel 0 2356 1111; By car, there are 2 routes: Phuket Office: Tel. 0 7621 1195, or Route 1: From Bangkok, take Highway No. 4 visit www.thaiairways.com. via Prachuap Khiri Khan, Chumphon, Ranong - Bangkok Airways, Tel. 1771, 0 2265 5678, 0 and enter Phang-nga, a total distance of 788 2270 6699, 0 2134 3888-9, www.bangkokair. kilometres, and taking 12 hours. com. Route 2: From Bangkok, take Highway No. 4 to - Thai Air Asia, Tel. 0 2575 9999, www.airasia. Chumphon and continue on Highway No. 41 com. via Amphoe Tha Chang, Surat Thani, turn right - Nok Air, Tel. 1318, 0 2627 2000, www.nokair. into Highway No. 401 to Amphoe Ban Ta Khun, com Surat Thani, then, turn into Highway No. 415 via - Orient Thai, Tel. 1126, 0 2229 4100-1, 0 2900 Amphoe Thap Put to Phang-nga. 9955 www.flyorientthai.com. By bus, the Transport Company Limited In addition, from Phang-nga, there are also operates daily air – conditioned buses buses to various places and provinces including on the Bangkok – Phang-nga route from Phuket, Krabi, Trang, Phatthalung, Amphoe Hat the Bangkok Southern Bus Terminal on Yai, Songkhla, Pattani, Narathiwat, Amphoe Su- Borommaratchachonnani Road, taking ngai Kolok, Amphoe Ban Ta Khun, and Amphoe approximately 10 hours. For further details, Phunphin, Surat Thani. From Amphoe Mueang please call Tel. 0 2894 6122 or call center 1490, Phang-nga, there are regular buses running www.transport.co.th. There are also buses from the market to the Customs Office Pier operated by a private company which is Lignite where boats are available to Ao Phang-nga Tour Company Limited, Tel. 0 2894 6151-2. National Park. Phang-nga Bus Terminal, Phetchakasem Road, Tel. 0 7641 2300, 0 7641 2014. ATTRACTIONS By train, the State Railway of Thailand Amphoe Mueang Phang-nga operates regular trains to Surat Thani Railway Phang-nga City (เมืองพังงา) Station, Amphoe Phunphin, Surat Thani. Visitors is a simple and peaceful provincial district have to connect to a bus for 2 hours to Phang- with magnificent mountains along the way. nga. For further information, please call the These mountains are covered with verdant Bangkok Railway Station (Hua Lamphong) at Tel. green forests, lending the town a pleasantly 1690. (Reservations can be made on the phone cool atmosphere. It has clean streets with at least 3 days in advance but not exceeding 60 low–standing buildings that still reveal the days), or visit www.railway.co.th. beauty of natural scenery, ideal for visitors who By plane, there is no direct flight to Phang- prefer a simple vacation among nature. Before nga. Visitors may fly to Phuket and connect to reaching the provincial town of Phang-nga, an a bus to Phang-nga, a distance of 58 kilometres. elephant–shaped mount known as ‘Khao Rup 8 Phang-nga Chang’, which is the province’s symbol, can be Champa Pa–Magnolia elegans. Its fauna include seen from the distance. Sumatran serow, monkey, langur, bear. Interesting Attractions within the Forest Park: Somdej Phra Srinagarindra Park Namtok Sa Nang Manora (น�้าตกสระนางมโนราห์) (สวนสมเด็จพระศรีนครินทร์) features a medium–sized pond and a small is located on Khao Chang Road off Phetchakasem waterfall with water all year round. Road, diagonally opposite the City Hall. It is a Tham Plueak Hoi (ถ�้าเปลือกหอย) is a medium– scenic park where a bronze standing statue sized cave located 1,300 metres from the Park’s of the late Princess Mother is situated in the headquarters. It houses a shell cemetery with a garden. People usually come here in the late sloping trail for an easy walk. afternoon for exercise and relaxation. Tham Khi Khangkhao (ถ�้าขี้ค้างคาว) is located 2,300 metres from the Park’s headquarters Tham Ruesi Sawan and Tham Luk Suea and of a larger size than Tham Plueak Hoi. It is (ถ�้าฤาษีสวรรค์และถ�้าลูกเสือ) a habitat of a large flock of bats, with a not so are located inside the Somdej Phra Srinagarindra steep trail suitable for walking. Park. Tham Ruesi Sawan is in front of Tham Luk Tham Kaeo (ถ�้าแก้ว) is 3 kilometres from the Suea. It is cool inside the cave, with stalagmites Park’s headquarters and 1,500 metres from and stalactites and a clear stream running Tham Khi Khangkhao, but more spacious. It through. Tham Ruesi Sawan can be walked houses beautiful stalactites and stalagmites but through from the front to the back before a guide will be needed for the walk. continuing on to Tham Luk Suea, a small cave In addition, the Park also provides a nature trail where there are some stalagmites and stalactites with natural interpretation signs of its flora and and a herd of monkeys living in the front. fauna along a distance of 2 kilometres, taking approximately 1 hour. No guide is needed. Sa Nang Manora Forest Park (วนอุทยาน Accommodation: there is no accommodation สระนางมโนราห์) available but a camping area is provided. is situated inside the Khao Thoi Nang Hong However, visitors have to bring their own tents, National Forest Reserve area in Tambon Nop sleeping gear, and camping equipment. There Pring, covering a total area of 180 rai. It has a is a restaurant in the park, which is open during topography of limestone mountains lying in 9.00 a.m.–4.30 p.m. For more details, please the Northeast– South direction covered with an contact the Head of Sa Nang Manora Forest evergreen or rain forest. The Park is very shady Park, Tambon Nop Pring, Amphoe Mueang with large trees and a stream flowing by from Phang-nga, Phang-nga 82000. the headwater forest on the mountain ridge To get there: from Phang-nga, take Highway No. down the valley to the plains. The different 4 (Phetchakasem Road) via Tambon Nop Pring. altitudes of the landscape result in many small The Park is approximately 4 kilometres from waterfalls. Many economic plants are grown the provincial town. Turn right for another 4 here; such as, Malacca teak, ironwood, and kilometres at the direction sign. Phang-nga 9 Tham Phung Chang (ถ�้าพุงช้าง) a guide is available by written appointment is located within the precincts of Wat Prachim addressed to the Head of the Phang-nga Khet, behind the City Hall on Phetchakasem Wildlife Breeding Centre.