Songkhla สงขลา

Songkhla (11 June, 2005)


Songkhla provides you details to discover and plan your visit to Songkhla สงขลา , a city in southern Thailand. Songkhla serves as the provincial capital of Songkhla Province as well as the Songkhla Town district. With a population of about 75,000 people, it is the second largest city in Songkhla province after Hat Yai.

Its location on the coast of the Gulf of Thailand makes Songkhla an important seaport for the south of Thailand. It is also a fishing village. The town's most famous icon is the statue of a mermaid at Samila Beach.

The majority of the population of Songkhla are Buddhist, although there is also a sizable proportion of Muslims in the province. There is also a large number of ethnic Chinese in Songkhla. They were immigrants from Guangdong and Fujian provinces in China who came to southern Thailand in the 18th century. Many of the most influential families in Songkhla are ethnic Chinese.

Songkhla is called Singgora in Malay. Its history goes back to the ancient Kingdom of Langkasuka, from the 2nd to the 14th century, and was part of the Srivijaya Empire from the 7th to the 13th century. It has been a Thai suzerainty since the 18th century.

Songkhla was the landing site of the Japanese troops during World War II. It happened on 8 December, 1941, just a few hours before the bombing of Pearl Harbour. The Japanese invaded Malaya through Songkhla. The invasion culminated with the capture of Singapore.

Getting there

Songkhla is less than an hour from Hat Yai. There are regular buses plying between the two cities. The bus stop in Hat Yai is at Thanon Phetkasem, near the intersection with Thanon Montri 1, while the bus stop at Songkhla is at Thanon Ramwithi.

Map of sights in Songkhla

What to eat in Songkhla

Members' Travel Shots of Songkhla

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Tourist Attractions in Songkhla

Sights near Songkhla

Samila Beach, Songkhla (11 June, 2005)

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