Sao Din Na Noi & Kok Sua , Earth Pillar and the Tiger’s Den
Sao Din Na Noi is in Si nan National Park. It is an area that covers 50 rai (approx. 20 acres). It is a pillar of earth and stone that looks similar to one in Prae province. Geologists presume that earth and stone falling on top of each other when the earth’s crust moves caused Sao Din Na Noi and other similar structures. When crusts move, it causes the land above to collapse or breakdown giving birth to weird looking structures. Wind, rain, and other natural forces, help shaped these structures into spheres, cones, pillars, etc. over millions of years. Some structures are massive walls of earth scattered everywhere.
The elders who live in the area used to call this place by a different name. Some call it “Poo Kieaw” or “Ebod”. Story goes that two of these men were sitting in the woods nearby the structures, and then it suddenly collapsed killing them both. Over time the earth has grown into a pillar that the elders refer to as “the pillar”.
Other elders say that the area used to be the city of Nagas or an underwater city. A few other believe that it used to be a settlement for cavemen in the stone ages since stone bracelets and axes were found in this area. These artifacts are stored in the National Museum of Nan (Nan National Museum).
Not far from Sao Din Na Noi, is Kok Sua or the Tiger’s Den. Don’t worry, there are no more tigers in the park. Kok Sua resembles a very large hole in the ground caused by the ground sinking. History says that tigers once inhabited this area hunting cows, buffaloes, and pigs of the villagers that lived in the area. Over time the villagers gathered their forces to chase away the tigers into the hole, then kill them with stones and spears made of wood. Thus giving the name Kok Sua to the area, meaning tiger’s den