04/04/2026
Khao Sok National Park was established in B.E. 1980 under the supervision of the National Park Network and a wildlife sanctuary covering an area of more than 4,000 square kilometers. which is the second largest in Thailand It is a national park in the south of the country covered by some of the world's oldest rainforest areas. The distance is longer than 739 kilometers, covering the entire forest area. and the Ratchaprapha Dam area, commonly known as “Cheow Lan Dam” is a place with extremely interesting biodiversity. with a variety of plants and trees Including being a habitat for over 48 species of mammals, over 311 species of birds, reptiles and countless other insects Moreover, the limestone mountain range that stretches high and low Some of which are as high as 1,000 meters, challenging the eye and impressing visitors.
Geological studies of the beautiful rock formations of the Khao Sok Range reveal that the coral reefs stretched across Asia during the Permian period (between 280-255 million years ago). This has been shown to be about five times the size of the Great Barrier Reef, Australia. This reef stretches between Borneo and China through Thailand and the rest of Southeast Asia. Climbers have also found fossils in the sea on Mount Karst, a rugged limestone mountain range that resembles coral reefs. It was evident that the cliffs towering above the forest floor were once submerged under the ocean. Humans and other mammals are believed to have migrated to Khao Sok during the Ice Age about 37,000 years ago. The shallower sea levels allow mammals to migrate freely between Borneo, Sumatra, Chao, Malaysia. and the southern part of Thailand
About 5,000 years later, during the heyday of the Srivijaya Kingdom, which covered Sumatra, Java and Southern Thailand. This is a very famous and popular sailing route. Because it is a port with a shipbuilding point able to transport goods between China. through many countries to countries in Europe For example, a commercial giant like India to ship goods to China would have to pass through the Strait of Malacca, which would require a long detour and beware of a large number of pirates. Some merchants sailed to Takuapa Port. and the port of Ranong, which was the northern part of the Srivijaya Kingdom in those days and employed local people to transport goods by elephants in order to bring the goods on a boat to cruise along the Klong Sok River across the other side of the Maha Samut before sailing to China which made the Srivijaya Empire at that time receive substantial taxes from the transportation of goods These events may be assumed from many ancient artifacts found in caves and along the Klong Sok River, such as fragments of Persian pottery. and coins of Indians and Arabs
In 1785, the Burmese army launched a massive attack on western Thailand. Causing Thai people to flee from the war to live in the high mountains and dense forests to settle in Khao Sok. Due to its abundance and the Khlong Sok River flowing through it, people are engaged in agriculture for their livelihood. Including the extortion of protection costs for people from Khiri Rat at that time who had to travel to Takua Pa to trade. With abundance, more people immigrated to live together. Pigs are raised for sale. but in the year 1944 Smallpox epidemic was severe in the region. The distance caused many people to die. The survivors were frightened and emigrated. and dubbed this area as "Ban Sop" or "Khao Sop", which may mean "Village of the Dead" and "Mountain of Corpses" Therefore, no more people dared to settle here. Which later changed to "Khao Sok" to this day
In 1950, a number of people came to Khao Sok when it came to tin mining. Later in the year 2503 Road No. 401 was cut from Surat - Khao Sok - Takua Pa - Phang Nga. which affects natural resources Mountains were blown up and many trees were cut down. But this forest's richness was not exhausted. Ten years later, communists and students fled from political protests in Bangkok and settled in caves in the thick jungle to avoid government surveillance in the country. that time Whether it's a landscape of high and low mountains covered with dense rainforest, making it difficult to capture. Military operations to capture communist groups and students fleeing the insurgency have made logging, forest sales and mining difficult without anyone. Daring to do so, as a result, the natural resources in the Khao Sok area remain abundant.
Shortly thereafter amnesty was granted to the insurgents. and establishing Khao Sok National Park to conserve forests and wildlife to remain fertile in the future But in just a few years, the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand was given permission to build a 94-metre-high dam blocking the Khlong Saeng River, flooding more than 20% of the park's forest area. Resulting in many villages being submerged under the vast water. Many people were forced to migrate under government relocation, which later became controversial. The impact of the dams has also led to the extinction of 52 species of freshwater fish and many other animals, such as the Javan red and the Gurney tatra. Even though there is quite a bit of damage from the dam, but after that this lake has become a beautiful tourist destination. There are floating bungalows, fishing villages, several trekking routes, viewpoints, coral caves, diamond caves and waterfalls. creates excitement and impressions on all tourists until it becomes a famous tourist destination to this day
