Chatwarin Waterfall

Open Days: Daily

Opening Hours: 08.30 – 17.00

 

Chatwarin Waterfall in Narathiwat Province is a natural waterfall located in To Deng Subdistrict, Su-ngai Padi District, within Budo-Su-ngai Padi National Park. It is a medium-sized waterfall with water throughout the year, a shaded forest atmosphere, natural pools, rocky stream sections, and rich surrounding vegetation. The waterfall is especially known for the rare and beautiful Bangsun Palm, making it both a recreation site and a nature-learning destination.

 

The waterfall is relatively easy to reach compared with many forest waterfalls in Narathiwat. From Su-ngai Padi District, travelers can follow Highway 4056 to the area near Su-ngai Padi Hospital, then turn onto the road toward To Deng Subdistrict and continue for about 6 km. The access road is paved, making Chatwarin Waterfall suitable for families, local visitors, and travelers who want a nature stop without a difficult off-road route.

 

Chatwarin Waterfall is formed by a stream in the Su-ngai Padi mountain range. Water flows through rocks and natural basins in several levels. Local cultural information records the waterfall as having up to 7 tiers, with the lower tier being the easiest area for resting, viewing the water, and enjoying the stream. Upper sections offer a more natural rocky-stream atmosphere and should be approached carefully because wet stones can be slippery.

 

One of the main attractions of Chatwarin Waterfall is that it has water all year. This makes it a popular local relaxation area, especially during weekends and clear-weather days. The surrounding forest provides shade, while the flowing water creates a cool and refreshing atmosphere. Visitors can relax near the stream, enjoy safe water areas, take photos, and appreciate the peaceful character of a community-accessible waterfall inside a national park.

 

The waterfall is also strongly connected with local legend. According to oral tradition, villagers once heard the sound of Mayong music coming from the waterfall. When many people went to investigate, they found nothing. Later, an elder named To Deng secretly went to watch while the music was heard and saw a man and a woman dancing in the Mayong style beneath a large ceremonial umbrella. The figures then disappeared.

 

Because of this story, local people called the waterfall “Ai Payong,” a local name connected with the idea of a waterfall under an umbrella or ceremonial shade. During the period around 1967–1968, when the district improved the area as a tourist attraction, the waterfall was officially named “Chatwarin Waterfall.” The name therefore carries both natural meaning and local cultural memory.

 

Chatwarin Waterfall is known by several names in local sources, including To Deng Waterfall, Ban Phlong Waterfall, and Ai Payong Waterfall. These names reflect the relationship between the waterfall, the local village, the subdistrict, and the mountain area around it. Knowing these names helps visitors understand that many natural sites in Thailand’s deep south have Thai names, Malay-local names, and community names used alongside one another.

 

The most distinctive plant associated with Chatwarin Waterfall is the Bangsun Palm. This palm has broad diamond-shaped leaves with beautifully arranged veins. The plant has a low trunk but grows in large clumps and can reach around 3 m high. Its striking leaves and elegant form make it one of the most memorable plant features of the waterfall area.

 

The name “Bangsun Palm” was given by Professor Prachid Wamanon, who noticed that the leaves resembled a “bangsun,” a ceremonial shade used in processions. In the local language, the plant is called “Bukeh Ipae,” meaning mountain centipede, a name associated with the appearance of its flower cluster. This gives the plant both botanical and cultural significance.

 

Visitors should therefore pay attention not only to the waterfall but also to the surrounding plants. Chatwarin Waterfall combines water, rocks, forest, rare palms, and local folklore. Travelers who enjoy plant photography, forest details, and tropical rainforest scenery will find many interesting subjects, from the stream and rocks to the large palm leaves and shaded forest floor.

 

The waterfall is part of Budo-Su-ngai Padi National Park, an important rainforest landscape of Narathiwat. The park includes several attractions such as Chatwarin Waterfall, Wang Thong Waterfall, and Pacho Waterfall. Visiting Chatwarin Waterfall is therefore a way to experience one section of the broader Budo-Su-ngai Padi ecosystem, including watershed forest, stream habitats, wildlife areas, and nature-study routes.

 

Suitable activities include resting by the stream, playing in safe water areas, taking waterfall and forest photos, observing Bangsun Palm, walking short nature sections, and combining the visit with other attractions in the national park. Families should stay in lower and safer areas where the water condition is visible. Children should remain under adult supervision at all times.

 

Although the waterfall has water throughout the year, safety depends on weather and water conditions on the day of travel. Visitors should avoid entering the water during heavy rain, cloudy water, or strong current. Wet rocks and algae can be slippery, so shoes with good grip are recommended. Visitors should use only safe areas and avoid climbing wet or steep rocks.

 

The best time to visit is from morning to afternoon, when there is enough daylight for walking, photography, and nature observation. The waterfall is open daily from 08.30 to 17.00. For an unhurried trip, visitors can arrive in the morning, spend time at the stream and palm-viewing areas, then continue to nearby places such as Pacho Waterfall, To Daeng peat swamp forest, or Su-ngai Kolok in the afternoon.

 

Getting There is most convenient by private car, rental car, or local hired vehicle. From Su-ngai Padi District, follow Highway 4056 to the area near Su-ngai Padi Hospital, then turn toward To Deng Subdistrict and continue for about 6 km. The access road is paved. Travelers coming from Su-ngai Kolok or Mueang Narathiwat should allow enough travel time and check weather conditions before departure.

 

Overall, Chatwarin Waterfall is one of the most meaningful natural attractions in Su-ngai Padi District. It offers a shaded waterfall setting, year-round water, local legend, rare palm vegetation, and a location inside Budo-Su-ngai Padi National Park. Its value lies not only in the waterfall itself, but also in the combination of water, forest, rocks, folklore, and distinctive local plant life.

 

 

A: Chatwarin Waterfall is located in To Deng Subdistrict, Su-ngai Padi District, Narathiwat Province, inside Budo-Su-ngai Padi National Park.

 

A: Chatwarin Waterfall is open daily from 08.30 to 17.00.

 

A: It is a medium-sized waterfall with water throughout the year, shaded forest, natural pools, rocky stream sections, and the distinctive Bangsun Palm.

 

A: From Su-ngai Padi District, follow Highway 4056 to the area near Su-ngai Padi Hospital, then turn toward To Deng Subdistrict and continue about 6 km on a paved road.

 

A: Local legend tells of Mayong music coming from the waterfall and a vision of a dancing couple under a ceremonial umbrella, which led to the local name Ai Payong.

 

A: Bangsun Palm is the signature plant of the area. It has broad, elegant leaves with beautifully arranged veins and is strongly associated with the waterfall’s natural identity.

 

A: Visitors can enter only shallow and safe areas where the current is gentle and the footing is stable. Avoid entering the water during heavy rain, cloudy water, or strong current.

 

A: Nearby places include To Deng Railway Station, To Daeng Peat Swamp Forest, Pacho Waterfall, Wang Thong Waterfall, and other nature routes in Budo-Su-ngai Padi National Park.