'''Yala Province''' is the only landlocked province in Southern Thailand, and shares borders with Narathiwat Province, Pattani Province and Songkhla Province, as well as Malaysia.

Understand

Yala is the southernmost province of Thailand, with an area of 4,521 square kilometres. It is the only landlocked province in the south. Today Yala is the border province with many interesting facets: history, culture, and beautiful scenery. The province has a unique mixture of cultural heritage of several groups--Thai, Chinese, and Islam. The city centre has systematic town planning and is one of the educational centers of the south as well.

The word _gYala_h was derived from the local word _gyalo_h meaning _gfish net_h. Yala used to be part of Pattani, a colony of the Sukhothai Kingdom. In B.E. 2310 when Ayutthaya fell to the Burman, southern colonies became independent. During the reign of King Rama I of the Rattanakosin Dynasty, the King sent his brother, Khrom Phra Ratchawangbowon Maha Surasihanat to take Pattani. In B.E. 2351, the King had Pattani separated into 7 smaller colonies, namely Mueang Pattani, MueangSai Buri, MueangNong Chik, MueangYaring, MueangRa Ngae, MueangRaman, and MueangYala. Yala had changed its rulers many times before Monthon was abolished in B.E. 2476 and finally became one of the provinces (Changwat) of Thailand.

Climate

Talk

Cities

  • Yala (????) - the provincial capital
  • Bannang Sata
  • Betong
  • Kabang
  • Kayu Boko
  • Khok Chang
  • Krong Pinang
  • Yaha
  • Other destinations

    Get in

    By car

    Yala is 1,084 kilometers south of Bangkok by road. One can take Highway 4 (Thanon Phetkasem) from Bangkok to Prachuap Khiri Khan, and Chumphon, then onto Highway 41 through Thung Song, Phatthalung, Hat Yai, Pattani, and Yala.

    By plane

    There is no direct flight to Yala but Thai Airways International offers flights from Bangkok to Hat Yai. From Hat Yai one can either take the train, bus, taxi, or air-conditioned van to Yala. Please call Thai Airways at 1566, 0 2280 0060, 0 2628 2000 for more information.

    By train

    Yala is 1,055 kilometres from Bangkok by rail. The State Railway Authority of Thailand operates daily rapid and express train services from Bangkok to Yala. Trains leaves the Bangkok Railway Station at 0.25 p.m., 2.45 p.m. and 3.50 p.m. For more information please call Travelling Service Unit, Bangkok Railway Station at tel: 1690, 0 2223 7010 and 0 2223 7020 or visit www.srt.or.th.

    By bus

    Air-conditioned bus services are run daily between Bangkok and Yala from the Southern Bus Terminal. Departure times from Bangkok are as follows:

  • VIP Bus ? 5.30 p.m.
  • Standard 1 Bus ? 10.30 a.m. and 5 p.m.
  • For further information please call the Southern Bus Terminal at tel: 0 2435 1119-200.

    Thai Doen Rot Co.,Ltd (tel: 0 2435 7424) operates a daily bus service from Bangkok to Betong. The bus leaves the Southern Bus Terminal at 4 p.m.

    Get around

    See

    '''City Pillar Shrine''' (????????????) is located on Thanon Phiphitphakdi, in front of the City Hall. His Majesty the King graciously gave the top of the pillar to Yala on 18 May B.E. 2505. This shrine houses the City Pillar made of Chaiyapruk wood. It is 50 centimetres tall, bottom circumference is 43 inches, top circumference is 36 inches with the four-faced Bhrama and a flame on top. The surrounding area is a park that has been nicely tended. A festival to celebrate the City Pillar is held during 25-31 May.

    '''Yala Central Mosque''' (?????????????????????) is the main mosque of the province, completed in B.E. 2527, in western architectural style intertwined with the unique mosque frame. The front has about 30 wide steps leading to the upper terrace. The roof is square with a dome in the middle.

    '''Sanam Chang Phueak Park''' (???????????????????????) is located on Thanon Phiphitphakdi in an 80-rai plot of land (1 acre = 2.5 rai). It was used as the ground to give the King a white elephant (chang phueak) named _gPhra Sawet Sura Khachathan_h on 9 March B.E. 2511. The Park has a pavilion in the middle of a large pond and various sculpture of animals. The ground of the Park is also used for provincial activities.

