It was starting to drizzle and the mountain was shrouded in a sea of mist, making it difficult to see the winding roads leading to Ang Ka Nature Trail nestled in Chiang Mai's Doi Inthanon National Park. There's something alluring about travelling in the rainy season, when the forest becomes green and provides a sanctuary from the heat. It's called Ang Ka, which means Crow Pond in Thai, since many crows come to bathe here.
With its swamp ecosystem, the trail is home to more than 490 different species of bird as well as rare plants and wildlife, including sphagnum moss and stunning red rhododendron which serves as a food source for the green-tailed sunbird, ashy-throated warbler, Doi Inthanon frog and Himalayan newt. This implies that the area's water bodies and streams are of high quality. In 2021, Doi Inthanon National Park and the Thai Rak Pa Foundation enhanced a 320m wooden boardwalk, allowing visitors to explore the 4,300-year-old primeval, evergreen forest that serves as the gateway to the Himalayan range.
There's also the Angkha Virtual 360 Degree app which educates people about the biodiverse ecosystem of the region and provides a virtual experience. Users can listen to the sounds of nature or zoom in and out to explore the dense foliage. A map with 11 learning stations and highlights is displayed at the entrance.
During on-site tours, visitors can also scan QR codes to find their way and acquire further details in Thai and English thanks to virtual reality technology..
