Many go to Yala to visit Wat Khuha Phimuk, locally known as ‘Wat Na Tham’, one of the most sacred and important archeological sites in Southern Thailand. A cave on the temple grounds houses a 25-m long reclining Buddha image of Phra Phut Sai Yad, which allegedly had the head of the Hindu god Vishnu. The image dates back to the 8th century, the beginning of the Srivijaya Empire of Sumatra (7th-13th centuries) which was particularly strong in the peninsula area. Among the priceless artifacts found here are Buddha images and other religious artifacts that originated from India during that time period. A small museum at the foot of the naga staircase leading up to the temple cave displays a collection of Srivijayan artifacts found in the area.

Betong is the southernmost town of Thailand, sitting high in the hills only 5 km from the Malaysian border and 140 km from the provincial capital. Besides being home to a Bala-Hala rainforest and rare hornbills, it is the venue for hosting the Betong Chicken Festival, a tasty, local specialty where chicken is flavored with a special soy sauce. Wat Phuttha Tiwat contains a 40-m high stupa (non-Thai chedi) that was built in the late 1980s with a modified Srivijayan design.

The winding road from Yala to Betong climbs through remote mountain forests, which was formerly the base of an active Communist Party of Malaya seeking refuge in Thailand during the 1940s until 1989 when a settlement was reached. Their former underground guerilla camp, the Piya Mitr Tunnel System, has now been converted into a museum. Around 180 Communists once lived undetected in the 1 km stretch of tunnels that is 10 meters below the ground surface. Most of the former revolutionaries settled in the area and now serve as tour guides leading the way through the network of dark, curving tunnels and providing demonstrations of jungle survival skills.

The highlight of Bang Lang National Park is the 7-tiered Than Tho Waterfall surrounded by mountains, offering a very panorama, picture-perfect postcard view.

The towering, red structure on the corner of Sukayang Road is actually Thailand’s largest mailbox created in 1924 with a height of 320 cm.

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