SuraThani
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SuraThani |
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Surat ThaniThe largest province of the South located 685 kilometers from Bangkok 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 Ko Samui, Thailand's third largest island, and its neighbour Ko Pha-ngan a celebrated island that hosts the biggest beach full moon party. North of Ko Pha-ngan is Ko Tao, renowned for its excellent coral reefs. 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 ThaniSurat 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 Bangkoks 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. |
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