North-Eastern

Surin 

A town in Isaan, Thailand.The land of big elephants, prestigious silk, beautiful rosary, many Khmer ruins, sweet radish, fragrant rice, and rich culture. It's a large province in the Northeastern Isaan region. The people of the region have always been highly regarded for a particular skill capturing and taming elephants.

Surin, a quiet town, its one claim to fame is its annual Elephant Roundup, which takes place in November (book a room in advance). Surin is well-known for its elephants. Surin's people have a long relationship with elephants and they have become the provincial icon. Throw in plenty of Khmer ruins, beautiful silk, and aromatic jasmine rice and they all make Surin an interesting destination.

A few attractions to explore in Surin;

• Surin National Museum - has exhibits relating to the geography, history and ethnic groups of Surin. The museum is located about four km south of the city along Route 214. There is nothing to see along the road, and given the speed of cars and the lack of a side walk, walking is not recommended. The pink songthaew from the city will take you to the museum for 10 Baht, or use a tuk-tuk/samlor.
• Silk Village - Statue of the founder of Surin
• Wats - Surin has several.
• Elephant training village - at Tha Tum, about 60 km away.

Festivals:

The Elephant Roundup is a three-day long event where elephants roam the streets of Surin and perform in various activities; soccer and beauty contests.

Khmer-era temples: These stretch from the border westwards to Buriram Province. There are few organised tours (tourism is not overly big in Isaan). You can always find an (expensive) rental car, with driver, at your hotel, or it is possible to visit the major temples by using the local public transport system (this is very cheap). Ask you hotel or guest house for instructions. (Most signs at the bus and train station are in Thai, but the staff are very helpful).

• Prasat Ta Meuan - a complex of three structures built in the 12th–13th centuries around the time of the Cambodian king Jayavarman VII. The largest building is Prasat Ta Meuan Thom. It is surrounded by an outer wall, and contains a large central, rectangular building on a north-south axis. To the south is Prasat Ta Meuan Toht, a smaller structure, with an outer wall. The last and smallest of three is Prasat Ta Meuan, a small building with no wall, approx 15m x 5m in size. All of these buildings show signs of disrepair and looting. A return journey by taxi to the complex will cost you 2000 baht (April 2007). There are occasional excursion buses, when there is sufficient interest. Check with your hotel or travel agent. There is no on-site English language assistance, nor much information about the complex. There may still be unexploded land mines from the days of the Khmer Rouge. Stay on the paths and do not wander into the surrounding jungle. Entry is free.
• Prasat Sikhoraphum - a set of temple ruins in a quiet surroundings, can be reached by bus or train (30 km, 1 hour plus)
• Prasat Hin Phluang - a collection of several minor ruins near the Cambodian border; private transport (watch out for landmines!)
• Prasat Phumpon - a small and jumbled collection of ruins (60 km)

Get There: 

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By Car

From Bangkok, head north via Hwy 1 (Pahonyothin Rd) and merge onto Hwy 2 (Mittraphap Rd) at Saraburi. Use Hwy 24 (Chok Chai-Det Udom) via Nang Rong, Prasat, then turn left onto Hwy 214 to Surin. This route is 457 km long. From Nakhon Ratchasima, motorists can use Hwy 226, en route via Chakkrarat, Huai Thalaeng, Lam Plai Mat, and Buri Ram to Surin. This route is 434 km long.

By Bus

Bangkok's northern bus terminal (Mo Chit 2) on Kamphaeng Phet II Rd has daily service to Surin. 

Minibuses (60 baht) connect the town with Chong Chom, which hosts a border crossing with O'Smach in Cambodia.

A bus from Si Saket will cost 92 baht.

Bus and train terminals are within easy walking distance, about 300 m apart.

By train

Trains regularly leave Bangkok's Hualamphong and Bang Sue stations for Surin. For more information, call 1690, 0-2220-4334, 0-2220-444 - or visit here