Narathiwat Map and Travel Guide
Narathiwat Travel Guide
Narathiwat at a glance
Located approximately some 1,149 kilometers south of Bangkok is
Narathiwat the southernmost province in Thailand and one of the
nation's five provinces that borders Malaysia at Amphoe Su-ngai
Kolok, where the southern railway line ends.
Access from Malaysia is convenient via a ninety-minute bus trip
and two immigration points where travelers can cross into Thailand
and vice versa. With Amphoe Su-ngai Kolok serving as an economic
and border tourism center, the province welcomes an increasing numbers
of Malaysians and Singaporeans on short holidays or shopping sprees.
Geographically, Narathiwat is situated on the eastern coast of
the Malay Peninsula. The north borders Pattani Province and the
Gulf of Thailand, the west borders Yala Province, the east borders
the Gulf of Thailand, and the south borders Kelantan in Malaysia.
The plains where the Maenam Sai Buri, Maenam Bang Nara, Maenam Tak
Bai and Maenam Su-ngai Kolok converge are adjacent to the gulf.
With an area of 4,475 square kilometers, of which 75 percent are
jungles and mountains, visitors to the province are provided with
great opportunities to spend days at the beach or in the forests
and take excursion trips to some of the magnificent temples. Narathiwat
has a tropical climate and has only 2 seasons; summer and rainy.
The wettest period is during November to December.
Narathiwat literally means "the residence of good people".
The city of Narathiwat has an abundance of traditional culture and
authenticity with village-like tranquility. The inhabitants of Narathiwat
are largely farmers and fishermen with the majority being Muslims
who use the spoken and written Yawi language (Yawi has roots from
the spoken Malay language and uses Arabic consonants and alphabets).
As such, Narathiwat is an amazing and unique area with a constant
flow of culture and trade between Thais and Malaysians.
Provincial Seal
The provincial seal depicts a sailing boat with a picture of a
white elephant on the sail in a circle. It signifies that Narathiwat
is a province on the coast, engaged in fishing and trading with
neighboring countries and that the province has a white elephant
called Phra Sri Nararat Rajakarin.
History of Narathiwat
In the past, Narathiwat was a southern borderland named "Ban
Bang Nara" or "Manalo". It was located near Maenam
Bang Nara and the sea. In the reign of King Rama I, this village
was under the administration of Sai Buri. Later, it came under the
administration of Ra Ngae town of Pattani province.
In 1906, Bang Nara became a big trading city with well-developed
sea and land transportation. King Rama V moved the administration
office from Ra Ngae to Manalo. In 1915, King Rama VI changed the
name of the town to "Narathiwat".
Todays Narathiwat
Narathiwat is currently divided into 12 districts, namely Mueang,
Ra-ngae, Su-ngai Padi, Sungai Kolok, Ruso, Yi-ngo, Waeng, Bacho,
Tak Bai, Si Sakhon, Sukhirin, Chanae and one Sub District of Cho
Ai Rong.
Distances from Amphoe Mueang (Town) to Neighbouring Districts:
Chanae 47 kms.
Cho Ai Rong 31 kms.
Tak Bai 33 kms.
Bacho 28 kms.
Yi-ngo 18 kms.
Ra-ngae 24 kms.
Ruso 48 kms.
Waeng 48 kms.
Si Sakhon 83 kms.
Sukhirin 65 kms.
Su-ngai Kolok 112 kms.
Su-ngai Padi 63 kms.
How to get there
By Car
From Bangkok: Take Highway No. 4 passing Prachuap Khiri Khan and
Chumphon Provinces and Highway No. 41, passing Surat Thani, Nakhon
Si Thammarat, Phatthalung and Hat Yai Provinces and connect to Highway
No. 42 for Pattani and Narathiwat Provinces. Total distance is 1,149
kilometers.
By Bus
The Transport Co., Ltd. operates daily bus services between Bangkok-Narathiwat
and Bangkok-Su-ngai Kolok.
For more information, call tel. 0 2435 1199-200; Narathiwat Bus
Terminal tel. 0 7351 1845 and Su-ngai Kolok Bus Terminal tel. 0
7361 2045 or visit www.transport.co.th.
From Narathiwat: Buses to Bangkok leave from 2 separate small terminals
on Suriyapradit Road, close to the police stations. They depart
4 times a day. Buses to Phuket Province via Pattani, Hat Yai, Songkhla,
Trang, Krabi and Phang-nga Provinces leave 3 times a day.
There are also minivans that connect Narathiwat and Hat Yai Province
for 120 bahts, Pattani Province for 60 bahts, Su-ngai Kolok District
for 50 bahts, and Yala Province for 60 bahts. They leave from different
stops around the city.
By Train
The State Railway of Thailand has a daily express and rapid Bangkok-Tanyongmat
(Narathiwat)-Su-ngai Kolok service, departing from the Hua Lamphong
Railway Station at 0.25 p.m. and 2.45 p.m. For more information,
call tel. 1690, 0 2223 7010, 0 2223 7020; Su-ngai Kolok station
tel. 0 7361 1162, 0 7361 4060 or visit www.srt.motc.go.th. The train
station is located approximately 20 kilometers west of town, which
is accessible via Songthaew that costs 20 bahts.
By Air
Thai Airways International has 2 weekly flights connecting Phuket
with Narathiwat. For more information, contact their Bangkok office
at tel. 0-2280-0060, 0-2628-2000; Narathiwat office, tel. 0 7351
1161, 0 7351 3090, or visit their website at www.thaiairways.com.
Getting around Narathiwat
Walking around the town is highly recommended as the city can easily
be explored on foot. For those who do not want to walk, the motorcycle
taxi is a good alternative with the rate ranging between 10 and
20 bahts/trip, depending on the distance.
Car rental service is also available and is provided by some guesthouses.
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