Location : Amphoe Mueang
is at Tambon Lam Pam, near Wat Wang. Originally a government place and the
home of the city lord, the part called Wang Kao built in the time of Phraya
Phatthalung (Noi Chantharotchanawong) when he was the provincial governor.
The palace later became the property of Mrs. Praphai Mutamara, the daughter
of Luang Si Worachat. The new palace, or Wang Mai, was built in 1889 by
Phraya Aphaiborirakchakrawichitphiphitphakdi (Net Chantharotchanawong),
the son of Phraya Phatthalung, then the provincial governor.
The Chantharotchanawong
family has given this palace to the country. The Fine Arts Department declared
it a national historical site in 1983
Location : Amphoe Mueang
or called "Phra Si Mum Mueang" is a Buddha image of
southern Thailand and
is a sacred relic of Phatthalung. It is housed in a square pavilion in an
area between the provincial hall and the provincial court. This bronze image
in the meditation posture was given to the province by His Majesty King
Bhumibol Adulyadej in 1968.
Location : Amphoe Mueang
is in Tambon Lam Pam, 6 km from the city on Highway No. 4047 (on
the same route as Khao Ok Thalu). This is an important historical site of
the province. It was built by Phraya Phatthalung (Thongkhao) in the reign
of King Rama III and was once the place where government officials performed
allegiance pledges in the early Rattanakosin period. Inside the convocation
hall are murals of dusted paint in the time of King Rama IV about the biography
of Lord Buddha and about angels. The main plaster Buddha image is from the
same period. A total of 108 images line the balcony around the building.
Location : Amphoe Mueang
is at the foot of Khao Khuha Sawan near Phatthalung market. A left-hand
road at Khao Hua Taek takes visitors to the temple. The temple was built
in the Ayutthaya period and was later upgraded to be the first royal temple
in the province. Inside the cave is a large reclining Buddha image and another
in a sitting posture. The cave walls and entrance are full of initials of
many kings and royal family members.
Location : Amphoe Khao Chai Son
is on Highway No. 4081, 7 km past Khao Chai Son district office,
in the area of Ban Bang Kaeo at km 14. A left-hand road leads to the temple. Wat Khian is situated on the bank of Songkhla Lake. This old monastery has
the sacred Phra That Bang Kaeo, built in the same style as Phra Maha That
Chedi in Nakhon Si Thammarat but smaller. This is one of the oldest historical
sites of Phatthalung, dating back to the early Ayutthaya period. It is believed
that the temple area was once the site of Phatthalung town because many
laterite ruins and Buddha images have been found here.
Location : Amphoe Mueang is
at Tha Miram intersection in Phatthalung municipality. Records show that
Phraya Thukrat was a monk named Phra Maha Chuai who resided at Wat Pa Lilai
during the reign of King Rama I. When the Nine Armies War took place, Phra
Maha Chuai rallied villagers to help Phraya Phatthalung defeat Burmese forces.
When he left the monkhood, he was appointed by the king to be Phraya Thukrat
to help the city lord. His title of Phraya was of the same level as the
city lord.
Location : Amphoe Mueang
is
the largest waterfowl reserve in Thailand. It can be reached via Highway
No. 4048 from Amphoe Mueang to Amphoe Khuan Khanun and to Thale Noi, for
a total distance of 32 km. The road is paved asphalt all the way.
The reserve is the responsibility of the Royal Forestry Department and covers
450 sq km, divided into 422 sq km of land (94%)
and 28 sq km of water (6%), or Thale Noi.
The sea is 5 km wide and 6 km long with an average depth
of 1.2 metres. The sea is covered with assorted flora such as lotus, bulrush,
reed, and grass used for thatching. More than 187 species of waterfowls,
migratory and indigenous birds make their home at Thale Noi. Some live here
throughout the year and some migrate only in winter from October to March
when the population density is at its highest.
The low season is June-September
which is the nesting period. Species that are prevalent here are those of
the heron and stork family such as yellow
bittern, great egret, painted stork, red stork; ducks such as lesser whistling
duck, cotton pygmy goose, and garganey; grebe; rails such as white-browed
crake, white-breasted waterhen, watercock, common moorhen, and Eurasian
coot; jacanas such as pheasant-tailed jacana and bronze-winged jacana; cormorants
such as great cormorant and little cormorant; black-winged stilt; Brahminy
kite; red-wattled lapwing; whiskered tern; common kingfisher; and barn swallow.
The best time to study flora and fauna is during October-March when there
is an abundance of birds and pink lotus in full bloom cover the reserve.
Moreover, tourists can visit villages and see cottage industries like reed
mat making. Thale Noi has been named the first world
wetland site in Thailand.
