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Narathiwat
General Information
Located approximately some 1,149 kilometers south of Bangkok is Narathiwat the southernmost province in Thailand and one of the nation's five provinces that borders Malaysia at Amphoe Su-ngai Kolok, where the southern railway line ends.
Access from Malaysia is convenient via a ninety-minute bus trip and two immigration points where travelers can cross into Thailand and vice versa. With Amphoe Su-ngai Kolok serving as an economic and border tourism center, the province welcomes an increasing numbers of Malaysians and Singaporeans on short holidays or shopping sprees.
Geographically, Narathiwat is situated on the eastern coast of the Malay Peninsula. The north borders Pattani Province and the Gulf of Thailand, the west borders Yala Province, the east borders the Gulf of Thailand, and the south borders Kelantan in Malaysia. The plains where the Maenam Sai Buri, Maenam Bang Nara, Maenam Tak Bai and Maenam Su-ngai Kolok converge are adjacent to the gulf.
With an area of 4,475 square kilometers, of which 75 percent are jungles and mountains, visitors to the province are provided with great opportunities to spend days at the beach or in the forests and take excursion trips to some of the magnificent temples. Narathiwat has a tropical climate and has only 2 seasons; summer and rainy. The wettest period is during November to December.
Narathiwat literally means "the residence of good people". The city of Narathiwat has an abundance of traditional culture and authenticity with village-like tranquility. The inhabitants of Narathiwat are largely farmers and fishermen with the majority being Muslims who use the spoken and written Yawi language (Yawi has roots from the spoken Malay language and uses Arabic consonants and alphabets). As such, Narathiwat is an amazing and unique area with a constant flow of culture and trade between Thais and Malaysians.
In the past, Narathiwat was a southern borderland named "Ban Bang Nara" or "Manalo". It was located near Maenam Bang Nara and the sea. In the reign of King Rama I, this village was under the administration of Sai Buri. Later, it came under the administration of Ra Ngae town of Pattani province.
In 1906, Bang Nara became a big trading city with well-developed sea and land transportation. King Rama V moved the administration office from Ra Ngae to Manalo. In 1915, King Rama VI changed the name of the town to "Narathiwat".
Narathiwat is currently divided into 12 districts, namely Mueang, Ra-ngae, Su-ngai Padi, Sungai Kolok, Ruso, Yi-ngo, Waeng, Bacho, Tak Bai, Si Sakhon, Sukhirin, Chanae and one Sub District of Cho Ai Rong.
Symbol
The provincial seal shows a sailing boat with a white elephant on the sail. The white elephant is a royal symbol of Thailand, and is put on the seal to commemorate the animal called Phra Sri Nararat Rajakarini that was caught here and given to the king.
The provincial symbol is the longkong fruit (Lansium domesticum), the provincial tree is the Chengal (Neobalanocarpus heimii) and the provincial flower is Odontadenia macrantha.
Getting there
By Car
From Bangkok: Take Highway No. 4 passing Prachuap Khiri Khan and Chumphon Provinces and Highway No. 41, passing Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phatthalung and Hat Yai Provinces and connect to Highway No. 42 for Pattani and Narathiwat Provinces. Total distance is 1,149 kilometers.
By Bus
The Transport Co., Ltd. operates daily bus services between Bangkok-Narathiwat and Bangkok-Su-ngai Kolok.
For more information, call tel. 0 2435 1199-200; Narathiwat Bus Terminal tel. 0 7351 1845 and Su-ngai Kolok Bus Terminal tel. 0 7361 2045 or visit www.transport.co.th.
From Narathiwat: Buses to Bangkok leave from 2 separate small terminals on Suriyapradit Road, close to the police stations. They depart 4 times a day. Buses to Phuket Province via Pattani, Hat Yai, Songkhla, Trang, Krabi and Phang-nga Provinces leave 3 times a day.
There are also minivans that connect Narathiwat and Hat Yai Province for 120 bahts, Pattani Province for 60 bahts, Su-ngai Kolok District for 50 bahts, and Yala Province for 60 bahts. They leave from different stops around the city.
