The Hat Yai Cable Car is a little bit out of the city, but a popular tourist attraction in Hat Yai nonetheless. While it opened on 5 December 2011, I have only got the time to visit the Hat Yai Cable Car now on this dedicated trainless trip after all these years transiting through Hat Yai Junction on trains. With ample time in the afternoon, I finally checked out this “new” attraction to find out what I have been missing from Hat Yai all these years.
TIP: To get up to the Hat Yai Cable Car station, use the Hat Yai City Municipality Park Shuttle Songthaew.
The main Hat Yai Cable Car station is at the Phra Buddha Mongkol Maharaj or Standing Golden Buddha. This is a popular site for Buddhist tourists as it is located together with the Guan Yin Temple by a set of stairs, making it convenient to visit both temples at once.
The scenic steps down to the Guan Yin Temple.
The view on the right towards Songkhla Lake.
The view on the left towards downtown Hat Yai.
Lee Gardens Plaza Hotel and Centara Hotel Hat Yai in the distance.
Heading back to Phra Buddha Mongkol Maharaj Cable Car Station to start my cable car journey.
The facade of Phra Buddha Mongkol Maharaj Cable Car Station.
Heading into Phra Buddha Mongkol Maharaj Cable Car Station.
The ticket counter of Phra Buddha Mongkol Maharaj Cable Car Station.
The fare chart of the Hat Yai Cable Car as advertised at the side of the ticket counter.
The Hat Yai Cable Car fares are as follows:
- Thai Adults: 100 Baht per Person
- Thai Children and Students in Uniform: 50 Baht per Person
- Foreigners (any age): 200 Baht per Person
Heading to the platform to queue for ticket checking. Tickets are checked in the queue before the staff allows you to enter the platform.
My 200 Baht foreigner ticket for the Hat Yai Cable Car ride. The coupon on the right side is taken by the staff when in the queue.
The island boarding platform of the Hat Yai Cable Car.
The builder plate of Doppelmayr on the pillar to support the drive system.
The small drive system of this Reversible Aerial Tramway.
A Reversible Aerial Tramway is a nice name for a back-and-forth single-line single-car cable car system, something like the original yellow and red Awana SkyWay in Genting.
The view of the Hat Yai Cable Car line from the Phra Buddha Mongkol Maharaj Cable Car Station platform.
The cable car on the right is coming towards me.
Hmm, never seen an end-of-the-line cable car before, let alone a cable car buffer stop.
The arriving cable car to pick me up.
The cable car slows down as it enters Phra Buddha Mongkol Maharaj Cable Car Station.
The cable car staff then opens the gate to allow passengers out of the incoming cable car and to let us board.
Boarding the Hat Yai Cable Car.
The doors are opened and closed manually, and is latched by the staff from outside.
The builder plate of Doppelmayr and CWA Constructions on board the Hat Yai Cable Car.
Each cable car sits 8 people. A CCTV is also installed on board.
Flying out of Phra Buddha Mongkol Maharaj Cable Car Station.
Looking out towards Hat Yai city.
Zooming in on Great Brahman Cable Car Station.
Looking down at the gorge the Hat Yai Cable Car flies over to link the Phra Buddha Mongkol Maharaj to Great Brahman. Due to this natural build, the entire Hat Yai Cable Car line is very windy throughout the waiting time and ride.
Crossing with the opposing cable car at the middle point of the ride.
As the line is rather straight on a single gorge, the view out of the cable car looks the same regardless of position the cable car is in on the line.
Approaching the single cable car tower of the Hat Yai Cable Car line.
The cable car tower is to straighten the line before it enters Great Brahman Cable Car Station.
Approaching Great Brahman Cable Car Station.
Slowing down as the cable car enters Great Brahman Cable Car Station.
Entering the platform of Great Brahman Cable Car Station.
The station staff opens the gates to standby for the cable car arrival.
Disembarking from the Hat Yai Cable Car with the view of the interior of the cable car.
Heading up out of the platform.
The waiting hall of Great Brahman Cable Car Station.
Like all good touristy cable car stations, there is a souvenir shop before heading out of Great Brahman Cable Car Station. However, unfortunately, there are no dedicated souvenirs of the Hat Yai Cable Car being sold, and they are just regular Hat Yai and Thailand souvenirs on top of snacks and drinks.
Heading out of Great Brahman Cable Car Station which leads directly to Thao Mahaprom Four Face Buddha Temple.
The main temple area.
There is an area here to burn offerings and to light firecrackers. For those deprived of firecrackers in Singapore ie. me, you can watch them explode here, or you could buy some for yourself somewhere in the temple too.
Heading down the steps to another lookout point.
The view of the Hat Yai Cable Car line from the lookout point.
A nice view of the natural scenery overlooking downtown Hat Yai.
The view up to the Great Brahman Cable Car Station from the lookout point.
There are some drinks and snacks shops at the foot of the temple beside the lookout point too.
Once done, I headed back up to catch the Hat Yai Cable Car back to Phra Buddha Mongkol Maharaj.
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