SURIN, 28 NOV – The north-eastern Thai provinces (changwat) of Buriram, Surin and Sisaket are strongly luring the estimated four million Malaysian visitors into the kingdom with fabulous touristic attractions.
Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) director for Surin and Sisaket, Nongyao Jirundorn said that the three provinces – which were part of 76 in Thailand – were also targeting the forecasted annual 28 million foreign visitors, churning an estimated over one trillion baht revenue for the kingdom.
For this year, Malaysians topped as Thailand’s visitors with nearly four million arrivals, followed by China three million; South Korea and India 1.4 million each; and Russia 1.2 million.
At Surin, visitors would be marvelled at the annual ‘Elephant Festival’ where they get a one-hour ride on some 200 elephants and feed them a buffet of assorted tropical fruits and vegetables.
Traditional dancers enthralling visitors at the brightly-lit khmer sanctuary of Prasat Si Khoraphumi in Surin, Thailand.
“Surin city, popular as an ancient area of warrior elephants, is also famous for the giant bronze statue of its founder Praya Surin Phakdi Si Narong Chang Wang that was built on April 13, 1985,” Nongyao said after briefing Malaysian and Brunei journalists and tour agents visiting the three provinces.
Present was TAT director for Malaysia and Brunei Sirinthara Surakanitaya.
The Wat Burapharam is a royal temple built in the Thon Buri period or in the early Rattanakosin period by Phraya Surin Phakdi Si Narong Changwang (Pum).
Inside the temple is enshrined a 200-year-old Buddha image in the attitude of a subduing Ayutthaya-era Mara posture, which is Luang Pho Phra Chee, whose lap width is four cubits (the length of the arm from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger).
At the Surin Elephant Stadium in Muang, visitors were enthralled with the remarkable skills displayed by the talented cherished animals (under the charge of mahouts or trainers) whose showcase is boasted as the world’s most extensive – from darts competitions, drawing contests, baton relays, football matches to dancing routines.
Visitors at the Prasat Phanom Rung khmer hindu temple that sits on the rim of an extinct volcano at 402 metres elevation at the Phanom Rung Historical Park in Sisaket, Thailand.
At night, the elephants performed to a colourful light and sound show that culminated with a fireworks display.
Nongyao explained that Surin’s Ban Ta Klang elephant village in Tambon Krapho was a paddy and grove environment interspersed with sparse forests that was ideal for rearing elephants.
“The original villagers of Ban Ta Klang are Suai or Kui, who are skilled in catching wild elephants from the Cambodian border – training and raising them.
“The village’s ‘Elephant World’, covering 500 rai (equal to 800 square kilometres), is the largest elephant conservation centre in the world with exhibitions about the animal’s history.
“The interior is divided into the elephant showground, swimming pool, watching tower, cinema, museum, monument, Erawan pavilion and forest walk,” she said.
Wat Phrai Phatthana temple in Phu Sing district, Sisaket, Thailand that is surrounded by giant rooster statues.
“The Elephant Cemetery hosts the remains of hundreds of the sacred animals where people are able to pay homage for their services,” Nongyao said.
At night, visitors were enthralled by traditional dancers at the brightly-lit khmer sanctuary of Prasat Si Khoraphumi, located between Surin and Sisaket cities.
“It was built in the 12th century by King Suryavarman II for hindu worship.
“The temple’s name comes from the Sanskrit word shikhara ( tower sanctuary) and is composed of five sandstone and brick towers – depicting Lords Shiva, Brahma, Ganesha, Vishnu and Uma – on a laterite base.
“The door frames have sets of apsaras, devatas and dvarapalas.
“The temple was converted for use by buddhists in the 16th century with architectural contributions influenced by Laos,” said Nongyao.
The Tha Sawang Silk-Weaving Village in Tambon Tha Sawang, offered the ancient practice of producing ‘Pha Yok Thong’ clothing from very fine threads of silk, dyed naturally and woven with delicate patterns.
Over at Sisaket, the magnificient Wat Si Bueng Boon temple is located by the Huai Thap Than riverside with a combination of Ayutthaya and Rattanakosin art styles in bright gold colour.
Seven-headed dragons guard the four corners of the entrance stairs, foretelling Jataka tales.
Also, of interest in Sisaket – that lies between Nakhon Ratchasima and Udon Thani – is the Wat Trai Samakkhi Phaya Naga with mythical dragons, snakes and other serpents.
Elephants feeding on a buffet of assorted tropical fruits and vegetables at Surin’s ‘Elephant Festival’ in Thailand.
Over at the Khao Phra Wihan National Park is a large Khmer temple ruin of ‘Prasat Preath Vihear’atop ‘Pha Mo I Daeng’ that is perched dramatically on a cliff 500m above the plains below.
“This is just over the Cambodian Preath Vihear provincial border and currently not accessible from the Thai side due to a border dispute.
“However, visitors are able to have a scenic overview of some minor Khmer ruins,” Nongyao said.
She added that the Wat Phrai Phatthana temple in Phu Sing district – surrounded by giant rooster statues – was famously known for its ‘Angel Monk’, or the guru monk Luang Phu Suang who is believed to be over 500 years old at the time of his death.
“After Luang Pu Suang passed away in 1999, his body has been preserved by disciples and placed in a glass coffin.
“Devotees and visitors can pay respects to him by walking under the glass coffin for auspiciousness,” she said.
Not to be missed is the Phanom Rung Historical Park that locates the majestic Prasat Phanom Rung khmer temple that sits on the rim of an extinct volcano at 402 metres elevation.
“Built of sandstone and laterite in the l0th century, the temple was a Hindu shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva, and symbolises Mount Kailash – his heavenly dwelling in the Himalayas,” Nongyao said.
Sisaket city also demonstrated its 241-year-old history with mass dancing of traditional dances and a mammoth drone display at night.
As for Buriram, she said it meant a ‘city of happiness’ and the locals also spoke the Khmer-influenced Isan and Lao languages.
It boasted of the Buriram United Football Club that was a professional 2011 triple champions team – winning a record Thai Premier League, Thai FA Cup and Thai League Cup – with its own ‘The Thunder Castle’ stadium.
Nongyao added that Buriram was at the south end of the Khorat Plateau, with several extinct volcanoes surrounded by the mountainous area of the Sankamphaeng Range and the Dângrêk, covering 887 square kilometres of forest.
“Buriram’s 594 square kilometres Ta Phraya National Park incorporates the Dong Yai wildlife sanctuary that connects the adjoining Pangsida National Park from the west to Cambodia in the east.
“It is situated within the Dong Phayayen–Khao Yai forest complex that is listed as a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organistion’s (UNESCO) world heritage site,” Nongyao said.
Meanwhile, Thailand’s Tourism and Sports Minister Sudawan Wangsuphakijkosol said that nearly 24 million foreign tourists arrived in the kingdom until November this year, generating almost one trillion baht revenue.
She expected more foreigners to land on Thai soil thanks to a higher number of flights, the cold winter elsewhere and the easing of visas for tourists from China, Kazakhstan, India and Russia. – airtimes.my
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