Yala

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If Hat Yai is the financial and commercial centre of the far south, sprawling Yala is the administrative capital. As such it is particularly well kept, clean and outside of the small bustling central area, very orderly.

Being the capital of a land-locked province, the locals have a particular obsession with the water and open green space, and the capital has numerous examples of both.

While the parks, all located a long walk from the central part of town, are pleasant, they are hardly reason for visiting this low-key provincial capital. The one attraction here is an outstanding seafood restaurant -- so good it is almost worth staying an extra night to sample yet more of their succulent seafood.

Yala is also the proud host of the ASEAN Barred Ground Dove Festival, an annual event taking place in March. The event brings feathered friends from many Asian countries including Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia to take part in dove competitions, the main one being a cooing contest with close to 1,500 participants.

You may be able to pick up a bargain prize-winning bird which are bought and sold during the festival, the current price record being one million baht -- a lot of money for a fancy pidgeon, but this is a serious business.

Accommodation: Yala accommodation
Chang Lee Hotel | Thepwimarn Hotel | Yala Rama Hotel |

Text and/or map last updated on 20th August, 2009.

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Another of my favorite cities in Thailand

Stayed in the Sri Yala Hotel in the Thai/Chinese part of town, on the west side of the railroad tracks. 250 baht for a clean room with squat toilet and cold shower. I was on the 7th floor, with a good view of the city - the first budget hotel I've stayed in in the country equipped with an elevator.

Enjoyed a week in Yala city (and another week exploring the countryside on invitation from locals), with a nice walk up and down the main road every afternoon. As others have said, the locals in this region are overall quite welcoming, and you'll probably be the only foreign tourist in town on a visit. Good people watching at cafes on the main strip. The city seems to be split into two by the railroad tracks, with the Thai/Chinese/government side to the west, and the Muslim side to the east, though there is some overlap on both sides.

There's a 9 PM curfew in the town and I was warned by a number of people that it's indeed unsafe (for locals and visitors alike) outside the central, guarded area in which the hotels are located, at night - I gathered that robbery seemed to be the primary risk - but people in cafes were glad to give a lift home in the evening so I had no problem. Attacks seem to be concentrated on specific targets (such as military), as in Kashmir, and it seems that the primary risks here (traffic accident) are no different than in other parts of Thailand.

Bottom line - if you're a bit adventurous and can manage to ''blend in'' with a population - I recommend ignoring the ''travel warnings'' and checking out this gorgeous part of the country.
- Sights & activities
- History & culture
- Scenery & environment
- Eat & drink
- Traveller's scene
- Romance
- Value for money
- I'll be back (or not)
By squarethecircle (dabbler)
Written on 3rd March, 2013 after a visit to Yala in December, 2012

Also reviewed by squarethecircle: Chinatown and Pahurat, Mae Sai, Pattani,
A day in Yala City.

I only spent one day in Yala, just to see what I could see, but there seemed to be little bustle and the city did not look any more clean or orderly than any other small Thai town.

What I did see was a lot of people, who were surprised to see me, but seemed genuinely happy to see me (lots of waves from passing folk). Maybe half the women wore Muslim headdress, but most of the men wore the usual casual Thai casual, worn clothes. Lots of streets with old, worn buildings. I did not sense any real centre to the city.

There is not much to see in the town. The Cave Wat outside the city, the city pillar shrine, the government precinct (!). There is a central Mosque, which is not that large.

No museum, art galleries, or anything like that. Not even a sign of a good local cafe! Needless to say, not much of a traveller scene—unless you look in a mirror.

In the city itself I saw few soldiers, and no police, but on the road between Pattani and Yala (~40kms) I saw lots. There were numerous checkpoints (which the bus drove through without stopping), small groups of soldiers, a few machine gun posts, and military vehicles. 25b by local bus, and an hour plus from Pattani.
- Sights & activities
- History & culture
- Scenery & environment
- Eat & drink
- Traveller's scene
- Romance
- Value for money
- I'll be back (or not)
By ianintheworld (dabbler)
Written on 17th June, 2011 after a visit to Yala in June, 2011

Also reviewed by ianintheworld: Pattani,

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