This aims to preserve the sustainable ecology of the area, one that is being
developed into one of the country's most important nature study centers.
As such, there is careful control of eco-tourism in Thale Noi in order to
minimize impact on the environment. Tourists can take boats from Thale Noi
pier and go on
two
routes; the first one for tourists with services by the Thale Noi community
and the second for academics and nature study by requesting permission and
guide from a reserve official. The reserve has comfortable accommodation.
For more information, please contact the Royal Forestry Department in Bangkok,
tel. 0 2579 7223, 0 2579 5734, and Thale Noi Non-hunting Area, Tel. 0 7461 5722.
Travel to Thale Noi is easy by boat and car. Access can be made from seaside
districts like Ranot, Sathing Phra and Mueang of Songkhla, and Pak Phayun,
Khuan Khanun and Mueang of Phatthalung. Visitors by train can alight at Pak
Khlong station and continue by car to Thale Noi for 8 km.
Location : Amphoe Si Banphot
is in Ban Nai Wang, Tambon Khao Pu, about 37 km from the city. Take
Highway No. 41 to Amphoe Khuan Khanun, then turn left onto Highway No. 4164
to Amphoe Si Banphot. Drive for 17 km, and then turn left for 4
km to the park headquarters. The area is still a dense jungle. Flora
here includes hardwood trees and animals are rhinoceros, tapir, monkey,
and birds. The total area is 694 sq km.
The
park has the following places of interest:
Matcha Pla Won cave
is near the park headquarters. Inside the cave are beautiful curtain-like
stalactites and stalagmites. A pond 400 of square metres is full of fish.
This pond was formed from water that flows through Khao Nai Wang. The cave
entrance is black rock and covered with shady trees.
Riang Thong waterfall
is around 3 km from Talat Khao Pu community. The source originates
from the Banthat and Nakhon Si Thammarat mountain ranges. The waterfall
is called the Hundred-level Waterfall. The loveliest level is the 13th level
where visitors can see Thale Noi and Khao Pu-Khao Ya.
Pha Phung observation point
is about 250 metres from the park headquarters. The outstanding feature
of the cliff is that during February-April of every year, bees will make
hives here numbering in the hundreds. When the rainy season comes, the bees
will abandon the hives. The observation point gives a good view of the park
and its flora.
Nature trails
are near
the park headquarters. There are 2 trails that are ideal for studying flora.
Moreover, in the area of the headquarters is a tourist service center that
is a small exhibition place for publicizing useful information for tourists.
The park has set up a good exhibition of pictures with captions, plus a
park official to help explain and answer questions. A meeting room is available
for conferences and seminars. It can hold up to 30 people. In addition,
there are about 50 tent sites around the park. For information on overnighting,
please contact the park headquarters at Mu 9, Tambon Khao Pu, Amphoe Si
Banphot, tel. 0 7461 9654.
Location : Amphoe Mueangis
about 2 km past Wat Wang on Highway No. 4047. This shady pine-fringed
beach on the bank of Songkhla Lake, the largest freshwater lake in Thailand.
In the middle of the rotary is a sculpture of a school of Lam Pam fish native
to the area. A water pavilion named Sala Lam Pam Thi Rak is ideal for viewing
the scenery. A bridge spans the beach and an islet created by sediment from
the river. In Lam Pam Lake are dolphins, which can be seen frequently.
Location : Amphoe Mueang
is in Tambon Tha Madua, approximately 33 km from Phatthalung city.
Take the Phetchakasem Road for about 20 km, turn left onto Khao
Chai Son-Chong Ke road (Highway No. 4081) and turn right at the Khao Chai
Son district office onto a laterite road for around 5 km to the
site. There are hired motorcycles in front of the office. Khlong Hu Rae
is a wide canal with clear water. The canal bed is sandy, with rocks in
the deeper parts. The canal is ideal for rest and swimming. Food stalls
and restaurants provide good food for tourists.
Location : Si Nakharin sudistrict
is at Tambon Ban Na, 27 km from Phatthalung city on Highway No.
4. The park has an area of 167 sq km, covering Trang, Songkhla
and Satun. The topography is mountainous. It is a watershed of several rivers
and the home to many valuable plants.
Location : Si Nakharin sudistrict
is at Tambon Ban Na, about 21 km from Phatthalung city on the
Phatthalung-Trang
road (Phetchakasem Highway No. 4). The cave is about 500 metres from the
road. The cave features stalagmites and stalactites, as well as a huge hall
that is a natural work of art. The cave has two levels; the first is on
level ground whereas the second is underground. The cave houses many Buddha
images in different postures. Apart from its natural tranquility, the cave
is noteworthy as a famous place for meditation.
