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Narathiwat
From Wikitravel
Contents
Narathiwat (นราธิวาส) is a city in Deep Southern Thailand.
[edit] Understand
Narathiwat is the easternmost of four southern provinces that border Malaysia. The economic and border tourism centre is at Sungai Kolok where Malaysians like to spend their holiday and shop. The area has a constant flow of culture and trading.
The majority of the population is Muslims, with the Yawi language predominantely used in verbal and written language (Yawi has roots from the spoken Malay language and uses consonants and alphabets of the Arabic language).
The Province of Narathiwat covers a total area of 4,475 square kilometres. It is on the eastern coast of the Malay Peninsula. The north borders Pattani and the Gulf of Thailand, the west borders Yala, the east borders the Gulf of Thailand, and the south borders Kelantan in Malaysia. Most of the area consist of primary rainforest jungles and overgrown mountains. The plains where 4 rivers converge are adjacent to the gulf. The rivers are namely: Sai Buri, Bang Nara, Tak Bai, and Sungai Kolok. Narathiwat has a tropical climate and has only 2 seasons; summer and rainy. The wettest period is during November to December.
[edit] History
Originally, Ban Bang Nara or Manalo was just a village on the bank of the Bang Nara River next to the sea. In the reign of King Rama I, Ban Bang Nara was under the administration of Sai Buri. It later became a precinct and came under the responsibility of Rangae in Pattani province. In 1906, iduring the reign of King Rama V, Ban Bang Nara grew into a large community, with highly active land- and seabound traderoutes touching the town. The provincial government offices were shfted from Rangae to Ban Manalo and in 1915, King Rama VI visited Bang Nara and grenamed the city Narathiwat, meaning "home of wise people".
[edit] Get in
[edit] By plane
Thai Airways and Air Asia serve Narathiwat Airport, located about 15 km north of the City near the Chulabhorn Military Installation from Bangkok.
[edit] By train
Su-Ngai Kolok in the Province of Narathiwat near the Malaysian Border with the State of Kelantan (Kota Bharu) is the southern Terminal station for the Bangkok - Su-Ngai Kolok route. Several trains run daily. Visitors to Narathiwat City may disembark prior to this station but lack of public transport may make travel from the smaller stations to the Province's capital awkward. Plans to connect the missing link (21 km of track) between Su-Ngai Kolok and Pasir Mas in Malaysia are on the tables but executing construction hasn't begun yet. Pasir Mas lies on the northern leg of the socalled "Jungletrain", connecting the northern Malaysian Gulfregion with the rest of Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore.
Recent Terrorist activities in the Province lead quite frequently to a cancellation of trains proceeding further south than Hat Yai. Derailments of passenger trains by means of sabotaged tracks and the recent killings of Railway staff within the train have again lead to temporary halts of all services. Trains full of passengers have also be prone to wildly fired bullets by insurgents. Presently the services have resumed, please inquire before departure on current situations there.
[edit] By bus
To/from Bangkok: Air-con buses by The Transport Co. Ltd (บริษัท ขนส่ง จำกัด (บขส.), bor-kor-sor) run between Bangkok southern bus terminal (สายใต้, sai-tai) and Narathiwat bus terminal daily. The distance is ~1161km and normally takes 14 hours. 24 seats VIP bus (พิเศษ, piset) costs 1295 baht, departs from Bangkok at 17:15. On the reverse, the departure is at 12:30. 47 seats Class 2 bus (ม2) costs 669 baht, departs from Bangkok at 15:30 and Narathiwat at 12:45.
[edit] By Minivan
Scheduled minivan services ply the routes between Su-Ngai-Kolok / Hat Yai / Yala / Pattani and the new Narathiwat bus terminal on the outskirts of town, roughly 500m past the Provincial Hospital on the left hand side of the road to Ranggae. Ticket prices are 80 baht for Su-Ngai-Kolok and 170 baht to Hat Yai.
[edit] Get around
Take motorcycle taxi around the city area at about 10-20 baht. Alternatively, a bicycle can be rented at a rate of 50 baht/day to explore the city area. Motorcycle rentals are not available in town. Songtheauws ply the scenic route to Taba (Tak Bai) and take passengers from the Monument square to either Ratchanivet Palace or near Ao Manao National Park. A new airconditioned busline connects the bus terminal with the beach at Hat Narathat, fare is a flat 9 baht.
