Surat Thani

Province

Surat Thani ( in Thai สุราษฎร์ธานี ) is a large city ( เทศบาล นคร สุราษฎร์ธานี ) in the Thai province of Surat Thani. It is the capital of the district ( Amphoe ) Mueang Surat Thani Surat Thani province.

The city of Surat Thani has 126 131 inhabitants. (2012 )

Geography

The Surat Thani Province is located in the southern region of Thailand. The city of Surat Thani on the east coast of the Gulf of Thailand to the corresponding bay of Bandon in the midst of a fertile plain at the mouth of the river Tapi. The distance to the capital Bangkok is about 640 kilometers.

The city of Surat Thani is only one stop on the way to the resort island of Koh Samui for most tourists.

Economic importance and

Surat Thani is the center for mining and timber trade. The port is the starting point for rain fishing. Famous are the coconut plantations on which sniffer monkeys unscrew the nuts and throw down from the trees. Since 1969, Surat Thani is the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Surat Thani, which is responsible for about 6,000 Catholics in southern Thailand.

Traffic

West of the town is the Surat Thani Airport ( Thai: ท่าอากาศยาน สุราษฎร์ธานี, IATA code: URT, ICAO code: VTSB ).

East of the town is the harbor translate from which ships to the tourist islands of Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao. Thus, Surat Thani Chumphon is next to a popular transfer point to the islands in the Gulf of Thailand for budget- oriented travelers who arrive by bus or train from Bangkok.

History

The area around Surat Thani has been inhabited since ancient times, as Palaeolithic tool finds prove. The small city ( Mueang ) Chaiya not far from Surat Thani was an important city of the kingdom of Srivijaya, possibly even at times the capital.

Got its name, the city of Surat Thani in 1915 by King Vajiravudh (Rama VI. ), He translates as city of good men, as the residents were very devout Buddhists.

Attractions

• Wat Dai Dhammaram ( วัด ไตร ธร ร มา ราม ) - moderately interesting temple ( Wat ) in modern times with a high viharn whose gable are richly decorated with colorful carvings.
• Khao Tha Phet - a mountain south of the city, which is protected as a wildlife reserve. From there, there is a good view over the city. At the top there is also the Si Surat stupa was built in 1957.

Wat Dai Dhammaram

Wat Thammabucha

Si Surat stupa on the Khao Tha Phet