Провинция Сурат Тхани, Таиланд.

Introduction:
The largest province of the South located 685 kilometers from BangKohk is Surat Thani the province with a name that literally means "City of the Good People. A former capital of the Srivijaya Empire, the province covers an area of approximately 12,891 square kilometers. Surat Thani Province borders the Gulf of Thailand to the north and east, Chumphon Province to the north, Nakhon Si Thammarat and Krabi Provinces to the south, Phang-Nga and Ranong Provinces to the west and Nakhon Si Thammarat Province to the east.

High plateaus and forested mountains are located to the west of the province, while there are low basins in the center and along the eastern coast. This topography has created 14 river basins including Tapee, Pum Duang, Tha Thong, Tha Krajai, Chaiya, Tha Chang which are the most important basins. All rivers in Surat Thani flow east of the province to the Gulf of Thailand.

The numerous islands along the coast makes Surat Thani (often known as Surat in short) a perfect hideaway for vacationers from around the world. The ideal destination for many is the Penang-sized Koh Samui, Thailand's third largest island, and its neighbor Koh Pha Ngan a celebrated island that hosts the biggest beach full moon party. To top it all is the dazzling 250-square-kilometer Ang Thong Marine National Park, where a stunning archipelago awaits to greet visitors with their charming palm-fringed beaches, crystal clear water and colorful coral reefs. The best time to enjoy one of these islands to the fullest is from April November.

History of Surat Thani:
Surat Thani is a city with a long history. Archeologists believe that it was once a community of prehistoric tribes of indigenous people including the Saemang and original Malays who built their communities on the Tapee River Basin and Ao Ban Don. Later on, the Indians migrated into the area and gradually spread out their culture, as evidenced in the discovery of ruins of ancient communities in Tha Chana and Chaiya Sub-districts.

In the 13th century, the city became a part of and, as some historians might claim, a center of the glorious Srivijaya Empire the kingdom that dominated the whole Malay Peninsula and much of Java. It was during this period that Mahayana Buddhist reached its height of influence. The empires grandeur can still be admired in many areas of Chaiya District.

When the empire hit the bottom, it was divided into 3 main cities namely Chaiya, Tha Thong and Khiri Rat. They were all under the jurisdiction of Nakhon Si Thammarat until King Rama IV decided to move Tha Thong City to Ban Don and required that it report directly to BangKohks administration. The name Ban Don was, at the time, changed to Kanchanadit. It was with the establishment of the Monthon, a former administrative unit, that all three cities were merged into one under the name Chaiya. In 1915, King Rama VI changed the name Chaiya to Surat Thani.

The seal of Surat Thani says a lot about its history. Featuring the pagoda of Phra Boromathat Chaiya, the seal is proof of the influence of Mahayana Buddhist on Surat Thani. Phra Boromathat Chaiya is the most revered and important historical place in the province. It is believed that the pagoda contains Buddha relics.

Today, Surat Thani is an important commercial and shipping hub for rubber and coconut trading.

Getting Around the City :
Apart from the local orange bus (9 baht / trip / person), songthaews are another option to get around the city. It costs 10 baht / trip / person. Samlors will cost approximately 20-30 baht. The orange bus departs from the Phu Phin train station to the city every 10 minutes from 6.00 a.m. until 8.00 p.m. The same ride by taxi will cost approximately 100 baht.

Air-conditioned vans connecting the airport and town costs 70-80 baht / person / trip. Tickets can be purchased at travel agencies or THAI office (077 272610).

Attractions:
Pak Nam Tapi
The Tapi River Mouth is some 5 kms. from Ban Don municipality. The area is particular rich in quality seafood restaurants.

Khao Tha Phet Wildlife and Nature Education Centre
This is some 6 kms. from town along the Surat Thani- Na San route (Route No. 4009). It covers an area of 1,162 acres. and houses a number of caged wild animals near the Centre. On Khao Tha Phet, Tha Phet, at 210 metres above sea level, stands a stupa named Phra That Si Surat which houses Buddha relics donated by the Indian Government some 40 years ago. The hilltop offers a panoramic view of Surat Thani Town and the Tapi River.

