Located approximately some 1,149 kilometers south of Bangkok is Narathiwat the southernmost province in Thailand and one of the nation's five provinces that borders Malaysia at Amphoe Su-ngai Kolok, where the southern railway line ends. Access from Malaysia is convenient via a ninety-minute bus trip and two immigration points where travelers can cross into Thailand and vice versa. With Amphoe Su-ngai Kolok serving as an economic and border tourism center, the province welcomes an increasing numbers of Malaysians and Singaporeans on short holidays or shopping sprees. In the past, Narathiwat was a southern borderland named "Ban Bang Nara" or "Manalo". It was located near Maenam Bang Nara and the sea. In the reign of King Rama I, this village was under the administration of Sai Buri. Later, it came under the administration of Ra Ngae town of Pattani province.

n 1906, Bang Nara became a big trading city with well-developed sea and land transportation. King Rama V moved the administration office from Ra Ngae to Manalo. In 1915, King Rama VI changed the name of the town to "Narathiwat".

Distances from Amphoe Mueang (Town) to Neighbouring Districts:

Chanae	47 kms.
Cho Ai Rong	31 kms
Tak Bai	33 kms.
Bacho	28 kms.
Yi-ngo	18 kms.
Ra-ngae	24 kms.
Ruso	48 kms.
Waeng	83 kms.
Sukhirin	112 kms.
Su-ngai Kolok	63 kms.
Su-ngai Padi	49 kms.

By Car:
From Bangkok: Take Highway No. 4 passing Prachuap Khiri Khan and Chumphon Provinces and Highway No. 41, passing Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phatthalung and Hat Yai Provinces and connect to Highway No. 42 for Pattani and Narathiwat Provinces. Total distance is 1,149 kilometers. The Transport Co., Ltd. operates daily bus services between Bangkok-Narathiwat and Bangkok-Su-ngai Kolok.
For more information, call tel. 0 2435 1199-200; Narathiwat Bus Terminal tel. 0 7351 1845 and Su-ngai Kolok Bus Terminal tel. 0 7361 2045 or visit www.transport.co.th

From Narathiwat: Buses to Bangkok leave from 2 separate small terminals on Suriyapradit Road, close to the police stations. They depart 4 times a day. Buses to Phuket Province via Pattani, Hat Yai, Songkhla, Trang, Krabi and Phang-nga Provinces leave 3 times a day.

There are also minivans that connect Narathiwat and Hat Yai Province for 120 bahts, Pattani Province for 60 bahts, Su-ngai Kolok District for 50 bahts, and Yala Province for 60 bahts. They leave from different stops around the city.

The State Railway of Thailand has a daily express and rapid Bangkok-Tanyongmat (Narathiwat)-Su-ngai Kolok service, departing from the Hua Lamphong Railway Station at 0.25 p.m. and 2.45 p.m. For more information, call tel. 1690, 0 2223 7010, 0 2223 7020; Su-ngai Kolok station tel. 0 7361 1162, 0 7361 4060 or visit www.srt.motc.go.th The train station is located approximately 20 kilometers west of town, which is accessible via Songthaew that costs 20 bahts. Thai Airways International has 2 weekly flights connecting Phuket with Narathiwat. For more information, contact their Bangkok office at tel. 0-2280-0060, 0-2628-2000; Narathiwat office, tel. 0 7351 1161, 0 7351 3090, or visit their website at www.thaiairways.com Specialities Festival & Longkong Fruit Fair
Staged each September in the provincial capital, this festival coincides with Korlae boat races between local crews. Staged in Su-ngai Kolok, usually during  late April, this features dragon and lion dances, revelry and religious processions

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