Lamphun - Khuntan Tunnel

The Doi Khuntan National Park straddles a mountain range separating the provinces of Lampang and Lamphun. As the name indicates (khun tan roughly translates into "numerous streams") there are several, but hard to reach, waterfalls in the national park.

The park also has a lot of interesting flora and fauna, which can be explored on (rough) nature trails. When trekking the 8 km trail leading to the top (1,373 meters above sea level), you will pass four camps (yaws or yutasats).

The track starts at the Khuntan railway station. It is at one end of Thailand's longest railway tunnel. The tunnel is 1,352 meters blasted through granite and it was a very costly project in terms of human sacrifice. It is said that 1,000 construction workers had died by the time the tunnel was opened for service.  The construction started in 1907 and was completed in 1918 and workers lost their lives due to work-related accidents, malaria, tigers, and internal strife.

The project started under the supervision of German Emile Eisenhofer (his ashes are at a shrine at the tunnel entrance dedicated to all those that died during the construction), but was completed by Krommaphra Kamphaengphet, a Thai engineer.  

Want a change of tracks?

The tunnel and tracks are still used - both for local commuter trains and for long distance express trains - although the technological advancements bestowed on the railway business since 1918 have not quite reached Khuntan.

Local Commuter - Next stop Lamphun City