[edit][add listing] See
- Hat Narathat หาดมราทัศน์ [[Image:narathat beach- narathiwat, thailan.jpg|thumb|narathat beach]
- Ao Manao/Khao Tanyong National Park - beautiful natural beach with a few large rocks, ideal for beachpiknicking, bathing and beachcombing, few visitors only - a true 4 star beach!
- Matsayit Klang มัสยิดกลาง - known as the central mosque, located at the southern end of Thanon Pichitbamrung
- Wat Khao Kong วัดเขากง
- Matsayit Jangwat มัสยิดจังหวัด - known as the provincial mosque, located at the northern end of Thanon Pichitbamrung
- Matsayit Wadi Al Husen (Talo Mano) มัสยิดวาดินฮูเช็น - known locally as 'Matsayit Song Roi Pi' (มัสยิดสองร้อยปี) or 200-year-old mosque
[edit][add listing] Do
- Bang Nara Riverside Festival - local atmosphere with lots of teens and twens, live music and lots of foodstalls right along the riverside promenade. Every Saturday, begins at around 18:00 hrs.
- Narathiwat Fair - held around the middle of September every year
[edit][add listing] Buy
Miniature Korlae boats, colorful headcaps and headscarves
[edit][add listing] Eat
Restaurants are plenty but be aware that these serve local muslim oriented dishes only!
[edit][add listing] Drink
No bars like in most other Thai towns due to the predominantly muslim population. Alcohol / beer can however be bought at most grocery stores and at the 7-elevens in town.
[edit][add listing] Sleep
[edit] Budget
- Ocean Blue Mansion A fairly new budgethotel with well appointed rooms (lift, cable TV, refrigerator, queen bed, hot shower, aircon) for 350 baht/night. Bang Nara View rooms are slightly higher. phone 073 511109 / 511047. Hotel is situated on the banks of Bang Nara River quite close to it meeting the gulf of Thailand. Great views of the river and it's activities and also of Khao Tanyong in the distance. Free covered Parking, boatdock available on request.
- Narathiwat Hotel Older wooden structure with basic rooms
[edit] Mid-range
- Baan Burong Guest House
- Rex Hotel
- Pacific Hotel,41/1-2 Worakakhampipith Rd. Ampure Muang, Narathiwat, 96000 Thailand ; Tel: (073) 511 076,Fax: (073) 511 259. The hotel is located between the two main roads of downtown, a block south/east of the Tower Clock. The rooms are clean and simple (w. hot water showers & TV). The staff is friendly and helpful. It has also a small restaurant. Comfort wise it is far less than the Royal Princess and just below the Tanyong Hotel but much less expensive. Prices range from 300 THB (Fan) to 400 THB (Air Cond.).
- Tanyong Hotel,16/1 Sopapisai Rd. Ampure Muang, Narathiwat, 96000 Thailand ; Tel: (073) 511 477-9,Fax: (073) 511 834.The Tanyong is located towards the beach end of town and has comfortable well kitted out rooms at reasonable prices.The Tanyong Hotel offers the additional amenities of a 24-hour restaurant, a snooker club, the Ladybird Ancient Massage and the Perdana Disco. And situated on Walakam Pipid Road, close to the recently completed promenade along the Bang Nara River, the Pacific Hotel provides excellent mid-range value with 23 standard AC rooms.Prices range from $21-$43. (The actual beach is still about a 45 minute walk away!)
[edit] Splurge
- Royal Princess Narathiwat
[edit] Stay safe
In 2004, long-simmering resentment in the southern-most Muslim-majority provinces burst into widespread violence in Narathiwat, Pattani and Yala provinces. Some rebel groups have threatened foreigners, and three foreigners were killed in bombings in Hat Yai (in neighbouring Songkhla Province) Further tourists and locals fell victim to this violence ever since. Main target of bomb attacks seem to be public markets, hotels, entertainment venues and shopping areas. Train services have repeatedly halted to all 3 southernmost provinces due to rebel activities targeting trains and killings of train staff.
[edit] Get out
- Sungai Kolok - border town, gateway to Kota Bahru and the east coast of Malaysia
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