Songkhla province is in the deep south of Thailand, bordering with the state of Kedah in Malaysia, about 950 km south of Bangkok. It was formerly a part of the large Srivajaya kingdom that had control of the southern peninsular. The ancient city of Songkhla is located on a stretch of land between the Gulf of Thailand and the Songkhla Lake (Thale Sep Songkhla). The original settlement was at the foot of Khao Daeng. Many remnants from its past association with the Srivajayan Empire and from the Europeans, who arrived much later to trade in the area, can be found around the province. The province also boasts splendid beaches, waterfalls and other natural attractions.