By Train
The State Railway of Thailand has a daily express and rapid Bangkok-Tanyongmat (Narathiwat)-Su-ngai Kolok service, departing from the Hua Lamphong Railway Station at 0.25 p.m. and 2.45 p.m. For more information, call tel. 1690, 0 2223 7010, 0 2223 7020; Su-ngai Kolok station tel. 0 7361 1162, 0 7361 4060 or visit www.srt.motc.go.th. The train station is located approximately 20 kilometers west of town, which is accessible via Songthaew that costs 20 bahts.
By Air
Thai Airways International has 2 weekly flights connecting Phuket with Narathiwat. For more information, contact their Bangkok office at tel. 0-2280-0060, 0-2628-2000; Narathiwat office, tel. 0 7351 1161, 0 7351 3090, or visit their website at www.thaiairways.com.
Getting around Narathiwat
Walking around the town is highly recommended as the city can easily be explored on foot. For those who do not want to walk, the motorcycle taxi is a good alternative with the rate ranging between 10 and 20 baht/trip, depending on the distance.
Festivals
Chao Mae Tomo Celebrations
Chao Mae Tomo Celebrations is an important festival of Su-ngai Kolok and consists of the Chao Mae Tomo procession, floral floats, lion and dragon parade, and performance of people being possessed. The event is held on the 23rd day of the third month of the Chinese calendar. Entertainment includes Chinese opera and many shops.
Narathiwat Products Fair
Narathiwat Products Fair showcases all the highlights of the province, such as the show of special arts and crafts, Krachut sedge day, barred ground dove cooing contest, Longkong day, and the annual Korlae boat races in front of the throne hall.
• Korlae-Long Boat Races in front of the Throne Hall are held on Bang Nara River opposite Sala Prachakhom (community pavilion). This annual event is held when the Royal Family is in residence at Thaksin Ratchaniwet Palace.
• Krachut Sedge Day is an event that the province hosts around the same time as the boat races in order to publicise and promote hemp products, one of the activities of the crafts project of the province. Products are made in places like Moo Ban Thon and Ban Phikun Thong. Activities of the day include an exhibition on the production process from the preparation of raw materials to weaving the sedge into beautiful mats or transforming it into other lovely and unusual products like hats, handbags, letter holders, food covers, and lamp shades. Moreover, there are Krachut contests and stores selling Krachut sedge products.
Interesting Products
Batik
Mu Ban Yakang This old village is where unique and famous batik, cloth printed with exotic patterns, is made. It is located about 4 kilometers from the town on the road to Amphoe Rangae.
Korlae boats: Ban Thon
A traditional Thai Muslim fishing village, Ban Thon is located approximately 16 kilometers from the city. The village is a well-known center for production of real and miniature Korlae boats, which is considered to be an exquisite form of local art. Boys over 13 years old traditionally make the miniature boats, costing from a few hundred baht to 2,000 baht. Moreover, some children spend their free time making these miniature boats.
Korlae Boat is a small, coastal, fishing boat that is used in the lower southern provinces. The boat ranges in size from 1, 250, 1,100 and 1,000 centimeters. The boat has a unique style, with the bow and stern being higher than the hull. Designs on the boat are a combination of Malay, Javanese and Thai styles, with emphasis on Thai patterns. Such patterns include a running scroll design, lotus, serpents, magic monkeys, and heads of birds in literature like Burong Si-ngo or Singhapaksi (a creature with the body of a lion and the head of a bird holding a fish with its beak) at the bow. The creature, which has sharp fangs and claws, is powerful, and is a good diver, and has been a favorite of Korlae fishermen ever since ancient times. The boat is like an artistic masterpiece on waves and is considered life art as the Korlae boat not only shows off the greatness of its design, but is also the primary instrument used by fishermen to make a living. It is said that a Bang Nara villager without a Korlae fishing boat is like a person without clothes.
Longan
Longan is a tropical fruit indigenous to Java, Malaya, the Philippines and the south of Thailand. It grows well in loamy sand or loose soil in shady areas with regular rain and good drainage. The sweet and fragrant fruit has a thin peel and only a little latex. The most popular variety is called long-kong see poh and it grows in Ra-ngae District. There are similar fruits called langsad and duku. Longan is in season from August to October. It is also exported, especially to Malaysia and Singapore.
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