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 The
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 neighbor Ko 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 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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