Phu Kradueng ( th, ภูกระดึง), is a high mountain in
Loei Province,
Thailand. It is in
Phu Kradueng District, giving its name to the district. Its west side borders
Nam Nao District of
Phetchabun Province. This mountain is part of the
Phetchabun Mountains
The Phetchabun mountains ( th, ทิวเขาเพชรบูรณ์, , ) are a mountain massif in Phetchabun, Phitsanulok, Loei and Chaiyaphum Provinces, Thailand. It consists of two parallel mountain chains, with the valley of the ...
, a massif forming a natural boundary between
North Thailand and
Isan.
Phu Kradueng rises nine kilometres west of
Highway 201.
Description
The name of the mountain comes stems from its silhouette looks like a large
bell ( th, กระดึง; ''kradueng''). There is also a local legend that a mysterious bell sound, believed to be the bell of
Indra
Indra (; Sanskrit: इन्द्र) is the king of the devas (god-like deities) and Svarga (heaven) in Hindu mythology. He is associated with the sky, lightning, weather, thunder, storms, rains, river flows, and war. volumes/ref> I ...
, can be heard in the area of the mountain.
Phu Kradueng seen from above is heart-shaped. It has a relatively flat plain on its top, sloping slightly to the north. The summit, in the southwestern part of the plateau, is inconspicuous. The western, southern, and eastern edges of the mountain have a fairly regular shape and are formed by abrupt sandstone cliffs, while the northwestern corner is deeply indented, containing a number of streams and seasonal
waterfalls.
Geologically, Phu Kradueng is formed by
Jurassic and
Cretaceous sandstone. Large parts of the mountain are covered in mixed
evergreen forest. At the base of the mountain
deciduous Dipterocarp forest dominates. Dry evergreen forest follow hill evergreen forests with
bamboo clumps at higher altitudes. There are wide stretches of grasslands mixed with
pine trees at the top.
Protected area
Phu Kradueng National Park
Phu Kradueng National Park ( th, อุทยานแห่งชาติภูกระดึง), in the Si Than sub-district of Amphoe Phu Kradueng, Loei Province, is one of the best known national parks of Thailand. It has a high point ...
is in the area around the mountain. Average daily temperature is 20 °C in the daytime. Between December and January, the nightly temperature can sink to 0 °C. The mountaintop is covered in mist both during the
rainy season as well as during the cooler months. The park is closed to visitors during the rainy season (1 June - 30 September).
Phu Kradung Mountain
/ref>
See also
* List of mountains in Thailand
*Phu Kradueng National Park
Phu Kradueng National Park ( th, อุทยานแห่งชาติภูกระดึง), in the Si Than sub-district of Amphoe Phu Kradueng, Loei Province, is one of the best known national parks of Thailand. It has a high point ...
* Loei Province
References
External links
Thai geography: Isan northern and eastern riparian belt
Kradueng National Park
Geography of Loei province
Mountains of Thailand">Geography of Loei province">Kradueng National Park
Geography of Loei province
Mountains of Thailand
Phetchabun Mountains