With Thailand's biggest inland
body of water, quiet beaches on the Gulf of Thailand and the
busy commercial center at Hat Yai, Songkhla province is an inexpensive
and largely undiscovered destination in the south of Thailand.
Once
a stronghold of medieval pirates, Songkhla rose to commercial
eminence in the 17th century, only to be destroyed during
the reign of King Narai (early 18th century) in Thailand's
Ayutthaya era. The provincial capital was moved to its present
location by royal edict after one of many conflicts between
the central Thai kingdom and the occasionally secessionist
province.
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A
quarter of Songkhla's population are ethnic Malay Muslims.
The mix of Thai, Malay and Chinese influences gives the local
culture a unique flavor.
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Located 950 kilometers south of Bangkok on the Gulf side of
the Malay peninsula, Songkhla is subjected to both the northeast
and southwest monsoon.
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A
large number of institutions of higher education has given
Songkhla a reputation as the educational center of south Thailand.
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Hat
Yai is the commercial and transportation hub for Songkhla
and neighboring provinces. Songkhla has a large Thai naval
presence, and offshore petroleum exploration has brought a
recent influx of foreign residents.
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