Phra Borommathat Chaiya
This ancient pagoda housing Lord Buddha relics is located in Amphoe Chaiya, 54 kms. north of the provincial capital, and dates back to the Srivijaya period over 1,200 years ago. In the compound, there is the Chaiya National Museum consisting of two buildings. One exhibits stone and bronze sculptures discovered in the ancient city of Chaiya and the other exhibits artifacts of prehistoric down to historic periods from Dvaravati, Sri Vijaya, Lopburi, Sukhothai to Ayutthaya. Art objects and several other crafts are also displayed here. The museum is open daily between 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. except for Mondays and Tuesdays.

Wat Suan Mokkhaphalaram
Better known as Suan Mok, the temple is on Highway No. 41 some 50 kms. north of the provincial capital. Suan Mok's founder, Bhikkhu Buddhadhasa, is highly respected in Thailand, and internationally, and his 'back-to-basics' approach attracts Buddhist monks and lay meditators from many countries. A favourite sight for casual visitors is the 'Spiritual Theatre' which Buddhadhasa describes as a pictorial interpretation of Dharma. The building features an eclectic mixture of Thai, Egyptian, Chinese, Indian, Japanese, Tibetan and European-style murals and sculptures.

Ban Phumriang
This small handicraft village, some 6 kms. east of Chaiya, is renowned for its gold and silver brocade silk cloth and jute head wear.

Ratchaprapha or Chieo Lan Dam
This is located 70 kms. west from Surat Thani on Highway No. 401 and another 12 kms. along an access road. An extensive lake beyond the Ratchaprapha Dam offers very beautiful scenery. Accommodation near the dam is available.

Khao Sok National Park
This is largely jungle with undulating mountain ranges and rugged high cliffs. The park office is 1.3 kms. off the Surat-Takua Pa Road at Km. 109. Attractions in the park include Namtok Mae Yai which can be reached by car; Namtok Sip Et Chan (eleven-tiered waterfall), 4 kms. from the park office and other beautiful waterfalls and caves, mostly accessible by foot. Rare flora and fauna are found along nature trails. Dormitories, bungalows and raft-houses are available.

Monkey Schools
There are two monkey schools in Surat Thani: one is located in Amphoe Kanchanadit, some 13 kms. from Surat Thani along Highway No. 401 and the other is at Ban Khlong Sai, Amphoe Tha Chang, some 35 kms. along Highway No. 41. Visitors are advised to contact travel agents for full details.

Oyster Farms
Oysters bred in Surat Thani are substantially larger than those found elsewhere. Many farms are found around the estuarine areas of the Kradae Canal and the Thong River in Amphoe Kanchanadit. These farms can be reached by boat from the Tha Thong Quayside within 30 minutes.

Koh Samui This beautiful 247-square-kilometre island, one of the most famous attractions of Thailand, is some 84 kilometres east of Surat Thami's provincial capital. It can be reached by boat from Surat Thani town or by ferry either from Don Sak (some 7 kms from Surat Thani town) or Khanom (in Nakhon Si Thammart). A 51-Kilometre ring road encircles the island, which has numerous lovely beaches and bays, and is almost literally an island of coconuts and forested hills. Samui's best beaches line the northern and eastern coasts. The most popular are Hat Chaweng and Hat Lamai where, generally, attractive accommodation can be found. Besides marvelous beaches, other interesting attractions include the Samui Butterfly Park; the monkey Centre; the Hin Lat and Na Muang waterfalls; the phallic rock formations at the southern end of Lamai Bay, and a massive seated Buddha image on Koh Fan. The island's major sea front settlement is at Na Thon where shops, restaurants and tour agents are located.

Mu Koh Ang Thong National Park
This marine park comprises some 40 islands northwest of Koh Samui and covers an area of 250 square kilometres of which 50 square kilometres is land mass. Most islands comprise limestone masses reaching heights of up to 400 metres and fringed by beaches and tropical rainforest. The park office is located on Koh Wua Ta Lap. Popular attractions include a high viewpoint, secluded beaches, Tham Bua Bok - a beautiful cave with spectacular stalactite and stalagmite formations, and an emerald saltwater lake known as Tale Nai on Koh Mae Koh, which entails a strenuous climb. Another popular venue is Koh Sam Sao where an extensive span of coral reef and huge rock arch offers scenic views. A one-day tour package to Mu Koh Ang Thong is organised by some travel agents on Koh Samui.

