Songkhla, Southern administrative province in Thailand
This province extends along the southern coast on the Gulf of Thailand, covering beaches as well as inland mountains. Its territory reaches from the Malaysian border in the south to flat plains in the north where the country's largest natural lake sits.
A Persian merchant founded a sultanate here in the early 17th century that became a node for maritime trade between the Indian subcontinent and China. The region alternated between local autonomy and central control several times until it was fully incorporated into the Thai administrative system in the 20th century.
The name derives from two Malay words meaning shell mountain together, referring to a hill where traders once collected seashells used as currency throughout the region.
Most travelers arrive through Hat Yai, a city with an airport and rail links to Malaysia and Bangkok. The coastal road connects the main beaches and towns, while boats are needed to reach some islands and lake communities.
Fishermen on the lake still use traditional trap nets anchored in shallow waters that catch fish with the tidal current. The coastal city of Songkhla itself preserves an old quarter with Sino-Portuguese houses from the 19th century that now host cafes and small museums.
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