Songkhla has something for everyone.
For people seeking peace and quiet, they can rarely
go wrong with the city of Songkhla and its
nearby beaches. For avid shoppers, Hat yai
provides endless thrills. Together both cities
make this province a fascinating place for a
mere stopover or an extended holiday.
Songkhla Attractions: Hat Yai's shopping opportunities are legendary
and being so near the Malaysian border (50 km.) has afforded
it with every kind of goods found in Thailand and Malaysia. The
main shopping districts are the Niphat Uthit 2 and
3 roads where
stalls sell everything from fresh fruits to electronic gadgets.
Furthermore, the city is highly popular for its delectable Thai
and Chinese cuisines. Specialties such as shark fins soup and
bird's nest are much in demand here. Worth visiting is Wat Hat
Yai Nai in the city which houses the world's third largest reclining
Buddha image. Ton Nga Chang Waterfall, 26 km. from Hat Yai City,
is a high, 7-tier waterfall with shady trees ideal for picnics.
Without a doubt one of the most picturesque beaches
of the South, Samila Beach is a 3-kilometre stretch of
white sand that is as popular as its mermaid statue. Offshore
are the famous islands of Ko Nu (mouse) and Ko Maeo
(cat). The fishing community of Khao Seng to the south
of Samila features a huge, immovable boulder called Hua Nai
Rang which according to folklore sits atop pirate treasure.
Songkhla City has its own beautiful temple to
rival Wat Hat Yai Nai Wat Matchimawat is a must-see for
its display of antiques dating over 4 centuries. The Songkhla
National Museum in the city likewise has antiques on display,
the highlight being those recovered from shipwrecks in the Gulf
of Thailand.
Songkhla is also blessed with the scenic
Songkhla
Lake, an inland body of water connected to the Gulf of Thailand.
The Khu Khut Waterfowl Sanctuary in the lake is the home
to thousands of waterfowls and aquatic birds which usually come
to seek refuge during December and May. Another attraction of
Songkhla Lake is the Institute of Southern Thai Studies
located on Ko Yo some 10 km. from Songkhla. The institute has
a museum tracing the history of people in the area and an excellent
collection of folk arts and crafts. Ko Yo can be reached by the
Tinsulanonda Bridge, Thailand's longest concrete bridge.
Songkhla/Hat Yai is a good place for sportsmen
and sports fans to catch some action. There are 2 shooting
ranges in Hat Yai, one operated by the Royal Thai Navy, the
other by the Hat Yai Police. Songkhla has 2 9-hole golf courses,
at Samila and Kho Hong and another 18-hole course is to be
opened in 1994, the province's first. Golfers can enjoy both
the fantastic scenery of the courses and their remarkably low
fees.
