Narathiwat Province
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| Statistics | |
|---|---|
| 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: | Winai Kharuwannaphat (since 2008) |
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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
Narathiwat province is located on the Gulf of Thailand, on the Malay Peninsula. The Bang Nara is the main river and enters the Gulf of Thailand at the town of Narathiwat. Narathat beach, the most popular in the province, is near the estuary.
Budo - Su-ngai Padi National Park is located within the Sankalakhiri mountain range. Established in 1974, the park covers an area of 294 km², extending into neighbouring Yala and Pattani province. The main attraction is Pacho Waterfall.[1]
[edit] Etymology
The original name of Narathiwat was Menara (Jawi: منارا), meaning a 'tower' in Malay. This was changed to Bang Nara (บางนรา) in Thai. It was finally changed to Narathiwat by King Rama VI in 1915.[2] "Narathiwat", from the Sanskrit (Nara+adhivāsa), means the residence of wise people.
[edit] History
Historically Narathiwat was the part of the semi-independent Malay Sultanate of Patani, 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 Thai control some 20 years later.
In 1909, Narathiwat was fully integrated into Siam as part of Anglo-Siamese Treaty of 1909 negotiated with the British Empire. Along with Yala, Narathiwat was then part of Monthon Pattani. There is a small but active separatist movement, 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 as their first language. Narathiwat Malays are very similar in ethnicity and culture to the Malays of Kelantan, Malaysia.
[edit] Places to visit
The Central Mosque of Narathiwat (also known as Yumiya Mosque or Rayo Mosque) is located 1 km outside the town Narathiwat. It was built in 1981 as a three-storey Arabian-style building with a high minaret, replacing a wooden mosque built in 1938.
Khao Kong Buddhist Park features a huge statue of the Buddha, called the Phuttha Taksin Ming Mongkhon. It is the largest outdoor Buddha figure in southern Thailand.
Just outside the city of is Taksin Ratchaniwet Palace, built in 1975 as a summer residence of King Bhumibol Adulyadej. It is located on Khao Tanyong, a hill at the seacoast.
Hat Narathat (หาดนราทัศน์) is a wide sandy beach 5 kilometers long. It stretches from the northern end of Narathiwat to the cape at the mouth of Bang Nara River, which is the site the annual Korlae boat races. Rows of sea pine trees (casuarinas) provide shade for the beach. Two bridges connect Hat Narathat with the town and span a body of water filled with colourful wooden fishing boats.
New Central Mosque is an Arabian-style 3 storey building. The ground floor contains the main convention hall, while the prayer rooms are on the upper floors.
Ao Manao Beach and National Park (อ่าวมะนาว) has a curved beach with many rocks and boulders, which protect the southern bay from wave generated erosion. The beach has an arboretum and a long row of sea pines. There is a beach forest study trail.
Phikun Thong Development Study Centre (ศูนย์ศึกษาการพัฒนาพิกุลทอง) was established at the request of His Majesty the King, who desired it to be a centre for land reform. It has an area of 2,784,000 square metres, divided among office buildings, demonstration plots and testing plots in swamp forest areas.
Ban Yakang (หมู่บ้านยะกัง) is an old community which is a major batik producing centre. The batik made is made by traditional techniques and features beautiful designs and colours.
Ban Thon (หมู่บ้านทอน) is a traditional Thai Muslim fishing village that still produces Korlae boats. Children spend their free time making miniature boats to sell.
Wat Chon Thara Singhe (วัดชลธาราสิงเห) is a Buddhist temple. Built in the reign of King Rama V, the vihan has murals painted by monks rom Songkla. It houses a Buddha figure made of gold.
Ko Yao (เกาะยาว) is near Wat Chon Thara Singhe. The eastern portion has a white beach with fine sand. The people are mostly Muslims fishermen, though there are coconut plantations.
Kubu Beach-Ban Khlong Tan (หาดกูบู-บ้านคลองตัน) covers Tambon Sai Wan and Tambon Sala Mai. The total distance is about 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) is the largest border trading area in Narathiwat province between Thailand and Malaysia.
Chao Mae Tomo Shrine (ศาลเจ้าแม่โต๊ะโมะ) This shrine was formerly at Ban Tomo in Amphoe Su Khirin, but has been moved to Su-ngai Kolok. It is revered by locals, 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 arranges nature study treks. There are over 400 plants species and more than 200 animal species in the forest.
Chat Warin Waterfall (น้ำตกฉัตรวาริน) is a medium-sized waterfall. Found here is the rare Bangsun Palm, regarded as the most beautiful palm in the world. It is found only in this forest.
Budo-Su-ngai Padi Mountain Range National Park (อุทยานแห่งชาติเทือกเขาบูโด – สุไหงปาดี) is a part of Sankala Khiri mountain range, which divides Thailand and Malaysia. It was formerly a haven for communist guerrillas. The most distinctive plant is the “Golden Leaves” or “Yandao.
300 Years Mosque (มัสยิด 300 ปี) is unusual in that it is built in traditional Thai style, with a mixture of contemporary Chinese and Malay.
Luang Pho Daeng of Wat Choeng Khao (หลวงพ่อแดงวัดเชิงเขา) was a revered Buddhist monk and the abbot of this temple. He died on January 1, 1979 at the age of 90. Amazingly, his body did not decompose after death, and his remains were place in a glass coffin. Many locals come pay their respect to the deceased abbot.
Sirindhorn Waterfall (น้ำตกสิรินธร) is really a stream that comes down from a forest at a higher altitude. Located here 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 that covers the Sankala Khiri mountain range, the Hala forest and the Bala forest. The forests donot connect with 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. A white elephant is a royal symbol, and was put on the seal to commemorate the white elephant Phra Sri Nararat Rajakarini which was caught here and presented 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 rhe 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] Recent History
There has been unrest in southern Thailand since January 4, 2004, especially in the majority Muslim provinces of Narathiwat, Yala, and Pattani. Most of the inhabitants of these provinces also are aethnic Malays. There been violent jihadist activity since the 1980s. While the population may not support the separatists, many are nevertheless disaffected by the perceived heavy-handedness of the crackdown on the jihadis by the central government.
On October 26, 2004, 78 Narathiwat Muslims suffocated after being arrested and stacked in police trucks in Tak Bai, allegedly for taking part in riots around the province.
On June 8th 2009, at least 10 people died in a shooting during the Muslim evening prayers. Five or six gunmen disguised themselves with ski masks and attacked a Mosque. The army in Thailand has denied involvement in the shooting.[3]
[edit] References
- ^ "udo - Su-ngai Padi National Park". National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department. http://www.dnp.go.th/parkreserve/asp/style1/default.asp?npid=119&lg=2.
- ^ "ประกาศ เปลี่ยนชื่อเมืองบางนรา เป็นเมืองนราธิวาส" (in Thai) (PDF). Royal Gazette 32 (0 ก): 145. August 8 1915. http://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2458/A/145.PDF.
- ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/8090599.stm
[edit] External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Narathiwat |
- 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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Coordinates: 6°25′44″N 101°49′26″E / 6.42889°N 101.82389°E
