The Great Serpent Nag in Songkhla

On my recent trip in April 2012 for the Songkran Festival in Hat Yai, our group of journalists was taken on a site visit to Songkhla, and this was one of the unique places we visited.

The Great Serpent Nag in Songkhla

The people of Southern Thailand believe that Nag sprays holy water to make people feel fresh and happy and purify the blemishes within our minds and bodies.

As a result, Nag is one of the most highly respected deities of Southern Thailand. Thus the local people frequently pay respect to Nag and ask him to forever bring happiness and good fortune to their life.

He asked Mr Montri
Sungmusikanon, a Thaksin University instructor, to design a sculpture of the deity Nag which would be divided into three sections.

The first section is the serpent’s head which symbolizes the intelligence and wisdom of the city’s people.

The second section is the serpent’s navel, symbolizing the city’s riches. The last is the tail which represents the charisma and strength of the community.

The sculpture’s official opening ceremony was done in 2007.

The navel (second part) is situated on the front near the road up to Tang Kuan Hill, and the tail (third part) is further down south.

If you are driving to Hat Yai or Songkhla and using a GPS, here are the GPS coordinates to this statue: N 07° 13.632 E 100° 34.626

If you are visiting Hat Yai, do take the opportunity to explore the outskirts of this city, as there are several exciting places to see.

There is also the Hat Yai Cable Car at Hat Yai Park, Ice Dome, and Songkhla Aquarium, just to name a few. A day trip should cover most attractions, provided you start early.

Moreover, if you plan to attend the Songkran Festival (see my Songkran Pictures), it would be an excellent opportunity to take a day and visit The Great Serpent Nag in Songkhla.