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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 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 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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