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Region: Southern Thailand> Province: Pattani>Location: Pattani
Pattani sights and attractions
San Jao Leng Ju Khieng Shrine - Interesting story
Arnoaru Rd
Description
This shrine and Chinese temple is interesting to look at and the story behind it is even more so. In the mid 16th Century a Chinese nobleman called To Khieng whilst on a visit to Pattani fell in love with a local girl and married her. He converted to Islam, and being wealthy decided to prove his new faith by constructing a mosque (Krue Se Mosque) in his new found home. However, his sister Kor Niaw arrived from China to persuade him that his proper place was back home and that he should return with her forthwith.
To Khieng refused and continued working on his edifice whereupon Kor Niaw cursed the mosque vowing it would never be completed. To Khieng began experiencing certain difficulties in that every time someone worked on the mosque they were struck by lightning. When this still failed to dampen his enthusiasm, his sister got fed up and hanged herself from a nearby tree. This action finally brought To Khieng to his senses and he stopped working on the mosque as he was overcome with grief. Ever since, all attempts to complete the mosque have failed.
The cashew tree from which she hung herself was enshrined and Kor Niaw has since achieved Goddess status. A festival is held to honour her in February/March every year with processions and the site is now one of the most sacred Buddhist/Chinese sites in Thailand. Visitors of Chinese origin flock here in droves - note the tour bus carpark on the other side of the road.
Central Mosque - Second largest in Thailand
Yarung Rd
Description
This mosque is the second largest in Thailand was built in 1963 and is about five minutes from the market area so you may as well wander along and take a peak. Recently renovated, the mosque is pretty if not spectacular.
Krue Se Mosque - A resilient piece of work
7km out of Pattani
Description
Located in Ban Krue Se, 7km from Pattani on the road to Narathiwat, To Khieng's famous half built mosque has stood up well to the last four centuries and, more recently to attacks by the Thai armed forces.
On the evening of 27 April 2004, a group of Thai muslims came to the mosque to pray and subsequently attacked two security checkpoints nearby. After the attacks they fled back to the mosque where a siege unfolded between them and the Thai military. The siege continues till the early afternoon of the following day, by which time there had been heavy gunfire and deaths on both sides along with innocent bystanders. In the end after a very long-running attempt to coax the militants out to surrender, the Thai military sent in Special Forces troops with orders to shoot to kill -- they killed 31 militants aged between 17 and 63.
The deaths and particularly the attack on a highly revered mosque provoked an outcry amongst Thai muslims who claimed that the militants were not given sufficient time to surrender. Simultaneously the actions of the militants caused much support for the Thai forces amongst the general Thai public. Today, the mosque has been repaired, though the new concrete patched around the mosque's walls bear evidence to the damage inflicted upon it.
Next door to the mosque is the grave of To Khieng's poor sister, set in a small very kitsch Chinese garden with a sitting area, well looked after and another popular destination for Chinese and Malaysian tourists.
There are plenty of stalls selling dried fish and giant squid which, to the Malaysian and Singaporean tourists seem like the equivalent of postcards to westerners. (If you do want a giant, dried souvenir squid then prices are slightly lower here than at the San Jao Leng Ju Khieng Shrine in town). To reach the mosque, songtheaws cost 10B and motorbikes 50B from Pattani. You cannot miss the mosque as it is right by the side of the main road on the left hand side.
Suan Somdej - If you need to jog
3km out of town
Description
This large park, 3km out of town from the north side of the river is popular with joggers and families. There is a small pool and a pond with pedal boats in it. On the far side of the park are some karaoke bars and food stalls where you can put the weight on before jogging it off.
How to get there: A motorbike taxi out to the park costs around 30B.
Haad Talor Kapor - Great spot to see kaw-lae boats
Description
This is the most accessible beach to Pattani town. Haad Talor Kapor has two main sections; to the south it is primarily a fishing boat vilage and to the north it is for recreation and swimming. The southern section is an excellent spot to see the Kaw-Lae boats both in use and being painted. An even better spot to see them being painted however is within the confines of Talor Kapor village where master-artisans use their skills that have often been handed down through generations. You're best to try and find some with a guide as a Yawi speaker is very handy in finding one of the painters at work. As for a swimming beach, you could swim at the northern part of the beach, although many use it more for a paddle and a picnic. The water around here is clean, though if you want a dip remember the locals are predominantly Muslims, so dress accordingly if you do not want to offend them. Note, the local girls bathe fully clothed around here, so when in Rome...
How to get there: A songtheaw from Pattani will drop you at Yarang for 10B and takes about 15 minutes. From here either get a motorbike taxi from the small market for 10B or wait for a songtheaw direct to the beach (weekends only). Yarang has a few shops, cafes, a bank, police station and loads of friendly people.
Sai Khao Waterfall - Certainly worth a look
35km from Pattani town
Description
Part of the namesake Sai Khao Waterfall National Park, this rather impressive waterfall merits a trip out to visit if you have some time on your hands. The 40m waterfall comes off a sheer drop and cascades down through a gorge through for about 600m before it reaches the park office. The waterfall has numerous swimming holes and is teeming with some very good-sized fish. The walk up to the falls follows the side of the very narrow gorge with the dense forest occasionally totally blocking out the sky. When you reach the main falls note the remnants of a metal ladder on the right -- one used to be able to climb this to above the falls. Keep an eye out for the spiders, the gorge is home to some spectacular and particularly nasty looking ones.
Aside from the waterfall there is also a sceneic viewpoint. From the park office follow the trail that runs off to the right (when facing away from the falls) and follow it for the 1,200m to the viewpoint.
How to get there: The falls are 35km from Pattani town and can be reached either by chartered motorcycle taxi or by bus and then motorcycle taxi. If you're going by bus, take a Yala bound bus and hope off at the 28km marker at the village of Na Pra Du. From here the turnoff on the right leads to the falls, 7km away. The turn off is well signposted and motorcycle taxis in Na Pra Du will happily take you the last 7km.