Phatthalung is one of the southern provinces of Thailand. The Neighboring provinces of Phatthalung are Nakhon Si Thammarat, Songkhla, Satun and Trang. The province is located in the Malay Peninsula. To the east the province of Phatthalung borders the large shallow Lake Songkhla, while the west is covered by mountains in the chain of Nakhon Si Thammarat. The Khao Pu - Khao Ya National Park is located in the mountains on the border of Trang.

Phatthalung, the province of Thailand was previously known as Mardelong (Jawi) in Malay, especially when the region was the subject of Muslim influence. During the reign of King Ramathibodi I, Ayutthaya kingdom in the 14th century became one of twelve cities Phatthalung real. In the late 18th century King Rama I of the city presented to the MoD, which was responsible for all the southern provinces. During the administrative reform offered by Great King Chulalongkorn Phatthalung the province became a division of Monthon Nakhon Si Thammarat.