South Thailand / Songkhla
SONGKHLA
Songkhla is an old trade and seaside resort town near to Hat Yai, the biggest city of southern Thailand.
Songkhla was formerly known as Singha-la (Lion city) among Indian, Persian and Arabian merchants since the small offshore Cat and Rat islands have a somewhat leonine appearance from the sea. Once a medieval pirate stronghold, Songkhla is a historic, albeit sleepy Gulf town with a thriving fishing community.
Songkhla Province, 950km (594mi) south of Bangkok on the eastern side of the Malayan Peninsula, occupies an area of 7,393sqkm (2,854sqmi), bordering the states of Kedah and Perlis of Malaysia to the south. It is divided into the 10 districts Muang (the town of Songkhla), Chana, Hat Yai, Na Thawi, Ranot, Rattaphum, Saba Yoi, Sadao, Sathing Phra and Thepha and the 4 sub-districts Krasae Sin, Na Mom, Khuan Niang and Bang Klum. It must be noted that the big city Hat Yai is part of Songkhla Province.
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