Narathiwat Province
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| Capital: | Narathiwat |
| Area: | 4,475.0 km² Ranked 50th |
| Inhabitants: | 662,350 (2000) Ranked 36th |
| Pop. density: | 148 inh./km² Ranked 24th |
| ISO 3166-2: | TH-96 |
| Governor: | Karan Supphakitwilekhakan (since November 2004) |
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Narathiwat (Thai: นราธิวาส) is one of the southern provinces (changwat) of Thailand. Neighboring provinces are (from west clockwise) Yala and Pattani. To the south it borders the Malaysian state of Kelantan.
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[edit] Geography
The province is located on the shore of the Gulf of Thailand on the Malay Peninsula. The main river of the province is the Bang Nara River, which opens into the Gulf at the town Narathiwat. Nearby the river estuary is the Narathat beach, the most popular beach within the province.
Budo - Su-ngai Padi National Park is located within the Sankalakhiri mountain range. The main attraction within the park is the Pacho Waterfall. The park was established in 1974 and covers a total area of 294 km², including parts of neighboring Yala and Pattani province.[1]
[edit] Etymology
The original name of Narathiwat was Menara, means 'tower' in Malay. In Thai this was changed to Bang Nara (บางนรา). It was renamed to Narathiwat by the Thai government in 1915.[2] The name Narathiwat, originating from Sanskrit, means The residence of wise people.
[edit] History
Historically Pattani Province was the centre of the semi-independent Malay Sultanate of Patani, but paying tribute to the Thai kingdoms of Sukhothai and Ayutthaya. After Ayutthaya fell in 1767, Sultanate of Patani gained full independence but under King Rama I it again came under Siam's control.
In 1909, it was fully integrated into Siam as part of Anglo-Siamese Treaty of 1909 negotiated with the British Empire. Along with Yala, Narathiwat was originally part of Monthon Pattani. There is a separatist movement in Yala, which after being dormant for many years erupted again in 2004.
[edit] Demographics
Narathiwat is one of the four Thai provinces which have a Muslim majority, 82% are Muslim and only 17.9% are Buddhist. Also 80.4% speak the Patani Malay language. The Narathiwat Malays are very similar in ethnicity and culture to the Malays of Kelantan, Malaysia.
[edit] Places
The Central Mosque of Narathiwat (also named Yumiya Mosque or Rayo Mosque) is located 1 km outside the town Narathiwat. It was built in 1981 as a three-storied Arabian-style building including a high minaret tower, replacing the old wooden mosque built in 1938.
Within Khao Kong Buddhist Park is the Buddha statue named Phuttha Thaksin Ming Mongkhon, the largest outdoor Buddha image in southern Thailand.
Just outside the city of Narathiwat is Thaksin Ratchaniwet Palace, built in 1975 as a summer residence of King Bhumibol Adulyadej. The palace is located on a hill directly at the coast.
Hat Narathat (หาดนราทัศน์) is a clean, white beach about 5 kilometres long. It ends at a cape at the mouth of Bang Nara River where the annual Kolae boat races are held. The rows of pines give the area a refreshing shade. Nearby are fishing villages spread along the river and the bay is full of Kolae boats of fishermen.
New Central Mosque This is a religious site for Thai Muslims. The Arabian-style building has 3 floors. The ground floor is the main convention hall and the prayer rooms are on the top 2 floors. The top is covered with a large dome and there is a high tower for calling Muslims to prayer.
Ao Manao Park (อ่าวมะนาว) This is a long beach that connects with the east coast of Pattani Province. The bay is around 4 kilometres long. Rocks divide the beach into parts. The beach has an arboretum and a row of pines that makes it conducive for relaxation. There is also a beach forest study trail.
Phikun Thong Development Study Centre (ศูนย์ศึกษาการพัฒนาพิกุลทอง) was established according to the wish of His Majesty the King who wanted it to be a knowledge centre for land reform in the area. The centre has an area of 2,784,000 square metres, divided into office buildings, demonstration plots and testing plots in swamp forest areas.
Ban Yakang (หมู่บ้านยะกัง) is an old community that has been in existence since the province was just Bang Nara village. It is now a major Batik production centre. The fabrics made here have beautiful designs and colours, all made by traditional techniques.
Ban Thon (หมู่บ้านทอน) This is a traditional Thai Muslim fishing village that is a production centre of real and miniature Kolae boats. The boats are all the more valuable because they are made by boys ages 13 and up. Some children spend their free time making these miniature boats, which is considered to be a form of local art.
Wat Chon Thara Singhe (วัดชลธาราสิงเห) This is a Buddhist temple among a predominantly Muslim community. The chapel built in the reign of King Rama V has wall murals drawn by Songkhla monks. It also houses a main Buddha image made of gold, which covers its original features of a red mouth and black hair.