    '''Suan Khwan Mueang(????????????)''' is located on Thanon Thetsaban 1, about 300 metres from the City Pillar Shrine. Its vast area of 207 rai has a separate sportsground and a 69 rai pond, landscaped with sandy beach and sea pines to remedy the landlocked problem of the province. Furthermore, singing bird contest (Nok Kao Java) is often held at this Park since it is the largest and the best ground for such contest in the south.

    '''Wat Khuhaphimuk or Wat Na Tham''' (????????????????????????????????????????) is one of the three most revered places of the south, along with Phra Borommathat at Nakhon Si Thammarat and Phra Borommathat Chaiya at Surat Thani, signifying the importance of Buddhism in the area since the Srivijaya Period. This temple is located in Tambon Na Tham, about eight kilometres from the city centre, on the road to Amphoe Yaha. A stream runs through the ground of the temple. A figure of a giant, made in B.E. 2484 and named by the villagers as _gChao Khao_h, protects the entrance of the cave that houses the reclining Buddha. Inside the cave is a large chamber that has been converted into a religious area, with an opening in the roof of the cave that lets in the sunlight. The reclining Buddha has been estimated to have been made in B.E. 1300, around the Srivijaya Period that is 81 feet and one inch long. It is believed that the sculpture was in the Sleeping Narai posture but later modified into the Hinayana reclining Buddha.

    '''Tham Mae Nang Montho''' (?????????????) is a cave on the Yala-Yaha highway, about six kilometres from the city centre. The cave can be reached with a guide who can be contacted at the foothill. One has to trek through a scrub and a marble quarry for about 15 minutes to the cave entrance. Inside the cave are large connecting chambers that are mostly dark. A torch is highly recommended. The highlight of this place is at the end of the cave with a large stalagmite resembling the shape of a meditating lady, hence the name of the cave.

    '''Tham Sin''' (????????) is another cave that can be reached via the same route as Tham Khuhaphimuk, for one kilometre further, then turn left for another kilometre passing the Ban Tham Sin School. On the left is a small trek leading to a hill next to the road. The cave is 28 metres high above the ground with steps leading to the entrance. This is a very small and dark cave with ancient mural of different postures of the Lord Buddha and a painting of three women standing together on the cave wall that has deteriorated with time. The mural was assumed to be of late Srivijaya Period, around 19-20 Buddhist Centuries. A torch or a lamp is highly recommended to view the mural and the cave itself.

    Amphoe Bannang Sata

    '''Bang Lang Dam (????????????)''' is located at Ban Bang Lang, Tambon Bacho, on Highway 410, about 50 kilometres from Amphoe MueangYala, then left for twelve kilometres. This Dam is the first multi-purpose dam in the South, on Pattani River. It is 85 metres high with a crest of 422 metres long, and the reservoir capacity of 1,420 million cubic metres. His Majesty the King presided over the opening ceremony on 27 September B.E. 2524. An overlook upstream of the dam around the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand office affords a panoramic view of the dam and the surrounding hills. For cabin reservation please call (073) 299-237-8 and for boating in the reservoir please call (073) 281-063-66, extension 2291.

    '''Tham Krachaeng (?????????)''' is a cave located at Ban Ka Sot, Tambon Bannang Sata, about 50 kilometres from Amphoe Mueang Yala on Highway 410, passing the entrance to Bang Lang Dam then turn left onto a dirt road for 1.5 kilometres. The scenery is that of the mountains, the stream, and the cave, with the stream running through. During the dry season, one can walk along the stream through this cave to the other side and into an open area surrounded by mountains and lush forest.

    '''Namtok Sukthalai or Namtok Kue Long (????????????????????????????)''' is in the compound of the Southern Self-Development Community, on Khao Pok Yo which has a transmission station. The waterfall is on the Yala-Betong road, about 40 kilometres from Amphoe Mueang, then turn left for another eight kilometres. It was discovered in B.E. 2507, consisting of five levels. The Princess Mother named it _gNamtok Sukthalai_h. One can swim in the small pool on several levels.

    Amphoe Than To

    '''Namtok Than To (??????????)''' is situated in Tambon Tham Talu, on the Yala-Betong road (Highway 410), turn right at the 47-48 kilometre stone for about one kilometre. It is a large waterfall with cascading water running through seven levels with pools for swimming. The surrounding forest is lush with many interesting species including Si Yala (Saraca thaipingensis Cantley ex Prain) with yellow blooms in February.

