Maha Sarakham, Thailand

Maha Sarakham is situated in the heart of Northeast Thailand having peaceful atmosphere and being the center of education in the northeast so the name "Taksila of Isan" (Taksila was a city where education of all branches were centered in the ancient India) is given to it. Maha Sarakham is 470 kilometers, along highways, from Bangkok. It occupies an area of 5,291.68 square kilometers being a rolling plain without mountain or hill with the Chi River flows through. The majority of the area is rice field.

The principal occupations of Maha Sarakham people are cultivation and animal raising. Outstanding home industry of Maha Sarakham is sericulture and silk fabric production. Maha Sarakham hand woven silk and cotton mainly have original patterns and are very beautiful.

Attractions:
Wat Mahachai
Located in Maha Sarakham municipality, this temple is the center where the northeastern literature and arts are collected.

Kaeng Loeng Chan Reservoir
about 3 kilometers from town center, is a popular holiday spot, with peaceful and beautiful atmosphere.

Mongkhon Standing Buddha
is the principal Buddha image of Maha Sarakham, also of the Dvaravati Period. Made of red sandstone, and located in Amphoe Kantharawichai, it is believed to have been cast at the same time as the Phra Phuttha Ming Muang. Legend has it that ever since the two images have been in existence, rainfall has been plentiful and regular.

Phra Phuttha Ming Muang (or Phra Phuttha Rup Suwanmali)
is a sandstone Buddha image enshrined at Watsuwan-Mali in Amphoe Kantharawichai. It is of the style of the Dvaravati Period.

Ku Santarat
a laterite sanctuary of ancient Khmer style, is located 60 kilometers from Maha Sarakham along the route to Amphoe Na Dun.

Phra That Na Dun
located in Amphoe Na Dun about 65 kilometers from town, is an important monument of the ancient city named "Nakhon Chanpasi", more than one hundred years old. Its surrounding area is allocated to be a shady arboretum.

Ban I San Museum
Situated near Phar That Na Dun, Amphoe Na Dun, the museum puts on an exhibition of the northeasterners' Iifestyle in the form of local houses installed with implements, northeastern musical instruments as well as carts of different periods.

Local Woven Cloth
is hand-made by villagers of Ban Nong Khuan, about 14 kilometers from town along the route to Amphoe Kosum Phisai. Silk and cotton here are woven in delicate designs and are put on sale in souvenir shops in Maha Sarakham.


Festivals & Events:
Bun Boek Fa and Red Cross Fair
It is an annual celebration taken place around the beginning of rice farming season which falls on the 3rd waxing day the of the 3rd lunar month. The fair takes place at the area of the Provincial Administrative Building aiming at the revision and conservation of northeast cultural heritage. The main features of the fair are Bun Boek Fa Procession which concerns about rice goddess spirit and container of Baisi Su Khwan. Along with the main features are cultural activities, local entertainment, folk music performance, and several ceremonies. Buddhist Lent Candle Procession (Amphoe Kosum Phisai) : The one day before Buddhist Lent Day. The festival features various candle processions from several communities competing the beauty of candle decorations.

On Son Klong Yao Chao Wapee Fair
Most people in Wapeephathum District has their own local drum and produce higg quality Klong Yao also. It takes place every year in the middle of March, there are light and sound about Wapeephatum history, Klong Yao procession, Klong Yao playing contest and agricultural , exhibition and farm products.

Bang Fai Festival (Amphoe Na Chuak)
The festival takes place every year during May-June at the court yard of Amphoe Na Chak Office. The festival features the contests of Bang Fai (fire work rocket) procession, procession decoration, and rocket sky-high rising. At night, there are religious rites and entertainment.

Bun Pha Kao Ling (Buffet Dinner for monkeys)
This fair take place on the 2^nd of April every year at Koamphi forest park. There are food and fruits buffet for monkeys, bringing foods and fruit for monkeys and seeing one of the rarest species of the world. "Golden monkey".

Phrathat Nadun Homage Paying & twelve Months Tradition Fair
This fair takes place on the 15th waxing day of the 3rd lunar month (Makha Bucha Day) of every year. The fair ground is the area around Phrathat Nadun, Buddhist Bounds of the northeast and it lasts five days and five nights.

How to get there:
From Bangkok, there are ordinary buses operating to Ubon Ratchatani and stop over at Maha Sarakham several trips a day. The fare is 113 Baht and detailed information can be obtained from the Northeastern Bus Terminal, Tel. 936-3667-8. Air-conditioned buses leaves the Northeastern Bus Terminal in Bangkok for Maha Sarakham three trips a day i.e., at 09.00 a.m., 09.00 p.m. and 10.00 p.m. charging the fare 158 Baht per person for common air-conditioned bus and 245 Baht for VIP air-conditioned bus. For those who travel by train or plane, land transport needs to be continued at Khon Kaen for another distance of 72 kilometers to Maha Sarakham.