Pattani province

Pattani (Thai ปัตตานี) is one of the southern provinces (changwat) of Thailand. Neighboring provinces are (from south-east clockwise) Narathiwat, Yala and Songkhla.

Geography Pattani is located on the Malay Peninsula, with the coast of the Gulf of Thailand in the north. In the south mountainous landscape with the Sankalakhiri mountain range, including the Budo-Sungai Padi national park, is located at the border to Yala and Narathiwat, protecting hill forests with rare vegetation such as the Bangsoon palm and Takathong rattan, as well as birds like the hornbill. Namtok Sai Khao on the border with Songkhla and Yala is a forest park, remarkable for the Sai Khao waterfall.

History Historically Pattani used to be a semi-independent Malay kingdom, but part of the Thai kingdoms of Sukhothai and Ayutthaya[?]. After Ayutthaya fell in 1767 Pattani liberated itself to full independence, but under King Rama I it became part of Thailand again. In 1909, it was annexed by the Kingdom of Siam as part of a treaty negotiated with the British Empire. Both Yala and Narathiwat were originally part of Pattani, but were split off and became provinces of their own. There exists a separatist movement in Pattani, which occasionally results in violence.

Demographics

Pattani is one of the four provinces of Thailand where the majority of the population are muslim, making up 80% of the population.

Symbols

Administrative divisions

External links

• Province page from the Tourist Authority of Thailand (http://www.tat.or.th/province/south/pattani/index.htm)
• Golden Jubilee Network province guide (http://kanchanapisek.or.th/cgi-bin/kp8/oncc/province.cgi?prov=s6)