Surin province
Surin is a big province on Mun River Basin in Lower Northeast of Thailand. It is well known, locally and international, for its elephant. The gigantic animal of Surin impresses everyone with loveliness, cleverness and creates unique character of the province. Surin people have long relationship with elephant which becomes icon of the province now. Plenty of Khmer Ruins, beautiful silk and famous jasmine rice make Surin a very interesting destination.
In historical aspect, Surin’s story can be dated back thousands of year B.C. when Suai or Kuai ethnic group migrated along Mekong River to settle around Dongrek Range. Kuai ethnic people, found in Thailand and Laos, is talent in catching and training elephant. Some 2,000 years ago, during Khmer Era, Surin town was established. After the fall of Khmer Empire, the town was neglected until 1763, when Luang 
Surin Pakdi (Chiang Pum) headman of Mueang Thi Village, led his people to settle at Ban Khu Prathai, in present Surin City. He was promoted as the first mayor later.
Surin is some 457 kilometres from Bangkok. The province acquires total area of 8,124 square kilometres and it can be divided into 17 Amphoes namely Mueang Surin, Chumphon Buri, Tha Tum, Chom Phra, Prasat, Kap Choeng, Rattanaburi, Phanom, Si Khoraphum, Sangkha, Samrong Thap, Buachet, Lamduan, Si Narong, Phanom Dong Rak, Khwao Sinarin, and Non Narai. 
Etymology
The word Sur originates from the Sanskrit word Sura meaning God, and the word In from Sanskrit is Indra. Hence the name of the province literally means Lord Indra.
Geography
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.
History
Surin was originally an important part of the Khmer empire (its center at Angkor in present day Cambodia), only the temple ruins from that time remain. 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 of Bangkok 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.
Symbols
The provincial seal is an image of Indra atop his celestial white elephant, Airavata which is based on the design found on a famous Khmer temple in the province. Both Khmer temples as well as elephants are commonly found in Surin.
Provincial tree as well as provincial flower is the Common Tembusu (Fagraea fragrans).
Administrative divisions
The province is subdivided into 17 districts (Amphoe). The districts are further subdivided into 158 subdistricts (tambon) and 2011 villages (muban).
- Mueang Surin
- Chumphon Buri
- Tha Tum
- Chom Phra
- Prasat
- Kap Choeng
- Rattanaburi
- Sanom
- Sikhoraphum
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- Sangkha
- Lamduan
- Samrong Thap
- Buachet
- Phanom Dong Rak
- Si Narong
- Khwao Sinarin
- Non Narai
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