Ko Yao (เกาะยาว) is not too far from Wat Chon Thara Singhe. The eastern part of the island is adjacent to the sea and has a white beach with fine sand and cozy surroundings. The people here are mostly Muslims who are fishermen and who have simple homes in coconut plantations.
Kubu Beach-Ban Khlong Tan (หาดกูบู-บ้านคลองตัน) covers Tambon Sai Wan and Tambon Sala Mai all the way to Tambon Chehe and ending at the mouth of Su-ngai Kolok River. The total distance is around 24 kilometres.
Taba Checkpoint or Tak Bai Checkpoint (ด่านตาบาหรือด่านตากใบ) is at Ban Taba, Tambon Chehe, around 3 kilometres from the district.
Su-ngai Kolok Checkpoint (ด่านสุไหงโกลก) seems livelier than Narathiwat town, probably because it is the largest border trading area in the province and cross-border traffic is common between Thailand and Malaysia.
Chao Mae Tomo Shrine (ศาลเจ้าแม่โต๊ะโมะ) The figure used to be at Ban Tomo in Amphoe Su Khirin. Later villagers transferred it to Su-ngai Kolok. It is revered by locals and people in nearby provinces, as well as Chinese Malaysians.
Sirindhorn Peat Swamp Forest Nature Research and Study Centre (To Daeng Peat Swamp Forest) (ศูนย์วิจัยและศึกษาธรราชาติป่าพรุสิรินธร หรือ ป่าพรุโต๊ะแดง) is the last remaining peat swamp forest in Thailand. The centre has arranged nature study treks to publicize knowledge about peat swamp forests. There are over 400 species of plants in the peat swamp forest. There are over 200 animal species in the forest.
Chat Warin Waterfall (น้ำตกฉัตรวาริน) This is a medium-sized waterfall that has water the year round and is shady from the many trees in the area.The most striking plant here is the rare Bangsun Palm. The palm is regarded by many as the most beautiful palm in the world and is found only in this forest.
Budo-Su-ngai Padi Mountain Range National Park (อุทยานแห่งชาติเทือกเขาบูโด – สุไหงปาดี) used to be a part of Sankala Khiri mountain range that divides Thailand and Malaysia. The area was a haven for guerrillas and few people ventured in to see the natural beauty of the jungle here. The most distinctive plant here is “Golden Leaves” or “Yandao.
300 Years Mosque (มัสยิด 300 ปี) The style is traditional Thai with contemporary Chinese and Malay. The most outstanding feature is that above the roof is a base that supports a gable. The Azan tower has a Chinese style and is situated on the rear part of the roof. The tower has wooden walls with windows. The air holes are carved with leaf, flower and Chinese designs.
Luang Pho Daeng of Wat Choeng Khao (หลวงพ่อแดงวัดเชิงเขา) Luang Pho Daeng, the temple’s ex-abbot and a revered monk of the province, died on 1 January 1979 at the age of 90 years old. His body did not decompose after death, resulting in great worship by locals and they placed the body in a glass coffin for people to pay their respects to.
Sirindhorn Waterfall (น้ำตกสิรินธร) is not a waterfall that falls from a high cliff but is really a stream that comes down from a forest at a higher altitude. Apart from the waterfall, there is the Southern Forest Flowers and Decorative Plants Survey and Collection Project under the Patronage of HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn.
Hala-Bala Wildlife Reserve (เขตรักษาพันธุ์สัตว์ป่าฮาลา – บาลา) is a new conservation area of Thailand. It covers the Sankala Khiri mountain range, Hala forest and Bala forest that are deep forests not connected to each other but are part of the same reserve.
[edit] Symbols
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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. |
[edit] Administrative divisions
Narathiwat is subdivided into 13 districts (Amphoe), which are further subdivided into 77 subdistricts (tambon) and 551 villages (muban).
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Local government entities within the province are the two towns (thesaban mueang) Narathiwat and Sungai Kolok, and 12 subdistrict municipalities (thesaban tambon).
[edit] Unrest
There has been unrest in southern Thailand since January 4, 2004, particularly in the provinces of Narathiwat, Yala, and Pattani. These regions are home to most of the Muslim minority in Thailand, many of whom are also ethnic Malays. These have been the scene of separatist activity since the 1980s. The population is particularly disaffected by the perceived heavy-handed crackdown on these activities by the central government, which has portrayed the security problems in the region as a non-issue.
On October 26, 2004, 78 people were suffocated after being put in police trucks in Tak Bai, having been suspected of taking part in riots around the region.
[edit] References
- ^ udo - Su-ngai Padi National Park. National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department.
- ^ "ประกาศ เปลี่ยนชื่อเมืองบางนรา เป็นเมืองนราธิวาส" (in Thai) (August 8 1915). Royal Gazette 32 (0 ก): 145.
[edit] External links
- http://www.pocnara.go.th Website of province (Thai)
- Province page from the Tourist Authority of Thailand
- Narathiwat provincial map, coat of arms and postal stamp
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