Ban Dato Mosque (Dato Mosque)

Ban Dato Mosque — also called Masjid Dato or Masjid Darunnaaim — is one of Pattani’s oldest mosques, with a history of more than 200 years. The mosque’s name comes from “Dato Payeng,” a brass merchant who, according to local legend, was executed for defying the provincial governor’s prohibition on brass sales during a period when the metal was needed for cannon casting. The surrounding village and graveyard bear the same name, making this a site where oral history and landscape reinforce each other.

The building’s architecture follows a Middle Eastern tradition rather than a Malay wooden style: look for rounded arch doorways, cylindrical columns, and a dome-shaped roof. A later restoration by Phraya Phipithasena Mati, the governor of Yaring, added a minaret tower and an octagonal structure in front of the main prayer hall, giving the complex the layered character it has today. The mosque is surrounded by an Islamic community and a historic graveyard — the site was once a small harbour where trading vessels anchored.

Ban Dato Mosque sits about 10 kilometres from Yaring District Hall along the same road that leads to Talo-kapo Beach, making it a natural stop on a day covering Yaring’s coastal and heritage attractions. Admission is free. Dress modestly — long trousers and sleeves, and a headscarf for women — and be mindful of prayer times before entering the prayer hall. Photography is generally acceptable in the outdoor compound; ask permission before going inside.