Songkhla Lagoon has been a rich cradle for culture and life of local people for a thousand years.  Nowadays, the communities around the lake have formed networks thousand years.  Nowadays, the communities around the lake have formed networks to conserve and revive both the lake’s natural and cultural heritage.  Tourism has been the driving force, but the wisdom of local people ahs been the guiding light.  The primary tourism venue of Songkhla Lake and the center of cultural attactions is Ko Yo.  The island is a sub-district with an area of 15 square kilometers.  There have been settlements on Ko Yo since the Ayutthaya period. The local people have made their living by tending orchards, fishing, weaving and making ceramics and tiles.  Thus, Ko Yo has been described  by the following slogan: Blessed by Somdet Chao, Precious woven cloths, Sweet fruits, Fresh seafood, Charming Tinnasulanon bridge, and Famed Thaksin Institute.

Tinnasulanon Bridge Spanning Songkhla Lake for a total length of 3 Kilometers, Pa Prem’s Bridge, as the local people call it, is the longest bridge in Thailand.  The bridge connects the city of Songkhla, Ko Yo and Amphoe Singha Nakhon.

Thaksin Khadi Sueksa Institute The Institute includes a folklore museum, a library and archives on Thailand’s South.  It offers a good viewpoint of Ko Yo and Songkhla Lake.  Travelers may stay overnight in the Institute.  Admission fee is 10 baht for children, 20 baht for Thai adults, 30 baht for Asians, and 50 baht for foreigners.  For more details, call (074) 331185-8.

Wat Khao Kuti Every year, local people bring cloth to drape to pagoda on the full moon day in May.  The temple offers a panorama of the Tinnasulanon Birdge.

Cultural Route The ‘Culture Road’ on Ko Yo was locally initiated in 1998 to promote eco-tourism, and cultural and natural preservation.

Pa Nu Food Stall Khao Yam – this specialty-is a rice dish steamed with Bai Yo herbs and served with many kinds of vegetables.  It is topped with budu a slightly tart dressing.

Ratchawat Ko Yo Fabric Development Group Organized in 1995, this group works to raises funds for woven cloth production, marketing, and preservation of local weaving skills and traditional patterns.  From the 59 traditional patterns recovered so far, new ones have been developed.  Each pattern has a name, for example, Ratchawat, Klet-lin or “Amazing pattern”.

Suan Somrom-Local Orchards Tress on Ko Yo take turn to bear fruits, such as durian, rambutan, longan, etc.  Local people produce santol with honey in July and August.

Old Houses The houses on Ko Yo are distinguished by their locally produced roof tiles and floor tiles.

Ancient Pond Water from this pond is used to make sacred water during the annual ceremonial parade uphill to Khao Kuti.

Khao Phe Han or Khao Wihan The community conserves the surrounding forests as a herbal forest.

Viewpoint There is a pier to take a scenic route around Ko Yo, which takes about 1.30 hours.

Wat Thai Yo This first temple on Ko Yo was constructed in 1768.  Interesting signts include: Traditional Kuti or monks’s abode, aged more than 200 years old, has roofs covered with locally made ceramic tiles.  These kuti were built along the mattrasut principle, i.e. according to the measurements of the prospective residents, as well as along the mongkhonsut, i.e. according to the style believed to bring good fortune.  Phra Manop, the abbot, will be happy to supply more information about these local traditions of ecclesiastical architecture.   Rong Ruea Phra Sathup houses the monks’ boats built by Phra Manop and local boat builders.  The local people help decorate the boats for the competition.  A pond excavated during Field Marshal Po Phibunsongkram, is lined with locally produced bricks.

Pilgrimage for the sake of Songkhla Lake. Organized by a monk group called Sekhiyatham, agencies, and more than 30 communities around the lake, the movement aims at promoting the preservation of the environment, natural resources and all beings, as well as at understanding oneself, others and passing communities.  Emphasis is put on the virtuous principles of non-violence, equality and friendship.  The pilgrimage has been organized since 1996, mostly be the end of April to early May.  The theme of each pilgrimage varies depending on the situation and the problems in Songkhla Lake at that time.  For more information call the Religious Committee for Development at (02) 437-9445 or the Coordinating Committee of the NGOs in the South (074) 230685, 239594.

Site Map: Songkhla

::: Introduction

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Songkhla Reservation