FESTIVALS
Loi Krathong Sai
,Thailand’s lovely annual “Festival of Lights” on the full moon night in November, is celebrated in a unique manner in Tak. Local people thread together their krathongs which are launched simultaneously and appear as lighted necklaces on the Ping River.
Taksin Maharachanuson Fair
Celebrated annually from December 28-January 3 at the Taksin Shrine and provincial sports field, the fair features religious ceremonial and processions, displays and nightly folk entertainment.
|
|
Welcome to Tak
Source: Tourism Authority of Thailand
General
Tak is a northern province covering an area of 16,406 largely mountainous square kilometres. The provincial capital is 426 kilometres north of Bangkok, and is situated on the Ping river basin. To the west, the border touches on Myanmar demarcated by mountain ranges and the Moei River.
Administratively, Tak is divided into the following districts: Muang Tak, Ban Tak, Sam Ngao, Mae Sot, Mae Ramat, Tha Song Yang, Umphang, Phop Phra and Wang Chao.
Attractions
Khao Tham
Khao Tham Located in Tambon Mai Ngam, this 71-metre rocky hillock, near Phahonyothin Highway, contains replicas of the Lord Buddha’s Footprint on the summit. Tak residents pay homage throughout the year, most particularly during Songkran, which marks the traditional Thai New Year each April 13.
King Taksin the Great Shrine
King Taksin the Great Shrine Located on Charot Withithong Road, this statue of Tak’s most famous native son (1734-1782) is the site of an annual fair from December 28 until January 3. King Taksin was the Thai monarch who expelled the Burmese from Thailand after the 1767 destruction of Ayutthaya as the Thai capital.
Lan Sang National Park
Lan Sang National Park Located on the Tak-Mae Sot Highway (Route 105), 17 kilometres from Tak city, and accessed by a 3-kilometre road, the park contains the scenic Lan Sang and Pha Phung waterfalls. Accommodation is available.
Mani Banphot Swamp
Mani Banphot Swamp This scenic, extensive area within the heart of Tak city is located near Wat Mani Banphot on Phahonyothin Highway. Inside the temple, a Chiang Saen Buddha image dating from the late 1200s is enshrined.
Taksin Maharat National Park
Taksin Maharat National Park Originally named Krabak Yai National Park, after the name of Thailand’s biggest tree, this 37,250-acre national park is located 2 kilometres off the Tak-Mae Sot Highway, some 26 kilometres from Tak city. The mountainous area has several scenic viewpoints, evergreen forest, waterfalls and streams. Accommodation, primarily in the form of bungalows and camp sites, is available.
Transportation
Bus
Air-conditioned buses depart from Bangkok’s Mochit 2 Bus Terminal to Tak between 5 a.m. and 10 p.m. every day. The journey takes 6 hours. Call 0 2936 2852-66 or visit www.transport.co.th for more information. Private bus companies which operate daily bus services to Tak are such as Thanchit Tour (Tel: 0 2551 1307), Choet Chai Tour (Tel: 0 2551 1054).
Car
From Bangkok, take Highway No. 1 (Phahonyothin) and Highway No. 32 to Nakhon Sawan via Ayutthaya, Ang Thong, Sing Buri, Chai Nat, then turn into Highway No. 1 again and proceed to Tak via Kamphaeng Phet, a total distance of 426 kilometres.
Train
There are no trains going directly to Sukhothai. One may travel by train to Phitsanulok and then take a local bus to Tak. Contact Bangkok Railway Station Tel. 1690, 0223 7010, 0 2223 7020 or visit www.srt.or.th for more information.
Air
Bangkok Airways flies from Bangkok to Mae Sot , 86 kilometres from Tak. For more information, call 0 2229 3456–63 or 0 5564 7225-6 or visit www.bangkokair.com.
Air Andaman provides daily flight services from Bangkok to Mae Sot and several flights Chiang Mai to Mae Sot. For more information, contact their Bangkok office at tel. 0 2996 9119 or view their website at www.airandaman.com.
|
|
|
