Pha Chor pillars, Chiang Mai province

[KTMphil]

An hour south of Chiang Mai, lies the unusual pillared canyon of Pha Chor.

Similar 30 meter high pillars can also be seen in Thailand at [FONT=open_sansregular]Phae Mueang Phi in Phrae, Phang Ta in Doi Phu Nang National Park, Phayao, or Lalu in Sra Kaew, [/FONT][FONT=open_sansregular]Pha Chor and Khew Sua Ten in Mae Wang National Park, Chiang Mai Province.


[/FONT]_DSC1672_edited by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr

 

[KTMphil]

It is believed that this was the ancient river route of the Ping River. When the Ping River changed its route, the sediment layers on the bottom of the river which had been left behind (& dried out when the river took a different route), eroded away and became this pillared, cliff canyon.


There a some dramatic pillars still standing

_DSC1670_edited by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr


Turning off of R 108 there are several paved rural roads that will take you to Pha Chor. The turn for Pha Chor still has about 3km of graded sandy dirt road.


_DSC1648 by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr



_DSC1649 by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr



They are paving the whole 5km of the Pha Chor road, starting at the attraction end, about 2km are already finished


_DSC1655_edited by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr




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5 km in and you arrive at Pha Chor, there a several places to park on dramatically different elevations


_DSC1658 by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr

 

[KTMphil]

There are steps down, for the more adventurous there's a cliff like way down


_DSC1689 by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr



To the east, very flat for a long way


_DSC1690 by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr



Quite a sight so close to Chiang Mai

_DSC1659_edited by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr

 

[KTMphil]

Some more shots of the Pha Chor pillars



_DSC1665_edited by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr





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The walk out is along the riverbed, if raining could be interesting


_DSC1687 by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr



_DSC1686 by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr

 

[KTMphil]

The road to the north (towards Chiang Mai) has just been finished and concrete all the way

_DSC1694 by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr
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_DSC1693_edited by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr



_DSC1692_edited by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr