Songkhla,Thailand

Songkhla,Thailand

Sites

Songkhla’s City Pillar (ศาลหลักเมืองสงขลา) The Chinese architectural style building was constructed together with the city itself. 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,Thaksin university (สถาบันทักษิณคดีศึกษา มหาวิทยาลัยทักษิณ) 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.

Laem Sai Estuary Fortress (ป้อมปืนปากน้ำแหลมทราย) Today this fortress is behind the Songkhla Provincial Police Headquarters.

Wat Matchimawat or Wat Khlang (วัดมัชฌิมาวาสหรือวัดกลาง), on Sai Buri Road, is a large temple and the most important in Songkhla. It is about 400 years old. This temple also has the Phattharasin Museum that houses various artefacts gathered from Songkhla, Sathing Phra, Ranot, and elsewhere.

Wat Chai Mongkhon (วัดชัยมงคล), 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.

The Songkhla National Museum (พิพิธภัณฑสถานแห่งชาติสงขลา) It became the domicile of Songkhla’s upper administrative officers and finally the City Hall. 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.

Phathammarong Museum (พิพิธภัณฑ์พะธำมะรง) 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.

Ban Sattha (บ้านศรัทธา) It is surrounded by coconut plantations. The city people had it built for H.E. Prem Tinsulanond, the Privy Councilor and Statesman, when he was the degree view of Songkhla and surroundings form a variety of viewpoints here. A playground for local monkeys near the base station of this hilltrain attracts visitors and locals alike.

Laem Son On (แหลมสนอ่อน) 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.

Khao Noi (เขาน้อย) 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.

Khao Kao Seng (เขาเก้าเส้ง) It is one of the beautiful beaches of Songkhla, dotted with large boulders one of which is on a rock. 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.

Songkhla Zoo (สวนสัตว์สงขลา) 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.

Songkhla Lake (ทะเลสาบสงขลา), 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. Boats are available for touring the lake.

Tinsulanond Bridge (สะพานติณสูลานนท์) It is the longest concrete bridge in Thailand, with two parts: the first part connects the coast of Amphoe Mueang Songkhla to the southern coast of Ko Yo; the second part connects the northern shore of Ko Yo to the coast of Ban Khao Khiao.

Ko Yo (เกาะยอ) is a small island in the Songkhla Lake but is the important attraction of Songkhla. The island, covering an area of 9,275 rais (14.84 square kilometres (5.73 sq mi)).

The city of Hat Yai (ตัวเมืองหาดใหญ่) is the gateway to the neighboring countries of Malaysia and Singapore. It is only 60 kilometres from the port of entry at Sadao. Hat Yai has grown significantly into the commercial, transportation, communication, educational, and tourism centre of the south.

Hat Yai Municipal Park (สวนสาธารณะเทศบาลเมืองหาดใหญ่) The park is full of beautiful flowering plants, with a pavilion in the middle of the pond, avarium, and food stalls. At the foot of the hill near the avarium stands the statue of King Rama V. And at the southern foothill near the boy scout camp stands the jade statue of Guan-yin, the Chinese Goddess.

Wat Hat Yai Nai (วัดหาดใหญ่ใน) is the site of a large reclining Buddha measuring 35 metres long, 15 metres tall, and 10 metres wide, named Phra Phuttha Hattha Mongkhon, believed to be the third largest reclining Buddha in the world.

Namtok Ton Nga Chang (น้ำตกโตนงาช้าง) It is one of the beautiful waterfalls of the south, about 26 kilometres from the city. This waterfall has seven levels, the third level is the most beautiful and is named after the waterfall.

Namtok Boriphat Forestry Park (วนอุทยานน้ำตกบริพัตร) is about 52 kilometres from Amphoe Mueang Songkhla. It is a small all-season waterfall.

Wat Tham Khao Rup Chang (วัดถ้ำเขารูปช้าง) The temple uses the cave as religious ground. The cave has been partitioned into several rooms with delicate stalactites and stalagmites.

