Elevation 1,316 m (4,318 ft) Parent range Phetchabun Mountains First ascent Unknown | Location Loei, Thailand Mountain type sandstone | |
 | ||
Easiest route drive until the base, then hike | ||
Phu Kradueng (Thai: ภูกระดึง), is a 1316 m high mountain in Loei Province, Thailand. It is located in Phu Kradueng District, giving its name to the district, but its western side borders with Nam Nao District of Phetchabun Province. This mountain is part of the Phetchabun Mountains, a massif forming a natural boundary between North Thailand and Isaan.
Contents
Phu Kradueng rises 9 km west of Highway 201.
DescriptionEdit
The name of the mountain comes from the fact that its silhouette seen from afar has the shape of a large bell (Thai: กระดึง; Kradueng). There is also a local legend that a mysterious bell sound, believed to be the bell of Indra, 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, located 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 areaEdit
The Phu Kradueng National Park is located in the area around the mountain. Phu Kradueng is a popular camping spot for Thai people and the temperature of the plateau at the top is chilly, which is pleasant during the hot season. Average daily temperature is 20 °C in the daytime. Between December and January the nightly temperature can sink to 2 °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).