Surin Province

[Braveheart]

Surin (Thai: สุรินทร์) is one of the north-eastern provinces (changwat) of Thailand. To the south it borders Oddar Meancheay of Cambodia. In the north of the province is the valley of the Mun river, a tributary of the Mekong. To the south of the province is the Dongrek mountain chain, which also forms the boundary to Cambodia.

 

Surin was a part of the Khmer empire. Scattered temple ruins and a large ethnic Khmer population are remnants from that period. In 1763 a village was moved to the location of the modern city of Surin, and was upgraded to a city with the name Mueang Prathai Saman. At that time there was a man named Chiangpum who gave a white elephant in tribute to Rama I before he became king. In return he received the honorary name Luang Surin Phakdi and was assigned as the village leader. Later he became the first governor when Rama I became king. In 1786 the town was renamed in honor of its first governor to its current name, Surin.

 

60% of the population speak Khmer.

 

The provincial seal shows a temple in the Khmer architectorial design, as well as an elephant head. Both Khmer temples as well as elephants are commonly found in the province.

 

Provincial tree as well as provincial flower is the Common Tembusu (Fagraea fragrans).

 

The province is subdivided into 13 districts (Amphoe) and 4 minor districts (King Amphoe). The districts are further subdivided into 158 communes (tambon) and 2011 villages (muban).

 

Extracted from Wikipedia: Surin Province