Khao Nam Khang National Park (อุทยานแห่งชาติเขาน้ำค้าง) has lush forest cover. There are two waterfalls within this park: Ton Dat Fa and Ton Lat Fa.

Khao Nam Khang Historic Tunnel (อุโมงค์ประวัติศาสตร์เขาน้ำค้าง) This tunnel was once known as the Piyamit Village 5, run by the Communist insurgents. It is the largest and longest man-made tunnel in Thailand, completed in two years with three separate corridors and three levels deep.

Hat Sakom (หาดสะกอม) is about 53 kilometres from Amphoe Mueang Songkhla, on the Songkhla-Chana-Thepha Highway.

Chedi Phi Nong Yot Khao Daeng (เจดีย์พี่น้องยอดเขาแดง) consists of two stupas: Chedi Ong Dam (The Black Chedi), and Chedi Ong Khao (The White Chedi).

Khu Khut Waterfowl Park (Tha-le Sap Songkhla Wildlife Refuge) (อุทยานนกน้ำคูขุด-เขตห้ามล่าสัตว์ป่าทะเลสาปสงขลา) In fact this waterfowl park is part of Tha-le Sap Songkhla or Songkhla Lake. The survey undertook by the Royal Forestry Department discovered 44 families, 137 genus, and 219 species of avian. The best times to view the birds are from December to March.

Wat Cha Thing Phra (วัดจะทิ้งพระ) This temple has several ancient ruins from the Srivijaya Period such as Chedi Phra Maha That, Wihan Phra Phutthasaiyat (reclining Buddha), and the bell tower.

Wat Pha Kho or Wat Ratchapraditsathan (วัดพะโคะหรือวัดราชประดิษฐาน) This temple was the seat of Somdet Pha Kho or Luang Pho Thuat Yiap Nam Tha-le Chuet, the most revered monk in the south.

Wat Ek Choeng Sae (วัดเอกเชิงแส) It has the revered coral Buddha image that had been covered with plaster. The image is 70 centimetres wide at the lap and 120 centimetres tall.

Laem Khwai Rap Wildlife Protection Unit (หน่วยพิทักษ์สัตว์ป่าแหลมควายราบ) There are a large number of waterfowls around the Unit and can be seen without having to travel by boat into the Lake, especially in the morning and evening when the birds are out searching for food.

Sacred Pond at Wat Laem Bo Tho (บ่อน้ำศักดิ์สิทธิ์วัดแหลมบ่อท่อ) It was said that a monk named Phra Sin Narai and a layman named Khun Wichai Phromsat built this pond on their way from India to Ayutthaya. This sacred pond has clean freshwater all year round.

Wat Ku Tao (วัดคูเต่า ต.แม่ทอม อ. บางกล่ำ) Wat Kutao is the oldest temple on the bank of Klong U-Tapao river. It is on the south rim of the Songkhla lake in Maetom district.

Activities

Bull Fight (กีฬาชนโค) is the famous local favourite sport since the time of Phraya Mueang, in the Srivijaya Period. After the harvest, owners would bring their bulls to fight as a gesture of solidarity and festivity. Two bulls would fight each other in each round lasting between 15 to 30 minutes, depending on the bull’s conditions.

Khao Java Birds (นกเขาชวา) is the favourite domesticated bird in the south. The famous bird-culture area is Amphoe Chana, about 40 kilometres from Amphoe Hat Yai, on Highway 408. Bird singing contests are usually held annually from January to July. Singing birds are judged by their tone, voice, beat, loudness, and continuation. The winners are highly priced.

Shooting for sport (กีฬายิงปืน) in Songkhla can be carried out at two shooting ranges that are open to the public, as follows.

Ruchirawong Range (สนามยิงปืนรุจิรวงศ์) is located in Amphoe Hat Yai, across from the Hat Yai District Police Office.

Songkhla Royal Navy Range (สนามยิงปืนราชนาวีสงขลา) is located within the Songkhla Navy Base, on Chalatat Road (on the coast).

Thai Boxing (มวยไทย) in Songkhla is held either at the Songkhla Navy Base.

Golf (กอล์ฟ) can be enjoyed at various courses.