FESTIVALS
ASEAN Barred-Ground Dove (Zebra) Cooing Contest
Date: The first Saturday and Sunday of March of every year at the Khwan Mueang Park
On the day of the contest, the owners of the doves register and hoist their doves (which are in cages) to the tip of assigned poles. There are two rounds, lasting ninety minutes per round. The doves will be divided into three groups : Class A (with big voices), Class B (with medium voices), Class C (with small voices), and judged in their own group. Pre-established parameters are used to judge the cooing quality. The scores will be transformed into cooing quality levels according to each group of doves.
The City Pillar Ceremony
is held annually in May on the ground of the Yala Municipality Office features a model of the actual City Pillar being paraded around town. Stalls displaying goods for sale, exhibition, Government products, folk entertainment, such as Manora Dance, Nung Talung, and Hulu Li Ke, are also on hand.
Yala Product and Cultural Revival Festival
is held annually on the first weekend of August, on the grounds of the Yala Municipality Office. Folk cultures from the various groups in the border provinces of the south, mainly Chinese-Thai Buddhists and Thai Muslim, are performed. There are also contests for Chi La Dance, Best Dressed Banong, Si Bu-nga Siri (a special kind of potpourri), Rong-ngeng Dance, Annacit Singing contest in Malay and Thai languages, plus folk performances from various schools in the area. Exhibition of Yala’s best produce is not to be missed.
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Welcome to Yala
Source: Tourism Authority of Thailand
General
Yala is the southernmost province of Thailand, with an area of 4,521 square kilometres. It is the only landlocked province in the south. Today Yala is the border province with many interesting facets: history, culture, and beautiful scenery. The province has a unique mixture of cultural heritage of several groups--Thai, Chinese, and Islam. The city centre has systematic town planning and is one of the educational centres of the south as well.
The word “Yala” was derived from the local word “yalo” meaning “fish net”. Yala used to be part of Pattani, a colony of the Sukhothai Kingdom. In B.E. 2310 when Ayutthaya fell to the Burman, southern colonies became independent. During the reign of King Rama I of the Rattanakosin Dynasty, the King sent his brother, Khrom Phra Ratchawangbowon Maha Surasihanat to take Pattani.
In B.E. 2351, the King had Pattani separated into 7 smaller colonies, namely Mueang Pattani, MueangSai Buri, MueangNong Chik, MueangYaring, MueangRa Ngae, MueangRaman, and MueangYala. Yala had changed its rulers many times before Monthon was abolished in B.E. 2476 and finally became one of the provinces (Changwat) of Thailand.
Attractions
City Pillar Shrine
City Pillar Shrine is located on Phiphitphakdi Road, in front of the City Hall. His Majesty the King graciously gave the top of the pillar to Yala on 18 May 1962. This shrine houses the City Pillar made of Chaiyapruk wood. It is 50 centimetres tall, has a bottom circumference of 43 inches and top circumference of 36 inches, and a four-faced Bhrama image and a flame on top. The surrounding area is a well tended park. An annual festival is held during 25-31 May to celebrate the City Pillar.
Reclining Buddha Image at Wat Khu Ha Phi Muk or Wat Na Tham
Reclining Buddha Image at Wat Khu Ha Phi Muk or Wat Na Tham is one of the three most revered places of the south, along with Phra Borom Mathat at Nakhon Si Thammarat and Phra Borom Mathat Chaiya at Surat Thani, signifying the importance of Buddhism in the area since the Srivijaya Period. This temple is located in Tambon Na Tham, about eight kms. from the city centre, on the road to Amphoe Yaha. A stream runs through the ground of the temple. A figure of a giant, made in 1941 and named by the villagers as “Chao Khao”, protects the entrance of the cave that houses the reclining Buddha. Inside the cave is a large chamber that has been converted into a religious area, with an opening in the roof of the cave that lets in the sunlight. The reclining Buddha has been estimated to have been made in 757, around the Srivijaya Period, and is 81 feet and one inches long. It is believed that the sculpture was originally in the Sleeping Narai posture, but later modified into the Hinayana reclining Buddha.
Sanam Chang Phueak Park
Sanam Chang Phueak Park is located on Phiphitphakdi Road in an 80-rai plot of land. It was used as the ground to give the King a white elephant (chang phueak) named “Phra Sawet Sura Khachathan” on 9 March 1968. The Park has a pavilion in the middle of a large pond and various sculpture of animals. The ground of the Park is also used for other provincial activities.
Suan Khwan Mueang
Suan Khwan Mueang is located on Thetsaban 1 Road, about 300 metres from the City Pillar Shrine. Its vast area of 207 rai has a separate sports ground and a 69-rai pond, landscaped with sandy beach and sea pines to remedy the landlocked problem of the province. Furthermore, singing bird contest (Nok Kao Java) is often held at this park since it is the largest and the best ground for such contest in the south.
Tham Mae Nang Montho
Tham Mae Nang Montho is a cave on the Yala-Yaha highway, about six kms. from the city centre. The cave can be reached with a guide who can be contacted at the foothill. One has to trek through a scrub and a marble quarry for about 15 minutes to the cave entrance. Inside the cave are large, connecting chambers that are mostly dark. A torch is highly recommended. The highlight of this place is at the end of the cave where a large stalagmite resembling the shape of a meditating lady, hence the name of the cave, is located.
Tham Sin
Tham Sin is another cave that can be reached via the same route as Tham Khu Ha Phi Muk, for one km. further, then turn left for another km. passing the Ban Tham Sin School. On the left is a small trek leading to a hill next to the road. The cave is 28 metres high above the ground with steps leading to the entrance. This is a very small and dark cave with ancient mural of different postures of the Lord Buddha and a painting of three women standing together on the cave wall that has deteriorated with time. The mural was assumed to be of late Srivijaya Period, around the 14th – 15th centuries. A torch or a lamp is highly recommended to view the mural and the cave itself.
Yala Central Mosque
Yala Central Mosque is the main mosque of the province, was completed in 1984 displaying western architectural style intertwined with the unique mosque frame. The front has about 30 wide steps leading to the upper terrace. The roof is square-shaped with a dome in the middle.
Transportation
Bus
Air-conditioned bus services are run daily between Bangkok and Yala from the Southern Bus Terminal. Departure times from Bangkok are as follows:
VIP Bus: 5.30 p.m.
Standard 1 Bus: 10.30 a.m. and 5 p.m.
For further information please call the Southern Bus Terminal at tel: 0 2435 1119-200.
Thai Doen Rot Co.,Ltd (tel: 0 2435 7424): operates a daily bus service from Bangkok to Betong. The bus leaves the Southern Bus Terminal at 4 p.m.
Car
Yala is 1,084 kilometres south of Bangkok by road. One can take Highway 4 (Thanon Phetkasem) from Bangkok to Prachuap Khiri Khan, and Chumphon, then onto Highway 41 through Thung Song, Phatthalung, Hat Yai, Pattani, and Yala.
Train
Yala is 1,055 kilometres from Bangkok by rail. The State Railway Authority of Thailand operates daily rapid and express train services from Bangkok to Yala. Trains leaves the Bangkok Railway Station at 0.25 p.m., 2.45 p.m. and 3.50 p.m. For more information please call Travelling Service Unit, Bangkok Railway Station at tel: 1690, 0 2223 7010 and 0 2223 7020 or visit www.srt.or.th.
Air
There is no direct flight to Yala but Thai Airways International offers flights from Bangkok to Hat Yai. From Hat Yai one can either take the train, bus, taxi, or air-conditioned van to Yala. Please call Thai Airways at 1566, 0 2280 0060, 0 2628 2000 for more information.
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