" Nice view of water birds, joy in the
heart with Samila, a big city with 2 seas
enchantment of papa bridge,
beautiful bougainvillaea, rich business
of Southern region "

Songkhla province is in the deep south of Thailand, bordering with the state of Kedah in Malaysia, about950 km south of Bangkok. It was formerly a part of the large Srivajaya kingdom that had control of the southern peninsular. The ancient city of Songkhla is located on a stretch of land between the Gulf of Thailand and the Songkhla Lake (Thale Sep Songkhla).

The original settlement was at the foot of Khao Daeng. Many remnants from its past association withthe Srivajayan Empire and from the Europeans, who arrived much later to trade in the area, can be found around the province. The province also boasts splendid beaches, waterfalls and other natural attractions.

Songkhla is a southern border province, adjacent to the State of Kedah (Sai Buri), Malaysia. It is an important port and coastal province of Thailand since the old days with Amphoe Hat Yai as the southern centre of commerce, transportation and rapid economic growth. The province is ideal for tourism because of its two distinct characteristics: the old buildings of Amphoe Mueang Songkhla, and the developed Amphoe Hat Yai, separated by only about 30 kilometres.

The old part of Songkhla is located at the present day Amphoe Sathing Phra. Indians, Persians, and Arabs came to trade and called the place “Singhla”. The name came from two islands with the shape of crouching lions at the mouth of Songkhla lagoon. The islands are presently called Ko Nu and Ko Maeo.

Songkhla occupies an area of 7,393 square kilometres, and is administratively divided into 16 districts: Muang Songkhla, Ranot, Krasae Sin, Sathing Phra, Singhanakhon, Khuan Niang, Rattaphum, Bang Klam, Hat Yai, Na Mom, Chana, Thepha, Na Thawi, Saba Yoi, Sadao, and Khlong Hoi Khong.

Khao Kao Sen :
Khao Kao Seng is located about three kilometres to the south of Hat Samila. It can be reached via the road to The National Coastal Aquaculture Institute. It is one of the beautiful beaches of Songkhla, dotted with large boulders one of which is on a rock; the locals call it “Hua Nai Raeng”. It was said that underneath this boulder there used to be treasures stored by the people as funds for the construction of the Nakhon Si Thammarat Chedi and had protecting spirits.

Khao Noi :
Khao Noi , near Laem Samila, has a road to the hilltop for paying homage to the statue of Prince Lop Buri Ramet (The Southern Viceroy), and to view the city. On the east is a public park with food services and tennis courts. On the northeast is Suan Seri, another park with ornamental plants in animal shapes. Tamnak Khao Noi, on the south, was built in B.E. 2454 as the residence of Prince Lop Buri Ramet and was used by His Majesties the King and Queen on their visit to the south in March B.E. 2502. Today the mansion is the residence of the Songkhla Provincial Governor.

Khao Tang Kuan at Laem Samila has the Sala Vihan Daeng, the royal pavilion built during the reign of King Rama V. On the hilltop is a Dvaravati chedi housing the Buddha’s relics that were built during the Nakhon Si Thammarat Empire. In October there is a festival to clad the chedi with a cloth, to pull the Buddha’s image, and to offer alms to monks. A panoramic view of the city and the Songkhla Lake can be enjoyed on the hilltop.

Ko Nu and Ko Maeo well-known symbol of Songkhla, is situated off the shore of Laem Samila. A legend says that a dog, a cat, and a mouse, on a Chinese sampan stole the merchant’s magic crystal and tried to swim ashore but drowned and lost their lives. The mice and cats became the islands in the Songkhla Lake while the dog died on shore and became the hill called Hin Khao Tang Kuan near the bay. The crystal was totally destroyed and became the white sandy beach called Hat Sai Kaeo.

Ko Yo is a small island in the Songkhla Lake but is the important tourist attraction of Songkhla. The island, covering an area of 9,275 rais (3,710 acres), can be reached via Tinsulanond Bridge The coastal plain is suitable for agriculture, resulting in famous fruit-growing such as a special kind of jackfruit called Jampada. Another famous product is the hand-woven fabric.

Laem Sai Estuary Fortress :
Laem Sai Estuary Fortress was constructed in the reign of King Rama III, at the time of the city’s establishment. Today this fortress is behind the Songkhla Provincial Police Headquarters.

