Surin
 |
|
Surin General Information
Surin is a big province on Mun River Basin in Lower Northeast of Thailand. It is well known, locally and international, for its elephant. The gigantic animal of Surin impresses everyone with loveliness, cleverness and creates unique character of the province. Surin people have long relationship with elephant which becomes icon of the province now. Plenty of Khmer Ruins, beautiful silk and famous jasmine rice make Surin a very interesting destination.
In historical aspect, Surins story can be dated back thousands of year B.C. when Suai or Kuai ethnic group migrated along Mekong River to settle around Dongrek Range. Kuai ethnic people, found in Thailand and Laos, is talent in catching and training elephant. Some 2,000 years ago, during Khmer Era, Surin town was established. After the fall of Khmer Empire, the town was neglected until 1763, when Luang Surin Pakdi (Chiang Pum) headman of Mueang Thi Village, led his people to settle at Ban Khu Prathai, in present Surin City. He was promoted as the first mayor later.
Surin is some 457 kilometres from Bangkok. The province acquires total area of 8,124 square kilometres and it can be divided into 17 Amphoes namely Mueang Surin, Chumphon Buri, Tha Tum, Chom Phra, Prasat, Kap Choeng, Rattanaburi, Phanom, Si Khoraphum, Sangkha, Samrong Thap, Buachet, Lamduan, Si Narong, Phanom Dong Rak, Khwao Sinarin, and Non Narai.
Surin Festival Information
- Surin Elephant Roundup
Surin Elephant Roundup is held in the middle weekend of November. Visitors from around the world flock to see this grand national event. Shows include capturing elephants, a tug-of-war between elephant and men, an elephant soccer match, elephant dances, a parade, elephants at war, and cultural performances.
Surin Attactions Information
- Prasat Ta Muean
This khmer santuary is 12 kilometres from Ban Ta Miang on Highway No. 214 on the Thai-Cambodian border. Prasat Ta Muan Tot has a square base made of sandstone, similar to those at Ban Phluang. Prasat Ta Muan Thom is 200 metres from Ta Muan Tot sanctuary. Situated near a stream, it consists of 3 pagodas with floral and idol designs. There are also 2 laterite buildings and a pool beyond them.
- Surin National Museum
Situated at km. 4 of Surin-Prasat Road, on the left before bypass road. The museum features five areas namely geography, archeology, city history, ethnology, and heritages of the province.
1. Geography section features physical of Surin including tomography, climate, geology, soil science, natural resources such as earth, water, forest, wildlife, and national parks. Moreover, it features rice and rice farming, as Surin is of the best place for growing Jasmine Rice.
2. Archeology section features development of people, lifestyle including the second funeral in pre-historical period, antique from Dvaravati, Khmer, and Ayutthaya-Lanchang found in Surin. There are replica of ancient sites presented with motion picture to educate museum goer in the area of archaelogy and art history found in Surin.
3. City History section features history of Surin city from past to present in the presentation boxes. From Kuai ethnic group who caught white elephant escaped from Ayutthaya until Surin City was well established. Other topics include administration reform, significant incidents such as white elephant catching, the first arrival of train to Surin, market at the first stage, education in the past.
4. Ethnology section features four major ethnic groups in Surin namely Suay or Kuai who has excellent skill in catching and training elephant, Khmer who is the native of the region, Laotian who is the latest migratory, and Thai Khorat who came from Nakhon Ratchasima. The presentation replicates lifestyle of different ethnic groups with replica houses, rites, photographs and picture about the traditions.
5. Heritages of the province. Surin is famed for its cultural heritages, which was handicrafts namely silver ornaments, silk cloth, traditional performances, and elephant raising. The later puts Surin on the world map. The presentation of this section includes replica, photographs and motion pictures.
- Phanom Sawai Forest Park
Phanom Sawai Forest Park is 14 kilometres away on the way to Amphoe Prasat and 6 kilometres on a road on the right. The park comprises 3 peaks and a large Buddha image in the meditation posture. The view from the top is quite spectacular.
- Phraya Surin Phakdi Si Narong Changwang (Pum) Monument
This monument is dedicated to the first lord of the city. It is located at the southern entrance to the city in the area where the city's inner wall once stood. It was built in 1968.
- Prasat Muang Thi
Prasat Muang Thi is 16 kilometres from Surin on the way to Si Khoraphum on Highway No. 226. Three square brick pagodas were part of five on the same base.
- Wat Burapharam
Wat Burapharam is on Krung Si Nai Road near the provincial hall. It houses Luang Pho Phra Chi, a sacred Buddha image of the city. This old image was built during the Thon Buri period at the same time Surin was founded.
- Prasat Ban Phlai
Ban Phlai sanctuary is at Tambon Chua Phloeng, 10 kilometres from the district office. This Khmer religious site consists of 3 brick buildings on the same laterite base with a moat surrounding them. The buildings were built around the 16th Buddhist century.
- Prasat Ban Phluang
Built around the 16th-17th Buddhist century. This small sanctuary has very detailed designs. The site is 4 pagodas on a rectangular laterite base. Each pagoda is square and made of sandstone with floral and human figure designs. Ban Phluang sanctuary is at Km. 32 on the Surin-Prasat-Kap Choeng road.
- Prasat Ban Prasat Sanctuary
Ban Prasat Sanctuary is at Tambon Phlai, 5 kilometres from the district office on the way to Surin. The only remaining structure is the laterite wall and ancient pool, which is to the east of the site.
- Elephant Village
This elephant village at Ban Ta Klang on Highway No. 214 (Chom Phra-Ta Tum) can be reached by going to Km. 36 and left for 22 kilometres. The locals here are called the Suai people. They are skilled in capturing, training and raising elephants. An elephant museum here displays a complete elephant skeleton, its organs, tools used to capture elephants, elephant-raising techniques, and the history and development of Surin elephants.
**Information Reference : tourismthailand.org
|
