Welcome, intrepid explorers and history enthusiasts, to a recently unveiled treasure in the midst of Thailand’s verdant landscapes: the Khao Puang mountain range, tucked within the Phatthana Nikhom district of Lop Buri province. This marvelous discovery sings tales of the past in sandstone and whispers legends amidst the foliage. Let me guide you through this mesmerizing site, which has elegantly unveiled its secrets to a team of curious officials, led by none other than the Phatthana Nikhom district chief, the venerable Rattapon Turaphan.
In a journey that marries both serendipity and intent, District Chief Rattapon, in the company of his dedicated team from the Khok Salung tambon administrative organisation (TAO), joined forces with the Royal Forest Department—with the very essence of history as their compass. Their late-month exploration pierced through the heart of tambon Khok Salung, a place where even the air seems to resonate with untold stories.
Amidst the tranquillity of the surrounding forest, they stumbled upon a hidden jewel—a mound of sandstone, which, through the eyes of the artful and diligent, had once been sculpted into breathtaking carvings. These artefacts were woven into the very fabric of the mountain range, accompanied by a curious assembly of square and cylindrical stones that lay scattered like a coded message from antiquity. Thanompong Sungthoop, the spirited chief of the Khao Phraya Doen Thong project, shared his insights as they tiptoed around the vestiges of a past civilization.
Although the chapters from history’s book have yet to be fully read regarding the age of this site, the markings upon the hewn stones hint at the touch of ancient Khmer craftsmanship—a marker of the profound and enigmatic culture that once flourished across these lands. Mr. Thanompong’s belief that they have come upon a fragment of a bygone trade route paints a vivid image of merchants and artisans threading the paths from Si Thep, an eminent city at the zenith from the 6th to the 10th centuries AD, towards the regal resplendence of the Lavo Kingdom, the very heart of today’s Lop Buri, from the 7th to the 14th centuries.
But the tale does not end here, dear readers. In a twist that entwines the past with the present, Ratchapon Auesalung, the esteemed chairman of the Khok Salung TAO, mused on the abundant local products of Khok Salung village—from the rustic charm of tobacco to the versatility of palm leaves. These humble tokens from nature not only serve as sustenance but also as silent narrators of a history rich and live, awaiting to be delved into.
Driven by a vision to bridge epochs and invite the world to witness the splendor of these discoveries, the authorities have set the wheels in motion to cultivate this site as a gleaming new beacon of tourism. Picture this: the Khao Puang mountain range as not just a snapshot in a traveler’s itinerary, but a canvas where time stands still, allowing history to leap forth from the stones and fill our senses.
So gear up, dear wayfarers, for Lop Buri is extending an invitation to step into a realm where every grain of sandstone holds a narrative, every whispering leaf chants a lullaby of the aeons, and every visit promises to be an indelible journey through time. The Khao Puang mountain range awaits, not just to tell tales, but to enchant you into its timeless embrace.
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