Laem Samila :
Laem Samila is in the City Municipality, about 2.5 kilometres from the fresh market (Thalat Supsin or Thalat Sot Thetsaban). This peninsula is well-known for its white sandy beach, shady pine groves, and the statue of a mermaid that is Songkhla’s symbol. It is serviced by Hat Yai-Songkhla buses. From within the city, one can take a minibus to the beach.

Laem Son On :
Laem Son On is situated to the northwest of Laem Samila. It is well shaded with sea pines. At the end of the peninsula stands the statue of Prince Chumphon Khet Udomsak. This peninsula is the best spot to view Ko Nu and the Songkhla Lake.

Phathammarong Museum :
Phathammarong Museum on Chana Road near the Songkhla National Museum. It was constructed in a Thai style to resemble the birthplace of H.E. Prem Tinsulanond, the former Prime Minister and Statesman who is a Songkhla native. The construction was based on his testimony when his father was the prison warden.

Songkhla Lake :
Songkhla Lake , the only natural lake in Thailand is about 80 kilometres long and 20 to 25 kilometres wide. It is a freshwater lake with brackish water near the mouth. There are several islands across from its mouth, the major ones include Ko Yai, Ko Si, Ko Ha, Ko Kaeo, Ko Mak, Ko Rai, and Ko Yo. Boats are available for touring the lake. The port behind the post office or the fresh market has all-day long-tailed boat services.

Songkhla Zoo :
Songkhla Zoo is an open zoo, on the Songkhla-Chana Highway, Tambon Khao Rup Chang. It was established for the preservation of Thai wildlife and to return them to the wild. The zoo covers a hilly area with an asphalt ring road. The various animals have been grouped separately, such camels, birds, red gaur, tigers, crocodiles, and others. One of the highlights in the zoo not to be missed is the viewing point for the city where food stalls are available. For more information please call 0-7432-5037-8.

Songkhla’s City Pillar :
Songkhla’s City Pillar, on Nang Ngam Road, is a revered site to Songkhla’s population. The Chinese architectural style building was constructed together with the city itself. Nearby dwellings, especially on Nakhon Nai and Nakhon Nok Roads also bear the same influence. The Chinese immigrants who came to settle there at the beginning of the 24th Buddhist Century had a major role in the establishment of Songkhla, hence, the distinctive Chinese lifestyle of the area.

The Institute for Southern Thai Studies :
The Institute for Southern Thai Studies is situated on Ko Yo, near the foot of the second part of the Tinsulanond Bridge. It was established in B.E. 2521 for the studies of southern art and culture. Its museum has comprehensive exhibits on local art and culture, and southern lives as well as artefacts echoing local wisdom accumulated through several generations. The systematic exhibits cover more than 30 rooms displaying history, religion, tradition, occupation, folk play, handicrafts, and various artefacts. Viewing points for the Songkhla Lake and aquaculture farms should not be missed. Admission fee is 50 baht. Call 0-7433 -1185-8.

The Songkhla National Museum :
The Songkhla National Museum on Chana Road, was originally built in B.E. 2421 as Songkhla ruler’s mansion in Chinese style. It became the domicile of Songkhla’s upper administrative officers and finally the City Hall. It was converted into a museum in B.E. 2496 to exhibit lower southern artefacts. Today it is the source of local archaeology, history, and folk art and culture. It has a notable collection of the artefacts of the ‘Na Songkhla Family’ that used to rule the city. It is opened to the public, from 9 a.m. to 12 noon and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., except Mondays, Tuesdays, and public holidays.

Tinsulanond Bridge :
Tinsulanond Bridge spans the Songkhla Lake and is part of Highway 408. It is the longest concrete bridge in Thailand, with two parts: the first part connects the coast of Amphoe Mueang Songkhla at Ban Nam Krachai to the southern coast of Ko Yo, this part is about 1,140 metres long; the second part connects the northern shore of Ko Yo to the coast of Ban Khao Khiao, a length of 1,800 metres. It was opened to traffic on 25 September B.E. 2529.

Wat Chai Mongkhon :
Wat Chai Mongkhon , on Phetmongkhon-Chaimongkhon Road, has a chedi that was built to house the Buddhist relics brought back from Langka by a monk named “Na Issaro” who was teaching Pali there in B.E. 2435.

Festivals :
Songkran Festival is held on 13 April. In Hat Yai the festival is held around Niphat Uthit 1, 2, and 3 Roads, from morning till evening. Malaysians and Singaporeans often join in the festivities with their Thai hosts.

Thai Goods and Produce Promotion Fair is usually held in the middle of July when fruits are at their peaks. The fair boasts large selection of the best agricultural products from all southern provinces both for display and for sale.