    '''Namtok La-ong Rung (Rainbow Waterfall) (??????????????)''' is situated on the boundary between Amphoe Than To and Amphoe Betong, about 90 kilometres on the Yala-Betong road from Amphoe Mueang. Turn right onto a dirt road at about 40 kilometres before reaching Amphoe Betong, for about 100 metres. The slippery trek leads along the stream from the waterfall calls for precaution. During the rainy season, the waterfall has the effect of the rainbow, hence the name.

    '''Sakai Village (????????????)''' at Mu 3, Tambon Ban Rae, about 80 kilometres on the road to Betong. The Sakai is an ancient nomad tribe who exists on hunting and gathering, is an expert on herbal plants and using darts for hunting. Their dwellings were originally made of bamboo, with thatch roof. Recently the Department of Social Work has developed the village by segregating the Sakai in one area and introduced rubber planting as their occupation. The Department also asked the Princess Mother for the naming of the group with the family name of _gSi Than To_h. At present, there are a few of the Sakai left at this village, the rest of the group has moved to other areas.

    Amphoe Raman

    '''Namtok Bu Ke Pilo or Namtok Tawan Ratsami (??????????????????????????????????)''' is about 19 kilometres from Amphoe Mueang. Take the Yala-Kota Baru road, then turn into Kota Baru through to Tambon Tha Ruea for about two kilometres and turn into the village for another two kilometres. The entrance to the waterfall is about 500 metres from the village. This waterfall is different from other waterfalls in that when sunlight shines onto the water, it will affect the color of the underwater rocks--they all turn beautiful yellow.

    Festivals

    '''ASEAN Java Songbird Contest (????????????????????????????????????)''' Yala is one of the southern provinces that favor Java Songbirds. It is widely believed that Java Songbirds are good luck charms that would bring good luck to their owners, especially those birds with prescribed characteristics. The Yala Municipality Authority and the Java Songbird Owner Association annually stage the ASEAN Java Songbird Contest on the first weekend of March. The first contest was held in B.E. 2529 and was very successful, leading to the annual event held on the ground of Suan Khwan Mueang.

    '''The City Pillar Ceremony (????????????????????????????)''', held annually in May on the ground of the Yala Municipality Office, in which the model City Pillar is paraded. Stalls displaying goods for sale, exhibition, Government products, folk entertainment such as Manora Dance, Nung Talung, and Hulu Li Ke are also on hand.

    '''Yala Product and Cultural Revival Festival (???????????????????????????????????????)''' is held annually on the first weekend of August, on the grounds of the Yala Municipality Office. Folk cultures from the various groups in the border provinces of the south, mainly Chinese-Thai Buddhists and Thai Muslim, are performed. There are also contests for Chi La Dance, Best Dressed Banong, Si Bu-nga Siri (a special kind of potpourri), Rong-ngeng Dance, Annacit Singing contest in Malay and Thai languages, plus folk performances from various schools in the area. Exhibition of Yala_fs best produce is not to be missed.

    Buy

    '''Shogun oranges (????????)''' is Yala_fs leading economic crop. They are similar to the green sweet oranges but have soft tastier flesh.

    '''Kluai Hin (????????)''' is a kind of banana, similar to Kluay Nam Wa, when boiled or glazed will have nutty taste.

    '''Betong Noodles (????????)''', the egg noodles that are very tasty.

    '''Betong Soy Sauce (??????????)''' is made from soybeans with special method.

    Tourists can also enjoy the wide variety of Betong specialties. They are: chopped Betong chicken, prepared with local chicken and ladled with Betong soy sauce; steamed Chinese carp in plum sauce, the fish is raised only in Betong and can be prepared for several dishes; khao yok (??????) is made from fatty pork roasted with taro; phak nam (??????) is a vegetable that grows in flowing streams found only in Betong, it is prepared for a soup or stir-fried.

    Do

    Sleep

    Stay safe

    In 2004, long-simmering resentment in the southern-most Muslim-majority provinces burst into 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) in September 2006, but while targets have included hotels, karaoke lounges and shopping malls, westerners have not been singled out for attacks.

    Get out