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 Narathiwat
at a glance
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
Provincial Seal
The provincial seal depicts a sailing boat with a picture of
a white elephant on the sail in a circle. It signifies that Narathiwat
is a province on the coast, engaged in fishing and trading with
neighboring countries and that the province has a white elephant called
Phra Sri Nararat Rajakarin. History of
Narathiwat
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". Todays 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. Distances from Amphoe Muang (Town) to
Neighbouring Districts:
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Chanae
Cho Ai Rong
Tak Bai
Bacho
Yi-ngo
Ra-ngae
Ruso
Waeng
Si Sakhon
Sukhirin
Su-ngai Kolok
Su-ngai Padi |
47
31
33
28
18
24
48
83
65
112
63
49 |
kms.
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