Tham Bun Duean Sip is another southern tradition that is held on the full moon of the tenth lunar month. This festival grew from the belief that during the new moon phase in the tenth month, the souls of the deceased relatives and friends, especially those not yet reborn would be released to meet the living relatives. So the living would prepare foods to offer them to the monks in their names. In Sathing Phra this festivity is different than in other districts whereby tall gold figures are paraded as the “proxy” for the deceased who were respected by the villagers.

Lak Phra and Tak Bat Thewo (giving alms) is held on the new moon in the eleventh lunar month, around October of every year in Amphoe Mueang Songkhla. The festivity would start one day before the actual day to wrap a large cloth around the top of the Chedi on Khao Tang Kuan. In the morning of the festival day, alms are offered to monks (tak bat thewo) at the foot of the hill. Several hundred monks would walk down from Khao Tang Kuan to receive the offerings. Late in the morning monks travelling by boat from other temples in Songkhla would proceed along the waterfront so the Buddhist can offer alms and pull their boats along. Such acts are considered highly merited. The monks’ boats would congregate at the lotus pond to participate in the boat decoration contest. On the festival ground there are also art and culture performances.

Ranot 73 kilometres
Hat Yai 26 kilometres
Krasae Sin 74 kilometres
Na Mom 34 kilometres
Sathing Phra 36 kilometres
Chana 37 kilometres
Singhanakhon 26 kilometres
Thepha 73 kilometres
Khuan Niang 72 kilometres
Na Thawi 52 kilometres
Rattaphum 60 kilometres
Saba Yoi 104 kilometres
Bang Klam 46 kilometres
Sadao 70 kilometres
Klong Hoi Khong 43 kilometres

Car :
From Bangkok, take Highway 4 to Prachuap Khiri Khan, Chumphon, Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat,Trang-Phatthalung, and Songkhla, a total distance of 950 kilometres.

Bus :
There are daily buses from Bangkok to Songkhla and Hat Yai. The journey takes about 13 hours. Air-conditioned buses, varying in 3 types, depart from Bangkok’s Southern Bus Terminal at the following times:

Standard 2 Bus: 7 a.m. and 9.45 p.m.

Standard 2 Bus: 8 a.m. and 4.30 p.m.

The schedule may be changed. Please check a current schedule and further information from the Southern Bus Terminal at tel: 0 2435 1199-200. For Hat Yai, call the Transport Co., Ltd. (Bo Kho So) at tel: 0 7423 2789, 0 7423 2404, Piya Tour 0 7442 8972, Thai Doen Rot 0 7442 9525.

From Hat Yai Bus Terminal, there are buses to other provinces in the south. Pho Thong Transportation Co., Ltd. 0 7431 1126 provides buses from Songkhla to Hat Yai. Ranot Transportation Co., Ltd. 0 7431 1523 operates buses from Songkhla to Nakhon Si Thammarat.

Train :
The State Railway of Thailand provides daily rapid and express train services from Bangkok to Hat Yai. The trains depart from Bangkok’s Hualamphong Railway Station at 12.25 p.m., 2.20 p.m., 2.45 p.m., 3.50 p.m. and 10.50 p.m. Travelling time is about 17 hours. For further information call 1690, 0 2223 7020, 0 2223 7030 or Hat Yai Railway Station at 0 7424 3705, 0 7423 8005 or visit www.srt.motc.go.th.

Local Products :
Shrimp and fish crackers
Shrimp and fish crackers are one of the local products of Songkhla. They are delicious and inexpensive. There are also nam budu, cashew nuts, and dried crystal shrimp that can be purchased from any stalls on Nakhon Nai Road in the city

Nang Talung (shadow puppet)
Nang Talung (shadow puppet) is the south’s folk art that is shown to the general public in Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phatthalung, Trang, and Songkhla. A temporary platform is usually built for the performance. The puppets, cut from animal hide, are placed against the rear of a white screen in front of a bright light so the audience can see their shadows. The story is told by narrators. The puppets can be purchased from souvenir stores.

Ko Yo Hand-woven Fabric
Ko Yo Hand-woven Fabric is another folk product of Songkhla, produced mainly from Ko Yo, Amphoe Mueang Songkhla. The sturdy hand-woven fabric has intricate designs such as Lai Rat Chawat, and Lai Luk Kaeo and can be purchased from stores on Nakhon Nai and Nang Ngam Roads.