The Great Serpent "Nag" at Songkhla

This monument to Nag was built in 2006 which is why I haven't seen it on previous visits to Songkhla in Southern Thailand. On my January 2012 trip to Songkhla I was lucky that my friend told me about it, or else I might have missed it as it is divided into 3 parts that are separated by about 3.2 km (as the crow flies).

The info here is taken from the display at the head. It was a bit hard to read some of the words as people have worn them away by touching them.

The Great Serpent "Nag" is the deity of the divine creation of water as well as fertility to all living things. The people of Southern Thailand believe that Nag sprays divine water so as to make people feel fresh and happy, as well as purify the blemishes which occur within our minds and bodies. As a result Nag is one of the most higly 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.

In 2006 Mr Utitt Chuchouy, Songkhla Mayor decided to create a monument to Nag which could forever bring good fortune, wealth, fertility and prosperity to the people of Songkhla City. He asked Mr Montri Sungmusikanon, a Thaksin University instructor, to design a sculpture to the deity which would be divided into 3 sections. The first section is the serpent's head which symbolises the intelligence and wisdom of the people of the city. The second section is the serpent's navel which symbolizes the city's riches. The last is the tail which symbolizes the charisma and strength of the community of the people. To adorn the
scenery of Samila Beach, the serpent's head was erected at Laem Son Orn, Suan Song Tale, the navel at Lan Chom Doaw, Sabua Laem Samila, and the tail in the area of Samila Beach, Chalathat Road. The sculpture's opening ceremony was officially set for 2007.


The head which is a water spout is situated on the northern headland facing the port. The navel is sited on the front near the road up to Tang Kuan Hill and the tail is further south.

The head -

offerings at head
Info on the sculpture, with my friend and I reflected!

At the head

The navel

The tail

Location of all 3 parts on Google Earth

See blog on Songkhla procession

© Liz Price
No reproduction without permission