Ban Na - Tha Dan

Nakhon Nayok is just an hour's drive from Bangkok. So you might probably be well familiar with most of its attractions. But did you know about the province's back roads that make visiting those attractions even more fun? Well, follow me.

From Highway 305 (Rangsit-Nakhon Nayok) turn left onto the 3051 towards Ban Na. When you reach Ban Na's main intersection, go straight and you'll be on the Rural Highway 2003. By then you should see the signs telling you the way to Namtok Kra Ang which is 13 kilometres up the road.

Three kilometres before the waterfall, look on your right and you'll see another road, Rural Highway 5017. That's the road to the Armed Forces Academies Preparatory School from where you can drive on, past a golf course, to the Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy.

Now continue through the Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy and exit at its Pom Khao Noi gate. Ask any of the soldiers there about the shortcut nearby that leads to Wat Somboon Samakkhee. Three kilometres from the gate along that road, you'll find a Y-intersection. To get to the flower farm, turn left for a few hundred metres. You'll find the farm's sign and driveway on the left-hand side.

To get to the rest of today's route, turn right at the Y-intersection and then, just a kilometre or so from there, turn left onto Rural Highway 2009.

After almost eight kilometres, your small road will meet with Highway 3049 at Pracha Kasem intersection. To reach Sarika Waterfall you have to drive three kilometres up the 3049 and then shift to 3050. If you keep on the 3049, you'll find other well-known places like Wang Takrai Water Park, Nang Rong Waterfall and Tha Dan Dam with no problem.

As for the offroad trail to Khlong Madua, you have to veer off from the 3049 at Ban Dong School, about four kilometres from where the 3050 meets the 3049. From Ban Dong School, go toward Hua Khao Kaew School. After a while from there, you'll find an old metal gate where the asphalt surface ends. To reach Khlong Madua, drive through that gate.
Bangkok Post January 06 www.bangkokpost.com