Midway between Patong Beach and Phuket Town
Kathu Phuket Thailand – is the smallest of the 3 districts that make up Phuket. It covers the central part of the island from the west of Old Phuket Town to Patong and Kamala Beaches. Kathu’s old village is roughly midway between Patong Beach and Phuket Town. Small and communal, it’s home to a handful of attractions and recreational spots such as Kathu Waterfall as well as several golf courses.
A nice way to enjoy Kathu and mingle with the locals is to visit the fresh markets that offer a great variety of goods, from food to clothes and household items. There are a few Buddhist monasteries in Kathu including Wat Kathu and the Kathu Chinese Shrine that’s the most important religious site for villagers – it’s where the famous Phuket Vegetarian Festival originated from.
Kathu Waterfall in Phuket
Kathu Waterfall is a series of drop pools that are best seen during the rainy season in Phuket. Expect a challenging climb if you want to get to the very top of the waterfall. Most of the way up involves a set of stone stairways. It’s shaded and has several rest stops if you need to catch your breath.
Highlights of Kathu Waterfall in Phuket
The best time to visit Kathu Waterfall is from June to November when there’s plenty of monsoon water. It’s not advisable to go when it’s raining, as the stairs can get rather slippery. Once you reach the top, there’s a pool in which you can take a dip. You’ll find several ‘drop pools’ stationed along the way up as well.
There are plenty of places selling snacks and bottled water at the entrance to Kathu Waterfall. The beauty of it all is that your visit to the waterfall can be as hard or as easy as you want it to be.
If you’re travelling with little ones, it’s best to take it easy and go halfway up to the drop pool for a dip. Tackle the entire journey to the top of Kathu Waterfall if you’d like to test your fitness level. Just remember to bring plenty of water.
Phuket Mining Museum in Kathu Phuket Thailand
Phuket Mining Museum is one of the island’s most interesting museums. Located in Kathu, on the road between Loch Palm Golf Club and British International School (BIS), the museum features displays ranging from tin mine models to a recreated scene in an opium den.
A visit with a guide (or someone who has some knowledge about Phuket’s history) is recommended as most of the signs and descriptions are only in Thai. There’s a minimal entrance fee.
Phuket Mining Museum highlights
In the past, Phuket was a major tin-producing centre and drew thousands of Chinese labourers who eventually settled on the island. In short, Phuket would not have its multicultural identity without tin. The museum covers the issue well with both outdoor and indoor exhibitions.
Outside the building, visitors will see a few styles of tin-mining methods as well as some actual equipment used in the old days. Once inside, there are many exhibitions including pictures illustrating the lives and working conditions of the workers. There’s also a good section about locals who lived in Kathu Village back then. Kathu was considered a major area for this industry.
While the men went out and did the hard labour, the women stayed home to raise the children. They did a bit of extra work in their free time to help earn more money such as making brooms from reed grass and making sweets to sell. Looking at these displays makes you feel like you’re staring at someone’s kitchen or private room when the owners were not around or unaware. The models are pretty realistic.
Phuket Mining Museum is a highly informative cultural and historical attraction. It was built in the Sino-Portuguese style similar to the vintage mansions belonging to the well-to-do Chinese families scattered around the Old Phuket Town area.
