There’s a new attraction north of Chiang Mai that only locals seem to know about. Fortunately, I am blessed to have wonderful Thai friends who invite me along on day trips around northern Thailand. Most recently they introduced me to Dantewada Land of Angels Waterfall Park, a man made attraction with two massive waterfalls, caves, exquisitely planted flower gardens, a coffee shop, and a cafe with delicious food.
Our first stop was the coffee shop near the entrance. While waiting for iced coffee drinks, we posed in front of gorgeous works of art that decorated the walls. Angels with halos paid homage to the park’s name, while other scenes depicted stately peacocks, jagged mountain landscapes, and serene Buddhas in lotus poses. Outside, we climbed to the upper level and discovered a second seating area, complete with stained glass walls and images of the Buddha. Best of all, a platform surrounding the upper level looked down upon a complex of waterfalls, which I photographed at a slow speed to bring out the “cotton-candy” effect of the rushing water.
We began our exploration of the park on paved trails that wound through tall stands of trees. A burbling stream played hide and seek with us. Sometimes it disappeared altogether, only to reemerge at the top of a giant boulder and tumble down to out feet. At the edge of the forested area, raised platforms overlooked acres of blooming flowers, beyond which the main waterfall cascaded down a four-story high mountain.
After snapping photos of one another lounging in heart and crescent moon-shaped wicker chairs, we descended into fields of hot pink Cosmos, yellow Marigolds, white Shasta daisies, violet Lupine, and rows of Cock’s Combs in fire-engine red, orange, and gold. Everywhere, people were crouched among the blossoms snapping photos. We soon joined them and spent half an hour trying to capture perfect, flower-strewn portraits of one another. When we tired of shooting photos, we ducked inside the mountain and hopped between stepping-stones to dodge spray from mini-cataracts.
Hot and tired (and slightly damp), we retired to the on-site cafe for lunch. Many of you have heard me rave about Thai food. I eat it almost every day. So believe me when I say that the Pad See Ew at this cafe was the best I’ve ever had. I’d go back again just to eat there. The waterfalls, caves, and gardens are a bonus!
Dantewada Land of Angels Waterfall Park is located at Located at 288 Moo 2, in the San Maha Phon Subdistrict of Mae Taeng District, in Chiang Mai Province. It takes about 45 minutes to drive there from Chiang Mai, so it’s perfect for a day trip from Chiang Mai. Take Route 107 north and pass the turnoff to Pai (Route 1095). A few miles further, you will see a branch of the Government Savings Bank on the left side of the road. Turn left here, on the road just past the bank. The park is a short distance down the small lane, on the right-hand side. Parking is available in a lot just past the park, on the opposite side of the street. The entrance fee is 60 baht (about $2 USD). Hours of operation are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week. Their Facebook Page is in Thai, but Google translate works pretty well.
