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Si
Thep Historical Park
Some 130 kilometres south of Phetchabun on
Highway No. 21, and with another 9 kilometres after a left
turn, is the Si Thep Historical Park. Si Thep is an ancient
town where many architectural structures still remain indicative
of its past prosperity during the 11th-18th Buddhist Centuries.
It was once the centre of contact between the Dvaravati kingdom
in the Central Plain basin and the Khmer kingdom in the Northeast.
A twin-city, there were over one hundred ancient sites all
built with bricks and laterite, most of which have crumbled.
There are also remains of several ponds spread out all over
the area. Most of the ancient relics recovered are parts of
architectural nature such as elaborate lintels, plastered
designs and Sema stone (used to mark out limits of Buddhist
temples) and human skeletons still adorned with ornamental
pieces.
Tat Mok National Park
The Tat Mok National Park has a huge waterfall
fed by streams flowing down cracks and crevices of the mountains
creating a beautiful 12-level fall. On both sides of the trails
leading up to it are large, shady trees providing a pleasant
surrounding. To reach the park, take off from town past the
town hall to the east for some 15 kilometres to Ban Chaliang
Lap. Then take a right turn onto Highway No. 2275. After just
300 metres is a left fork leading to an access on to steep
slope for a distance of 20 kilometres. From here another 1.8
kilometres on foot to arrive at the waterfall.
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