Location : Si Nakharin sudistrict
is in Mu 4, Tambon Ban Na, on the same way to Khao Khram waterfall. It is
about 3 km from Highway No. 4 (Phetchakasem Road).
Location : Amphoe Khao Chai Son
can be reached by driving southerly from the province on Highway No. 4 for
25 km to Km. 47 (Ban Tha Nang Phrom), then turn left onto Highway
No. 4081 to Amphoe Khao Chai Son for 7 km. At Sukhaphiban Road,
Soi 2 next to the district office is an asphalt road on the right-hand side.
Take that road for 1 kilometre to Khao Chai Son cliff. The spring area is
a recreation site. About 300 metres further is Wat Bo Nam Ron. The hot spring
is believed to be holy in that spring water can cure a few ailments.
Location : Amphoe Khao Chai Son
is at Tambon Chong Thanon. To get there from Amphoe Mueang, drive along
Phetchakasem
Road and turn left past Khao Chai Son for 12 km. The total distance
is about 39 km. Laem Chong Thanon is a fisherman's village on a
dirt hill that slopes down to Songkhla Lake that has saline water. The village
has a good view of islands and the surrounding area.
Location : Amphoe Tamotis
Also called Namtok Mom Chui, this waterfall is 12 km from the district
office. Take Highway No. 4121 and Highway No. 4137 (south of Phatthalung
city) from Highway No. 4 all the way to Wat Tamot. The waterfall is located
in Tamot Wildlife Protection Unit, about 4-5 km past the temple.
The waterfall is in the middle of a lush forest. The waterfall falls down
several levels that have different names to a pool below. A wide rock plateau
is suitable for relaxation.
Location : Amphoe Kong Ra
is in Ban Phut Forest Protection Unit in Khao Banthat Wildlife Reserve,
Tambon Khlong Chaloem. To get there, go from Khlong Muai by the Tambon Lam
Sin-Ban Kong Ra road (Highway No. 4122) for about 20 km. The waterfall
entrance is to the west about 3 km away. This is a large waterfall
with serene natural surroundings that are rich in tropical flora. A parking
area and a restaurant are available.
Location : Amphoe Kong Ra
can be accessed from Wat Khuha Sawan by taking Highway No. 4047. Khao Ok
Thalu rises majestically east of the train station. This mountain is a symbol
of the province. It is about 250 metres high. Stairs lead up to the summit
where visitors can get a panoramic view of the province. The name of the
mountain derives from a hole near the top that allows people to see through
it.
Location : Amphoe Pak Phayun
is in Songkhla Lake and can be reached by leaving from Tambon Lam Pam pier
(25 km) or Pak Phayun pier (10 km). The traveling time is
about 1 hour. The islands are home of flocks of sea swallows, so many that
they are called Koh Rang Nok (bird's nest island). Concessions are given
out for the collection of the nests for sale. The natural beauty of the
islands is one of the finest in Phatthalung. King Rama V once visited here
and left his initials on a cliff. Nearby is a monument of him. As Koh Si
and Koh Ha are concession areas of the private sector, permission must first
be obtained in Pak Phayun district.
Location : Amphoe Mueangis
at Mu 1, Ban Bang Kaeo, Tambon Tha Madua. It is about 9 km from
the Phetchakasem-railway intersection and 200 metres from the railway to
the center. The total distance from Phatthalung city to the village is about
36 kilometres. The village has 25 members, all of whom make shadow play
figures from hides in various styles made to order. The work is delicate
and beautiful. The products are sold nationwide and exported to about 16
countries. For persons interested in seeing and buying shadow play products,
please contact Mr. Im Chanchum, the center's president, or the Amphoe Bang
Kaeo Community Development Office at tel. 0 7469 7380.
Location : Amphoe Mueangis
Ban Khok Wua, Tambon Chai Buri, Amphoe Mueang. The village is about 6 km
from the city on the road from Sai Yuan intersection. The village is famous
for making products from coconut shells, now called the Million Baht Coconut
Shell Village. The community leader, Mr. Plum Chukhong, pioneered the idea
of getting villagers to make products from coconut shells that can be found
locally. Products include kitchenware, household items and decorations.
Eventually over 100 households began such an industry and later received
support from the Industrial Promotion Department. Popular items are spoons,
coffee cups, mugs, ladles, plates, bowls, lamps, and other decorations sold
domestically and to 16 countries worldwide. Visitors interested in seeing
demonstrations and buying products can contact Mr. Plum Chukhong, No. 42,
Mu 1, Ban Khok Wua, Tambon Chai Buri, tel. 0 1465 5751.
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