Erawan National Park Waterfall Closed After Tourists Injured

BANGKOK – Officials at Erawan National Park in western Thailand have temporarily closed the waterfalls after heavy rains damaged a path to higher tiers.

The head of the Erawan National Park, Porayut Waiwong,said on Monday that days of heavy rain had pounded the waterfall and damaged the paths.

The steep, rocky pathways at Erawan National Park Falls had become muddy and slippery, making it unsafe for visitors.

On Sunday, several tourists were injured on the muddy path, prompting the national park to temporarily close.

Slippery Pathways Dangerous for Tourists

The chief said the continuous rain had not yet caused the water volume to rise to dangerous levels or caused runoffs.

Visitors were allowed to enter the Erawan National Park waterfall, but their access was temporarily limited.

After the damaged path between tier 6 and tier 7 had been repaired.

Its Facebook page showed a clip featuring many Thai and foreign tourists at the popular waterfall on Monday despite the temporary closure of the two highest tiers.

A post on the Erawan National Park Facebook page says access to all levels of the waterfall should be restored by Tuesday.

Erawan National Park Waterfalls

Founded in 1975 as Thailands 12th National Park, it is covering an area of km². Located on West Thailand in the Tenasserim Hills of Kanchanaburi Province. It is one of the most famous national parks in Thailand.

The major attraction of the park is Erawan Falls with emerald green ponds, named after the three-headed white elephant of Hindu mythology. The top tier of the falls is said to resemble the elephant’s head.

81% of the park is mixed deciduous forests and the rest deciduous dipterocarp and dry evergreen forest. The park concists of limestone hills with elevetion between 165-996m above the sea level, plains and number of streams. The hills protects the park from eastern monsoon resulting in less rainfall in average.

The Waterfall are located at the east side of the park in a convenient walk distance from HQ and the visitor center.

Three Headed White Elephant

The waterfall is named after the top tier which said to be resembling three-headed white elephant in Hindu mythology.

It has 7 major tiers and few smaller tiers. All tiers are accessible by a series of trails and footbridges all the way up to the 6th tier. Last tier is accessible by scrambling up to few cliffs, for those who like a bit more challenge.

The total distanse from the trailhead up to the top tier is nearly 1.5 km. There are many emerald green ponds along the trails which the visitors are allowed to swim in. The ponds are full with fishes.

The first two tiers are relatively easily accessible for most people there are few picnic spots around them.

Food is strictly forbidden beyond the second tier.Visitors must leave their food and bottles at a check point and can be collected on the way back.

Source: Bangkok Post