The province is located on the shore of the Gulf of Thailand on the Malay Peninsula. The main river of the province is the Bang Nara River, which opens into the Gulf at the town Narathiwat. Nearby the river estuary is the Narathat beach, the most popular beach within the province.
Budo - Su-ngai Padi National Park is located within the Sankalakhiri mountain range. The main attraction within the park is the Pacho Waterfall. The park was established in 1974 and covers a total area of 294 km?, including parts of neighboring Yala and Pattani province.
The original name of Narathiwat was Menara means 'tower' in Malay. In Thai this was changed to Bang Nara (บางนรา). It was renamed to Narathiwat by the Thai government in 1915. The name Narathiwat, originating from Sanskrit (Nara+adhiv?sa), means The residence of wise people.
Historically Pattani Province was the centre of the semi-independent Malay Sultanate of Patani, but paying tribute to the Thai kingdoms of Sukhothai and Ayutthaya. After Ayutthaya fell in 1767, Sultanate of Patani gained full independence but under King Rama I it again came under Siam's control.
In 1909, it was fully integrated into Siam as part of Anglo-Siamese Treaty of 1909 negotiated with the British Empire. Along with Yala, Narathiwat was originally part of Monthon Pattani. There is a separatist movement in Yala, which after being dormant for many years erupted again in 2004. |
South Thailand - Southern Thailand
