The heart of Southeast Asia, a diverse country with more than 60 spoken languages, Siam or Thailand is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. Famous for its beautiful beaches, under water activities, ancient temples, lush mountains and unique forests, Thailand offers something for every traveler.
Besides the hustle and bustle of Bangkok and other major cities, there are a lot of serene places to explore in Thailand. One of them is Phetchaburi, a charming province in central Thailand bordering Myanmar to the west and the Gulf of Thailand to the east. Phetchaburi has stunning landscapes and mysterious forests like the Khao Nang Panthurat Forest Park, known for its folklore and iconic limestone formations that emerge out of blankets of greenery. The forest lies around 170 km south of Bangkok in the Cha-am district.
Khao Nang Panthurat is home to many species of birds and animals like Dusky Leaf Monkeys, Macaques, Racket Tailed Drongos, Kingfishers etc. A rare gecko species called Cha-am Leaf Toad Gecko (Dixonius Pawangkhanati) is endemic to this forest. It has a vibrant ecosystem of plants like cacti, ferns, bamboos, the Bodhi tree, the Yang na tree and mosses. The forest also has many caves, the most popular one being the Mayom cave which is currently closed to protect and preserve its natural features.
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The hiking trail in the forest is a 3.5 km loop trail with several view points. According to legend, a kind hearted giantess, Nang Phanthurat, once lived here. One morning, she found a child inside a golden conch shell floating in a stream. She adopted the child and raised him as her own son, disguising herself as a human. Along the trail, there is an opening between the cliffs large enough to be a mirror for a giantess. It is said that Nang Phanthurat used this place to check herself every day to ensure she continued to appear human.
The adopted child, Phra Sang was not an ordinary boy. He had magical abilities and could speak to animals, heal trees and even feel the breath of the forest spirit. Eventually, the boy discovered that his mother was not a human. Afraid of the giantess pretending to be a human, the boy ran to a holy golden pool known for its magical ability to alter one’s appearance. He bathed in the pool, and in disguise, ran away to never return again. Nang Phanthurat searched for her boy everywhere but she never found him. She eventually lost hope, became sad and died grieving for her lost son.
When news of her death reached Phra Sang, he returned and arranged for a cremation. Her gigantic body was cremated and it turned into a mountain resembling a woman lying down. The forest was hence named Khao (meaning mountain/hill in Thai) Nang Panthurat and the trail within it is called the Magical Boy Trail.
The hike begins with a short flight of steps that leads to a small spirit shrine tucked between the limestone cliffs. The shrine is decorated with guardian statues and garlands and is a place where locals pay their respects and ask for safe passage before entering the forest.
Beyond this is the aforementioned Mirror Viewpoint, the most picturesque spot in the forest, where the cliffs open up like a portal to the outside world. Then the jungle walk begins and you encounter four view points: the Lady’s glass shoe field, Sangthong’s holy well, Khok Chang view point and the Thung Setthi view point. Each stop offers its own unique scenery, from forest clearings to panoramic limestone views.
Khao Nang Panthurat Forest Park is one of the best hiking spots in Phetchaburi, offering scenic trails, unique folklore, and breathtaking viewpoints—making it a must-visit destination for anyone exploring Thailand’s natural attractions.
In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks.
John Muir
