Pattani:Pattani was very famous in the old days

Pattani was very famous in the old days as a town having a woman ruler. The biggest cannon, ever caste in Thailand, was been caste here and was named Nang (Phraya Tani). The central mosque there is the most beautiful one in the southern Region which is the center for Thai Moslems. Other outstanding places are Wat Chang Hai, the monastery where Luang Po Tuat lived. It is on the campus of Songkhla Nakharin University.

Pattani is located 1,055 kms. from Bangkok on the coast of the South China Sea. It occupyies an area of 1,377 square kilometers. The province is administratively divided into 11 Amphoes and 1 King Amphoe. They are Muang, Khok Pho, Mayo, Nong Chik, Panare, Sai Buri, Yarang, Yaring, Thung Yang Daeng, Mai Kaen, Kapho and King Amphoe Mae Lan. The generally the area is a low basin suitable for cultivation, bordering on Songkhla to the north, Narathiwat to the south, the Gulf of Thailand to the east and Yala to the west.

What to see and what to do in Pattani?

Som Det Phra Si Nakharin Park is a new public park located on the left side of Pattani River, in Tambon Rusamilae, 1 km. from town.

Pattani Central Mosque is the place where religious ceremonies are performed by Thai Moslems. The mosque is located on the outskirts of Pattani on Pattani-Yala Highway. It is the most beautiful and largest in Thailand.

Institute of Arts and Culture is located in Prince of Songkhla University, Pattani Campus. Collected in its museum are documents, artifacts and objects of art such as, images of Buddha, votive tablets, coins and local handicrafts. The museum is open from 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Pak Nam Pattani is a 3 km distance from town. There is a big fishing village. Thousands of coconut trees line the beach like in Hat Bang Nara, Narathiwat. This beach, within this vast space Songkhla Nakharin University,is suitable for afternoon relaxation.

Wat Chang Hai is well known as the wat that belonged to Luang Pho Tuat. Respected by people from all over the country, it is located on Khok Pho-Yala Road on a 1 km. access road.

Sai Khao Waterfall National Park is accessible via a 6 kms. access road branching off the Khok Pho-Yala Highway. The area is a beautiful, pleasant arboretum having a stream running from the falls through beautiful scenery.

Prasat Nang Phomhom Forest Park is located in Tambon Pithen, King Amphoe Thung Yang Daeng, 52 kms. from Pattani township. In the park, there is a small waterfall which is good to visit between November and December.
In addition, Pattani has many other beautiful beaches, such as, Hat Khae Khae, Hat Panare, Hat Chalalai, Hat Ratcharak, (all in Amphoe Panare) Hat Patatimo or Hat Wasukri, (in Amphoe Sai Buri) Hat Talokapo and Laem Tachi (in Amphoe Yaring).
Furthermore, there are waterfall, such as, Phong Phong and Aranyawariti, which are located in Amphoe Khok Pho.


Chao Mae Lim Ko Nieo Fair This festival falls in February - March every year.
Chao Mae Lim Ko Nieo, a goodness believed to possess potent magic powers, is revered in Pattani and other provinces of the far south. This annual fair pays homage to her and features ascetics able to perform extraordinary feats of endurance, as well as, a lively procession of devotees through the provincial capital.

Pattani is an east-coast province in the south, adjacent to the Gulf of Thailand, with the area of approximately 1,940 square kilometres. There are two major rivers: Tani and Sai Buri. Being a civilized town in the past, the present Pattani still maintains some ruined ancient town in Amphoe Yarang. Due to its mountainous area and long seashore of about 170 kilometres, Pattani has been an important port and the centre of the administration, trading, and culture. There are several tourism resources of nature, historical ancient places, and traditional culture which have been the integration of Thai, Chinese and Islam.

Pattani is administratively divided into 12 Amphoe: Mueang Pattani, Yarang, Nong Chik, Khok Pho, Yaring, Panare, Mayo, Sai Buri, Kapho, Mai Kaen, Thung Yang Daeng, and Mae Lan.

General Information

Boundary
North: Songkhla
South: Narathiwat and Yala
West: Yala and Songkhla
East: Gulf of Thailand.

How to get there
Car
Pattani is about 1,055 kilometres from Bangkok. Visitors can use highway no.35 (Thon buri - Pak Tho) for about 90 kilometres, then turn left to highway no.4 to Chumphon for about 460 kilometres. After that, use highway no.41 or 42 pass Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Songkhla, Pak-nam Thepa to Pattani. The total distance is around 505 kilometres.

Bus
There are service of regular and air-conditioned buses of Transport Co., Ltd. The buses leave from the Southern Bus Terminal to Pattani every day.
For more details, call 0 2435 1119 and 0 2434 5557-8 or visit www.transport.co.th.

Train
From Hua Lamphong Station, there are both express and rapid trains to Pattani (Khok Pho) Station everyday. For more details, contact Service Unit at Tel:1690, 0 2223 7010 and 0 2223 7020.

From Pattani Station, buses and taxis are available between Khok Pho and Amphoe Mueang which takes about 29 kilometres.

Plane
There is no direct flight to Pattani. Visitors need to travel to Hat Yai (Thai Airways International provided round-trip shuttle bus (Hat Yai-Pattani) twice daily free-of-charge for passengers who make the reservation in advance). Alternatively, visitors can use regular bus or taxi from Hat Yai to Pattani for about 104 kilometres and traveling time is approximately one hour and a half. Flight information can be requested at Tel: 1566, 0 2280 0060, 0 2628 2000 or at Pattani Office Tel: 0 7333 5938.

Festivals
Chao Mae Lim Ko Niao Fair
This fair is celebrated annually 15 days after Chinese New Year. Highlighting the event is the procession to carry the wooden sculpture of Chao Mae Lim Ko Niao-a goddess which is respected by the Chinese in Pattani. This annual fair also features extraordinary arts of endurance such as walking on fire. Before joining the festival for 7 days, participants of the fair need to be vegetarians by having no-meat food at least 7 days before the festival. Normally, the fair is celebrated widely by the people of Pattani and of nearby provinces.

Fishing Sports in Sai Buri
The event is annually held on the second weekend of May at Hat Wasukri, Amphoe Sai Buri. Due to the long coast and the great amount of a variety of fish, this sport has become very popular and exciting.

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