Koh Phangan
Another large island covering an area of 191 square kilometres, is 60 minutes directly north of Koh Samui. The island offers few comforts and can be explored by motorcycles. Hat Thong Sala, the major community of the island, is where the ferry landing and shops are located. In addition to white sandy beaches, there are also two beautiful waterfalls: Namtok Phang and Namtok Than Sadet, 4 kms. and 30 kms. from Hat Thong Sala, respectively. There is a mountain top temple called Wat Khao Tham where meditators may go for practice.

Koh Tae Nai
This small island can be reached within 5 minutes from Koh Phangan. High jungle-covered hills, a long stretch of golden sandy beach and thriving coral reefs are some of its major attractions. Accommodation in the form of bungalows is available.

Koh Tao
This is a small island to the north of Koh Phangan, which can be reached either from Surat Thani or Chumphon. There are several beautiful beaches and diving areas around the island. Simple bungalows are available. Like Koh Tarutao, Koh Tao was once a place where political prisoners were detained. Nearby Koh Nang Yuan is a coral island with a high viewpoint and long white sandy beaches.

Tai Rom Yen National Park
The park covers forest areas in Amphoe Ban Na San and Amphoe Wiang Sa. A mountain in the park known as Khao Chong Chang once used to be the base of the Communist Party of Thailand. There are two beautiful waterfalls: Namtok Dat Fa, 33 kms. from Surat Thani and 13 kms. along an access road, and Namtok Muang Thuat, 20 kms. from Amphoe Ban Na San.Visitors wishing to stay overnight are requested to bring their own camping accessories.

Major Events:
Rambutan Fair This annual fair is held in August to celebrate this delicious first.The fist rambutan tree was planted in Surat Thani in 1926, and now trees are grown throughout the area. Highlights of the fair include exhibitions of agricultural produces and ornamental plants, floats adorned with rambutan and other fruits, and demonstrations of trained monkeys splitting coconuts.

Chak Phra & Thot Pha Pa Festival Chak Phra means "to pull a sacred Buddha". The activity occurs on the same day as the Thot Pha Pa Ceremony, a form of merit-making when Buddhists offer saffron robes to monks and donate money to temples at the end of the Buddhist Rains Retreat (around October). Buddha images on elaborately decorated carriages are pulled by the local people with land and waterborne processions.

How To Get There:
Car
Surat Thani can be most conveniently reached by car from BangKohk by taking Highway No. 4 to Chumphon Province via Phetchaburi and Prachuap Khiri Khan Provinces and then taking Highway No. 41 and Highway No. 401 directly to Surat Thani City.

Bus
Air-conditioned buses depart from BangKohk's Southern Bus Terminal to Surat Thani Province everyday. Call the southern Bus Terminal tel: 0 2434 5557-8 or visit http://www.transport.co.th

Train
Trains leave BangKohk's Hua Lamphong Railway Station 10 times daily from 12 p.m. until 10.50 p.m. The trip takes approximately 12-13 hours. Ask for the train from BangKohk to Phun Phin, the closest station to Surat Thani. For further details, please call 1690, 0 2223 7010, 0 2223 7020 or visit http://www.railway.co.th.

Surat Thani Railway Station is 12 kilometers from town. A bus service between the station and the town is available.

Surat Thani Railway Station is 12 kilometres from town. A bus service between the station and the town is available.

Air
Thai Airways International has 2 daily flights connecting BangKohk with Surat Thani. The flight time is approximately 70 minutes. For more information, contact their BangKohk office at tel. 1566, 0 2280 0060, 0 2628 2000 or get your on-line e-ticket at http://www.thaiairways.com

By Boat
Seatran (077 275060, 136 Na Meuang Road) operates a bus/boat combination to Koh Samui. The fee is 150 baht.

Phantip Travel (077 272230, 293/6-8 Talat Mai Road) offers tickets to Koh Tao (500 baht), Koh Pha-Nhan (250 baht), and Koh Samui (140 baht). The operator is Raja Ferry (07 314523, 077 371151 or 077 371206) who offers bus/boat combinations to the islands.

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