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.
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Borders :
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North
South
East
West |
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Chiang Mai
Surin and
Buriram
Roi-Et
Khon Kaen |
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Distances from Maha Sarakham city to:
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Nearby Provinces. |
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To its districts |
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- Buriram
- Kalasin
- Khon Kaen
- Surin |
145 kms.
44 kms.
75 kms.
177 kms. |
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- Borabue
- Chiang Yuen
- Kae Dam
- Kantharawichai
- Kosum Phisai
- Na Chuak
- Nadun
- Phayakhaphum Phisai
- Wapipathum
- Yang Sisurat Subdistrict
- Kudrang Subdistrict
- Chuenchom subdistrict |
28 kms.
44 kms.
28 kms.
16 kms.
28 kms.
56 kms.
65 kms.
84 kms.
40 kms.
70 kms.
40 kms.
70 kms. |
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 2nd 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.
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