Surat Thani (Thai: สุราษฎร์ธานี) is a city in Amphoe Mueang Surat Thani, Surat Thani Province, southern Thailand. Thai (th ภาษาไทย, transcription: phasa thai, transliteration:; pʰāːsǎːtʰāj is the national and Mueang Surat Thani (เมืองสุราษฎร์ธานี is the capital district ( Amphoe Mueang) of Surat Thani Province in southern Surat Thani (often in short Surat, สุราษฎร์ธานี is the largest of the southern provinces ( changwat) of Thailand, on The Kingdom of Thailand (ˈtaɪlænd ราชอาณาจักรไทย, râːtɕʰa-ʔaːnaːtɕɑ̀k-tʰɑj It is the capital of the province Surat Thani. Surat Thani (often in short Surat, สุราษฎร์ธานี is the largest of the southern provinces ( changwat) of Thailand, on

The city has a population of 126,018 (2007), and an area of 68. 97 square kilometers. The city's population density is 1,827. 13 inhabitants per km². It is near the mouth of the river Tapi on the Gulf of Thailand. The Tapi (or Tapee) river (แม่น้ำตาปี is the longest river in Southern Thailand. The Gulf of Thailand (or Gulf of Siam) is a gulf that borders but is not part of the South China Sea ( Pacific Ocean) The city has no tourist attractions, and is thus only known to tourists as a transfer to the nearby Ko Samui island. Ko Samui island of Surat Thani Province (or Koh Samui, เกาะสมุย is an Island off the east coast of the Kra Isthmus in Thailand

City pillar shrine in Surat Thani. A Lak Mueang (หลักเมือง or City pillar is found in most cities of Thailand

It forms the regional commercial center, with a seaport dealing in the main products of the province, rubber and coconuts.

History

The city received its name by King Vajiravudh (Rama VI) in 1915 which means City of Good People. Vajiravudh ( January 1, 1881 &ndash November 25, 1925) ( Rama VI, reigning title Phra Mongkut Klao Chaoyuhua; พระบาทสมเด็จพระมงกุฎเกล้าเจ้าอยู่หั� Then this name was given to the city due to the high devotion of the locals to Buddhism. Previously the city was known as Bandon, which means Village on higher ground.

On December 21 1930 Surat Thani became a sanitary district (sukhaphiban),^[1] which was upgraded to a town (thesaban mueang) on December 7 1935, with a municipal area of 2. Sukhaphiban (สุขาภิบาล translated sanitary districts) were an administrative division of Thailand. Thesaban (เทศบาล are the municipalities in Thailand. 67 km². ^[2] The area of the municipality was enlarged to 6. 95 km² on October 14 1958,^[3] and on December 22 1994 it was further enlarged to 68. 97 km². ^[4] On May 4 2007, the town was upgraded to city status (thesaban nakhon). Thesaban (เทศบาล are the municipalities in Thailand. ^[5]

Since 1969 Surat Thani is the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Surat Thani, responsible for about 6000 Catholic Christians in southern Thailand. Year 1969 ( MCMLXIX) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.

Traffic

Surat Thani is connected with Bangkok by the southern railway even though Surat Thani Railway Station is located in Phunphin, about 15 km far from the downtown. Surat Thani Railway Station ( SRT Code SRN) is the main railway station in Surat Thani Province. Phunphin (พุนพิน is a district ( Amphoe) in the province Surat Thani in the south of Thailand. Asian highway AH2 also passes the city at Phunphin. The Asian Highway (AH Project is a cooperative project among countries in Asia and Europe and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission Asian highway 2 Ratchaburijpg|right|200px|thumb|Asian Highway 2 sign near Ratchaburi, Thailand]]The AH2 ( is a road in the Asian Highway Network running 8230 miles A regional airport, Surat Thani International Airport, is about 30 km from the city by road. Surat Thani Airport is in Phunphin district Surat Thani province, Thailand. Though some ferries to Ko Samui are provided in the downtown, the main ferry pier is located at Don Sak, 40 km east (about 60 km by road) on the coast of Gulf of Thailand. Don Sak (ดอนสัก is a district ( Amphoe) in eastern Surat Thani Province.

Administration

Municipal office.

The town covers the tambon Talad and Bang Kung, and parts of the tambon Khlong Chanak, Bang Chana, Bang Baimai and Makham Tia, all part of the Mueang Surat Thani district. Tambon (ตำบล is a local government unit in Thailand. Below District ( Amphoe) and Province ( Changwat Mueang Surat Thani (เมืองสุราษฎร์ธานี is the capital district ( Amphoe Mueang) of Surat Thani Province in southern The town is subdivided into 45 communities (chumchon).

References

1. ^ "พระบรมราชโองการ ประกาศ ใช้พระราชบัญญัติจัดการสุขาภิบาล จังหวัดสุราษฎร์ธานี มณฑลนครศรีธรรมราช" (in Thai) (December 21 1930). Royal Gazette 47 (0 ก): 271-273.  
2. ^ "พระราชกฤษฎีกาจัดตั้งเทศบาลเมืองสุราษฎร์ธานี จังหวัดสุราษฎร์ธานี พุทธศักราช ๒๔๗๘" (in Thai) (December 10 1935). Royal Gazette 51 (0 ก): 1758-1762.  
3. ^ "พระราชกฤษฎีกาเปลี่ยนแปลงเขตเทศบาลเมืองสุราษฎร์ธานี จังหวัดสุราษฎร์ธานี พ.ศ. ๒๕๐๑" (in Thai) (October 14 1958). Royal Gazette 75 (79 ก): 555-558.  
4. ^ "พระราชกฤษฎีกาเปลี่ยนแปลงเขตเทศบาลเมืองสุราษฎร์ธานี จังหวัดสุราษฎร์ธานี (ฉบับที่ ๒) พ.ศ. ๒๕๓๗" (in Thai) (December 21 1994). Royal Gazette 111 (59 ก): 29-32.  
5. ^ "ประกาศกระทรวงมหาดไทย เรื่อง เปลี่ยนแปลงฐานะเทศบาลเมืองสุราษฎร์ธานี อำเภอเมืองสุราษฎร์ธานี จังหวัดสุราษฎร์ธานี เป็นเทศบาลนครสุราษฎร์ธานี" (in Thai) (June 4 2007). Royal Gazette 124 (Special 67 ง): 15.  

External links

• Surat Thani City Website (Thai only)
• Surat Thani travel guide from Wikitravel