Surin Province
Introduction
Surin is 457 kilometers far from Bangkok by car and 420 kilometers by train, and is 194 kilometers far from Nakhon Ratchasima by car and 170 kilometers by train.
Surin covers a total area of 8,124 square kilometers and is divided into 13 Amphoes (districts), 3 king Amphoes (Sub districts).
Borders
- North : Roi Et and Maha Sarakham.
- South : Cambodia
- East : Si Sa Ket
- West : Buri Ram
Distance from Surin city to other Districts:
- Buachet 66 Km.
- Chom Phra 26 Km.
- Chumphon Buri 91 Km.
- Kap choeng 58 Km.
- Lamduan 24 Km.
- Rattanaburi 70 Km.
- Samrong Thap 54 Km.
- Sangkha 49 Km.
- Sikhoraphum 34 Km.
- Tha Tum 51 Km.
- Phanom Dong Rak – Subdistrict 78 Km.
- Sri Narong Subdistrict 64 Km.
- Khaow Sinarin Subdistrict 22 Km.
Nearby Provinces:
- Buri Ram 56 Km.
-Maha Sarakham 177 Km.
-Roi Et 137 Km.
-Si Sa Ket 96 Km.
Despite its long historical background. There is so far no precise evidence to prove the origin of Surin Province. It has only been narrated for generations that Surin was built some 2,000 years ago when the ancient Khmer dominated the region. Surin was abandoned after the incline of the Khmer Kingdom. Later in 1763, a village at Ban Muang Thi was moved to Ban Khu Prathai where Surin is presently situated. The village was consequently upgraded to be ‘ Muang Prathai Saman’ and its leader, Luang Surin Phakdi, appointed Phra Surin Phakdi Si Narong Chang Wang, the Governor.
In 1786 during the reign of King Rama I, Muang Prathai Saman was renamed ‘Muang surin’ after the title of its Governor.
By Bus
From Bangkok, there are daily buses leaving the Northern Bus Terminal. Traveling takes about 6 hours. For more information please contact Tel. 2710101-5 (Non air – conditioned buses) and Tel. 2794484-7 (Air conditioned bus).
By Train
There are trains leaving Bangkok Railway Station (Hua Lam Phong) daily. The distance is 420 kilometers.
For further details please call Information counter, State Railway of Thailand, Tel. 2337010, 2337020
There is also local bus service from the provincial city of Surin to all Amphoes and to nearby provinces. Traveling within Amphoe Muang is also possible by tricycle.
By Car
Drive along the Highway 1 (Phahonyothin Road) and turn right to the Highway 2 (Mitraphap Road) at Saraburi, then turn to the Chok Chai-Det Udom route (the Highway 24) via Amphoe Nang Rong and Amphoe Prasat before turning left to the Highway 214 to Surin Province. The total distance is 457 kilometers.
Surin has been an elephant’s habitat since ancient times and the local townspeople of Surin are skilled in rounding up, training and controlling elephants. The famous ‘ Elephant Round-Up’ was first held in 1960 and Surin has ever since become well-known among Thai and foreign visitors alike.
The Surin Elephant Round-Up has been scheduled to take place annually during weekend around mid November. The fair is regarded an international annual which attracts numbers of tourists from every cornor of the world. Planned activities during the fair include a tug-of-war between an elephant and men, elephants in football match, war elephant parade, and local performances.
