Waterfalls of Phattalung

The Khao Kram Waterfalls

First point - I need to explain Phattalung is a small obscure province north of Hat Yai, Songkla. Very agriculture in nature i.e. like rice farming and do not boast of having interesting sites for tourist. Driving north from Hat Yai, Phatatalung is an essential junction town. If you understand Cantonese dialect - Phattalung is same as "Phat Tang Loong" or Eight Lanterns.

Just in town, the town - a settlement which is located within a vast plain of rice fields, there stand two monolith karsts Hills. One of which has structure standing out like a shark fins protruding from the rice filed. Both these Hills are shown in the aerial map below

There is a folklore behind the scenes of these two karsts hills - According to the myth, this mountain is a result from the fight between a wife and a mistress. The wife hit the mistress’ head with a shuttle while the mistress hit the wife’s chest with a pestle. The pestle hit her so hard that it went through the chest. Both were dead and became the mountain. The wife turned into “Khao AokTalu” and the mistress became “Khao HuaTaek” or “Khao Kuhasawan” which is just nearby

1 Picture Khao Ok Thalu Phattalung 

The hill on the right contains the OK Thalu - "Hole-in-the-heart" opening

2 Picture Khao Ok Thalu Phattalung 

My favorite Interstate road signs - right lane goes up a ram and turn left to head for the province of Trang while keeping left would be a right turn to go under the ram into Phattalung town.

3 Picture Khao Ok Thalu Phattalung

Across the rice fields - the two hill locks in the middle of a plain

4 Picture Khao Ok Thalu Phattalung

This lone monolith at one edge of Khao Ok Thalu contains the "hole" in the mountain

5 Picture Khao Ok Thalu Phattalung

See carefully - the see-through hole is in a spot after the middle line on the left. Only picture with a see-through

8 Picture Khao Ok Thalu Phattalung 

9 Picture Khao Ok Thalu Phattalung

View of the forest clad hills as seen from town

10 Picture Khao Ok Thalu Phattalung

11 Picture Khao Ok Thalu Phattalung

The entrance to the hike and steps

12 Picture Khao Ok Thalu Phattalung

Signage at the "old" entrance

13 Picture Khao Ok Thalu Phattalung 

The whole stairways right toeditation hermitage for Buddhist nuns. Many time restricted visitors head straight up to the top using the old way. But the locals would recommend choosing the less-demanding temple trail.

 trail.

15 Picture Khao Ok Thalu Phattalung 

After this leveled mountain plain, came the hard climb right to the top.

16 Picture Khao Ok Thalu Phattalung

On the way - Wild flowers

17 Picture Khao Ok Thalu Phattalung

Domesticated Keamperia ginger

This time around, the addition of the new meditation center is now built on top of the hill. Then a guide rope added for visitors to reach the summit of this krast hill for a panoramic view of the surrounding. Phattalung is a province off the beaten track. We were there for the waterfalls and bird watching. Climbing hills and visiting temple not included in our plans. This place - Not an interest that general tourist would go for