General Information
Pattani is an east-coast province in the south, adjacent to the Gulf of Thailand, with the area of approximately 1,940 square kilometres. There are two major rivers: Tani and Sai Buri. Being a civilized town in the past, the present Pattani still maintains some ruined ancient town in Amphoe Yarang. Due to its mountainous area and long seashore of about 170 kilometres, Pattani has been an important port and the centre of the administration, trading, and culture. There are several tourism resources of nature, historical ancient places, and traditional culture which have been the integration of Thai, Chinese and Islam.
Pattani is administratively divided into 12 Amphoe: Mueang Pattani, Yarang, Nong Chik, Khok Pho, Yaring, Panare, Mayo, Sai Buri, Kapho, Mai Kaen, Thung Yang Daeng, and Mae
Lan.
Boundary
North: Songkhla
South: Narathiwat and Yala
West: Yala and Songkhla
East: Gulf of
Thailand.
How to get there
Car
Pattani is about 1,055 kilometres from Bangkok. Visitors can use highway no.35 (Thon buri - Pak Tho) for about 90 kilometres, then turn left to highway no.4 to Chumphon for about 460 kilometres. After that, use highway no.41 or 42 pass Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Songkhla, Pak-nam Thepa to Pattani. The total distance is around 505 kilometres.
Bus
There are service of regular and air-conditioned buses of Transport Co., Ltd. The buses leave from the Southern Bus Terminal to Pattani every day.
For more details, call 0 2435 1119 and 0 2434 5557-8 or visit www.transport.co.th.
Train
From Hua Lamphong Station, there are both express and rapid trains to Pattani (Khok Pho) Station everyday. For more details, contact Service Unit at Tel:1690, 0 2223 7010 and 0 2223 7020.
From Pattani Station, buses and taxis are available between Khok Pho and Amphoe Mueang which takes about 29 kilometres.
Plane
There is no direct flight to Pattani. Visitors need to travel to Hat Yai (Thai Airways International provided round-trip shuttle bus (Hat Yai-Pattani) twice daily free-of-charge for passengers who make the reservation in advance). Alternatively, visitors can use regular bus or taxi from Hat Yai to Pattani for about 104 kilometres and traveling time is approximately one hour and a half. Flight information can be requested at Tel: 1566, 0 2280 0060, 0 2628 2000 or at Pattani Office Tel: 0 7333 5938.
Festivals
Chao Mae Lim Ko Niao Fair
This fair is celebrated annually 15 days after Chinese New Year. Highlighting the event is the procession to carry the wooden sculpture of Chao Mae Lim Ko Niao-a goddess which is respected by the Chinese in Pattani. This annual fair also features extraordinary arts of endurance such as walking on fire. Before joining the festival for 7 days, participants of the fair need to be vegetarians by having no-meat food at least 7 days before the festival. Normally, the fair is celebrated widely by the people of Pattani and of nearby
provinces.
Fishing Sports in Sai Buri
The event is annually held on the second weekend of May at Hat Wasukri, Amphoe Sai Buri. Due to the long coast and the great amount of a variety of fish, this sport has become very popular and exciting.
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