Peace, Luck And Healing In Thailand

Symbols of peace, doves are revered around the world. Nowhere, though, are they celebrated more than in Asia, highlighted by the ASEAN Barred Ground Dove Festival. This Asian Festival highlights the importance of these beautiful birds in Thailand and its neighbouring countries of Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and Brunei.

Flights of Fantasy

The Thai people believe that doves bring good luck and are symbols of purity, bestowing great wealth and honour on their owners. This quirky festival in Thailand attracts dove enthusiasts from the region to Southern Thailand. The festival is named after the Barred Ground Dove, also known as the Zebra Dove, which is one of the most popular caged birds in Thailand. Competitions reward the arts with the most beautiful cage, demonstrations of cage making and of course the doves themselves who have a sweet, melodious voice. The cooing call is the main event of this Thai festival which is held at the end of March in the southern-most district of Yala.

Welcome to the Jungle

Yala is a beautiful region of Thailand well worth discovering. Unlike the majority of Thailand, it is located inland and features striking mountains and dense forests. Rich in vegetation, it is no surprise that Yala has many famous parks including the White Elephant Field Park, which features diverse plants and flowers, and an exhibition of miniature animal statues in the middle of the pond. Another park is the Kwang Muang Garden, which not only features lovely fauna, but also has a sports field and playground, making it a great place for children.

Heading out of the town, there are some beautiful natural sites in Asia to be seen. The Guelong or Sukthalai Waterfall and Krasaeng Cave are natural wonders. The cave has jagged stalactites that hang precariously from its roof. Nearby are several more caves to explore including Om Cave, Nam Lod Cave and Phra Cave. Hot springs are an amazing creation of nature, and the Betong Hot Spring is no exception. The mineral water is rumoured to be hot enough to even cure skin diseases.

The temples of Thailand are famous around the world for their opulence and attention to detail. The Phra Mahathat Chedi Phra Buddha Dhamma Prakat is a stupa that has been built in the Sriwachi style. Almost 40 metres high, it is an imposing structure, considered the most beautiful stupa in Southern Thailand and a must visit.

Back to Basics

Life in the mountains is not easy, and you can visit some of the villages to see how the local people live there. The Piyamit Tunnels are open to show tourists what life in the Thai jungle is like, and demonstrations of mushrooms and medicinal herbs from the forest are also available. Sakai Village is located deep in the mountains and consists of about 30 bamboo houses. Rice and forest products are the income producing assets for the village, however the locals there have started to grow rubber trees as well. It is fascinating to see how the local families sustain themselves in this inhospitable environment.

Travelling across Southern Thailand is both peaceful and healing. The scent of the dense mountain air and smiles of the local children, make this lesser seen part of Thailand well worth the adventure. Of course, make sure the visit is in March so that you can also experience the serenity of listening to the harmonies of the Barred Ground Dove. Looking for some peace and quiet? MakeMyTrip offers convenient flights to Bangkok, from where you can fly to Songkhla and then take a bus to Yala.