Thalenoi is a large freshwater lake covering about 30 square kilometers, located in Tambon Panang Tung and Tambon Thalenoi of Khuan Khanoon district, Phatthalung Province. It is a water source with abundant of fishes. Klong Nang Riam (Nang Riam canal) is a natural waterway linking Thalenoi with Songkhla Lake. On the West of Thalenoi is habitation while on the East, North, and South are tropical rain forest and swamps with variety of plants such as swamp tea forest, Indian Oak, Indian coral tree, etc.

It is the Habitat for many animals such as Crab-eating macaque, civet, otter, fishing cat, and variety of wild birds including aquatic plants such as water lily, water hyacinth, floating mass, seaweed, and fishes and shrimps that are great feeding to the wild birds. The surrounding of Thalenoi is grasses and thick forest that are good habitation for some 287 species of birds such as wild duck, painted stork, pelican, seagull, kingfisher, purple heron, Back crowned Night Heron, watercock, Black-winged Stilt, Bronze-winged Jacana, Purple Swamphen, White-breasted Waterhen, greater coucal, crake, hawk, egret, etc.

There will be a lot of birds during January - April. For sustainable administration and management on natural resources of Thalenoi, it was set up as a waterfowl park and was announced to be a non-hunting area on 18 February 1975.

After Thailand joined in Ramsar Convention on Wetlands ranked 110 that became effectively since 13 September 1998 by submitting Khuan Khee Sian of Thalenoi Non-hunting Area of Thatthalung to be the first Ramsar Site of Thailand that has been in international obligations of fertility of Thalenoi.

Nowadays, Thalenoi is a significant attraction in Southern Thailand. Tourist from other provinces and from other countries visit it due to its fame of diversity in ecology and restful nature including water lily that is the symbol of Thalenoi.

Empower community by travelling

Phatthalung is an ancient province in the South of Thailand. It is regarded as a birthplace of the Nora dance and Nang Talung, the shadow puppet play. Phatthalung owns the beautiful natural reserve – Talay Noi. It is a large Lake with many local plants, migratory birds and indigenous birds. People can enjoy spotting them.From ancient times to the present, Phatthalung has been closely linked to Songkhla Province, particularly in terms of geography, History and migratory settlements. During the Srivijaya period (around the 7th century CE.) the Phatthalung community received Indian cultural influence in the way of Mahayana Buddhism. In the reign of King Ramathibodi I (U Thong) of Ayutthaya, Phatthalung became one of twelve royal cities.

Pakpra Canal

"Yor Yak" at Khlong Pakpra (Large dip net at Pakpra Canal

Khlong Pakpra is a canal since the old time. It is habitat of local people of Songkhla Lake Basin where has been fertile with natural resources and environment. Moreover, it used to be a gateway to Muang Chaiburi once where is the route for cargo ships and waterway transportation. It is now famous of its local "Yor Yak" and the morning scenery with rural life.

Purple Swamphen

It eats aquatic plant, plant seed, fruit, shell, and insect. It also steals other bird’s egg and the chick to eat.

Asian Open Bill Stork

The Asian openbill feeds mainly on large molluscs, especially Pila species, and they separate the shell from the body of the snail using the tip of the beak. The tip of the lower mandible of the beak is often twisted to the right.

Square dip Net

Fishing by square dip net in Patthalung,south of Thailand

Sungyot Rice, the first GI rice of Thailand

Sunyot Rice is a local seed of Phatthalung, has been popular to grow in the local for many generations. Farmers in Phatthalung have been growing this certain seeds.

Regarding to the information from Plant Varieties Protection Division mentioned that Sungyot Rice is a lowland rice with prominent character and its quality satisfied the people of Phatthalung.

Sungyot Rice is of a unique identity that its membrane covering the seed is white with pale to dark red and softer after cooked with aromatic scent and sweet taste while its color turned red. It is easy to digest, suitable for elder people and health carers. This kind of rice is farmed in Phatthalung, especially in Muang district, Khuan Khanoon district, Bang Keaw district, and Khao Chaison district.

Moreover Sungyot Rice is also the pride of Phatthalung because it is the geographical indication (GI) in following to the Act on Protection of Geographical Indication B.E.2546 under the name "Sungyot Rice Muang Phatthalung". That has been the first GI rice of Thailand. It is the inherited wisdom from the ancestors that has been protected for the communities that produce Sungyot Rice in Phatthalung.

Benefits from Sungyot Rice

* It contains a lot of fiber that is good to health. The fiber of brown rice is soluble in water and help to decrease LDL cholesterol which causes Coronary disease. Besides high fiber, Sungyot Rice has folic acid that is good to heart and full with potassium that helps to control blood pressure.

* It contains high vitamin E that other kinds of rice (researches guaranteed). Vitamin E helps on skin nourishment and brighten skin.

* It contains more protein, iron and phosphorus than other rices. That nutrients helps on blood circulation that makes skin brightened and strong. It also prevent from memory lapse becasue the vitamin E in Sungyot Rice Muang Phatthalung is Gamma Oryzanol with other anti-oxidants.

* It contains high niacin (B3) that is important to skin and nerve. Without this niacin, "Pellagra" may occur that causes memory disorders and eczema.

* The red color of Sungyot Rice is Flavonoid of Anthocyanins which is the antioxidant. It helps to delay aging and reduce risk of illnesses

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Local Festivals

Tenth Lunar Month Festival It is locally called "Wan ChingPret" which was influenced by Brahman belief with Buddhism.

The festival is held with essential purpose in dedication to the passed away ancestors and relatives that would be released from the hell on the first waning moon day in the tenth month. They would be released to ask for merit from descendants and relatives that prepare for them. The spirits of the passed away would have to go back to hell on the fifteenth waning moon day in the tenth month. The festival is a tradition of making merit for the spirits of ancestors and relatives

Each family would prepare utensils and food that is called "Mhrap" as alms offering to monks. Five essentials of Mhrap are "Khanom pong" resembles a raft, "Khanom la" resembles garments, "Khanomkong" resembles money, and "Khanomba" resemble "sa-ba" fro a game. Sometime another one adds in that is "Khanom la loi man" resembles pillow. The Mhrap will be placed in front of the temple that is called "tungpret" (placing for the spirit) as a dedication for the spirits that cannot enter the temple. Afterward, it is a tradition function of "Chingpret" (grabbing Mhrap) that is regarded having the leftover from the ancestors which is considered a part of merit making. Many temples rais up a stage for "chingpret" on a high pole and paint with oil for amusement.

Sumano Cave

Sumano Cave

Sumano Cave Temple

Variety of plants

Wat Tham Sumano (Sumano Cave), This temple was found by Phra Ajarn Dech Sumano on 28th April 1987 when he was 36 years old on his 14 years in monkhood. At that time, the area of Wat Tham Sumano was small hills on 500 Rai of land with large limestone caves where stalactites and stalagmites inside its 2 levels of the ground and underdround in 2 hills that was covering by variely of plants. The outer area of the cave has a stream flowing all year long.

Ever since, Wat Tham Sumano has been developed in every part that attracts many tourists who go for meditation practice especially on weekends and holidays.

Wat Tham Sumano in the present time was selected to be a distinguished Dharma Practice Center of Phatthalung.