Pink is the colour of the season at Pa Hin Ngam National Park in northeastern Chaiyaphum Province where krajiao flowers, whose botanical name is Curcuma alismatifolia, are in bloom this time of the year.

No matter which way you look, these flowers growing wild in the park spread out for miles in every direction dotting a vast meadow which indeed is a sight to behold.

The park, located in Thep Sathit district, drew 309,512 visitors in July alone last year thanks to the flowers which are also known by other names: pathumma, bua sawan (heavenly lotus) and Siam tulip. The plant bearing the flower is a member of the ginger family.

Park chief Jaruek Panmanee says the flowers flourish in the dry dipterocarp forest side by side phai phek, or dwarf bamboos, that form a cover against intense heat for the krajiao plant during the dry season until monsoon rains arrive in June, which is when they sprout from the ground and go on to bear pink flowers that remain in bloom for a period lasting two to four weeks, until August. Their flowering coincides with the annual Dok Krajiao Festival.

''The blossoming of krajiao flowers is surely the best part but we also want to encourage visitors to come here and enjoy nature other times of the year,'' said Jaruek.

To that end, the province is offering visitors a night tour to the park's Sut Phaen Din viewpoint, 846 metres above sea level, to observe the constellation of stars seldom visible in Bangkok.

It was launched last month on a trial basis, with the park chief himself doubling as tour guide, preparing for which he took a crash course in astronomy. Visitors can literally count stars in the galaxy lying in the embrace of krajiao flowers at night.

The hour-long tour available Saturday and Sunday starting 8.30pm is limited to 30 persons a night. Since there's no electricity, the only source of light when walking up the viewpoint, located on a cliff, are oil lamps and torches. For safety, there are park officers, each assigned to look after five visitors.

Visitors to Pa Hin Ngam National Park are allowed to observe but not touch the ‘krajiao’ flower, and this guard on duty all day makes sure they don’t. As the day progresses temperature rises driving away thick fog that usually hangs before noon, clearing the view for some excellent photo-taking. 

Additionally, there are plans to improve walking trails and facilitate access for the elderly and disabled people arriving on wheelchair.

''The trail leading to flowering meadows is narrow and not friendly to them. We plan to expand the trail so it is at least two metres wide and have it paved,'' Jaruek said.

Apart from the flower beds, another highlight is Lan Hin Ngam, or the forest of beautiful rocks, that occupies 10 rai on the west side of the park. It is full of rocks, big and small, of various shapes and called accordingly, such as the football World Cup rock because it is shaped like the trophy that is symbol of supermacy in the sport.

Lan Hin Ngam also needs improvement as it's difficult for senior citizens to walk up the rocky trail, and Jaruek is planning to erect signs with names of plants and trees alongside to educate visitors about characteristics of the dipterocarp forest.

White ‘krajiao’, purple chili, red cockscomb (celosia) and other flowers are on sale by the roadside as you drive to the head office after entering Pa Hin Ngam National Park. Prices are cheap and negotiable. Say, a flower/plant costs 20 baht or you can buy seven of them for 100 baht.

If you are visiting Pa Hin Ngam this month, don't forget to check out another belt of krajiao flowers 53 kilometres away at Sai Thong National Park. Here you will find krajiao khao, or the white Siam tulip which, a park officer said, would be flowering this month.

From Sai Thong you can continue to another famous stop, Mo Hin Khao in Phu Laen Kha National Park. It is Thailand's version of Stonehenge, and not far from there is yet another park, Tat Ton, noted for its waterfall. So you see, on a single trip to Chaiyaphum you can visit four national parks.

The drive time from Bangkok to Chaiyaphum is about four hours. There are several bungalows and resorts either side of the road leading to Pa Hin Ngam National Park.

The park is on Route 2354 about 13 kilometres from Ban Rai intersection in Thep Sathit district. If you are taking a Bangkok-Thep Sathit-Chaiyaphum bus, get off at the intersection and hire a motorcycle taxi to the park. 'Songthaew' service is also available there, but only at noon and 4pm.

- For Pa Hin Ngam National Park, call 044-890-105.

- Sai Thong National Park is in Nong Bua Rawe district. To get there take Route 225 from Muang district and drive for 70 kilometres; the park is seven kilometres off the highway. Call 044-738-428 for details.

- To visit Mo Hin Khao in Phu Laen Kha National Park, take Route 2051 from town and follow the road signs. The distance is about 30 kilometres.

- Tat Ton National Park is about 20 kilometres north of Chaiyaphum town. Take Route 2051 to the park. For details, call 044-853-293 and 044-853-333 .

All the parks offer accommodation. Visit www.dnp.go.th/parkreserve, www.tourismthailand.org or call 044-213-666 and 044-213-030 for more information.

At Lan Hin Ngam is this work of nature, a rock shaped like the Fifa trophy that goes to the winner of the football World Cup held every four years. Visitors fancy being photographed here, often posing in front of it as if to be holding the trophy, shaped by the erosive power of wind and rain. There are other rocks, one shaped like hen and another an elephant. A piece of advise though: remember your steps because the lack of road signs means you could easily lose your way around.

Imposing rocks at Mo Hin Khao in Phu Laen Kha National Park are the Stonehenge of Thailand. It is a bit far from the park headquarters, so the best way to get there is via Route 2051. Drive there from the town to Tat Ton National Park and turn left before the entrance and follow the road signs. The distance is about 30 kilometres and bear in mind it’s a dirt road. In the rainy season, it is best is to take a 4x4. If you drive further, you will come across more rocks, like this one shaped like an elephant.

Sut Phaen Din is the best viewpoint in Pa Hin Ngam National Park. Rising to an elevation of 846 metres, it presents great view of Sap Lanka Wildlife Sanctuary from that vantage point, and at night it is a happy hunting ground for stargazers.

The path leading to Sai Thong Waterfall in a park by the same name is a butterfly haven. The fall is a short walk from the car park, and since it isn’t raging in late June, it is ideal for children who can play in natural pools in which water has collected. The fall is about half an hour drive from Pa Hin Ngam. You can enter both parks with the same ticket if visiting them on the same day, but you need to pay up the difference in their entrance fees. The entrance fees to Sai Thong is double that of Pa Hin Ngam.

The waterfall at Tat Ton is slow going at the beginning of rainy season. It is a nice place for family outings as the park offers spacious accommodation next to the fall. The park is about 20 kilometres from town and the road is in good condition. From the car park it’s about 700 metres to the waterfall.