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Region: Northeast Thailand> Province: Surin>Location: Surin
Surin sights and attractions
Ban Ta Klang - A village of elephant catchers
60km from Surin
Description
Over the last few decades the humble working elephant is being retired to the paddocks as heavy moving machinery took over the elephant's workload. They still have their day in the spotlight though, that being the annual elephant roundup. However it is not a case of simply picking up your pachyderm the day before the show and travelling to Surin as training is a continual requirement to keep the elephant sharp, attentive and responsive. To see this training in person, visitors to Ban Ta Klang may be able to visit the Suay training the elephants year round, and although not as spectacular as the roundup itself, it is nevertheless interesting. Probably best described as a tribe of professional elephant catchers, the Suay are today suffering due to the serious reduction in the number of working elephants in Thailand. It was the Suay who in the past captured and trained the elephants to become the hard working and terribly underpaid labourers they were and for some, continue to be today.
How to get there: Ban Ta Klang is just under 60km from Surin and is best reached by local bus. Buses run every hour from the bus station and take around 2 hours.
Silk Villages - Silk and silver
20km north of Surin
Description
Ban Khao Sinarin, about 20km north of Surin on Route 214, was once best known as a cloth producing village but is now equally well known for its silver. Not a bad place to visit for those seeking upcountry bargains.
How to get there: Songtheaws run from the soi off Thonsarn Road between the roundabout and the train station to Ban Khao Sinarin throughout the day.
Prasat Ta Meuan - Atmospheric ruins
Description
This series of three ruins is a long day trip from Surin, but is worthwhile visiting if you want to see jungle enclosed ruins in fairly decent condition. The ruins virtually sit upon the Cambodian border and consist of three separate areas, all situated in clearings surrounded by dense forest. The first site, Prasat Ta Meuan, dates from the 12th century and was used as a rest stop for pilgrims. It is quite a simple structure and the roof is long gone, but it is still worth a look. The second site, Prasat Ta Meuan Tot, is about 500m past the first, and probably acted as a hospital of sorts. There is a depression in front of it which may have been a bathing pool. The third and most impressive is Prasat Ta Meuan Tom. This large site has been partially renovated (though apparently lacking in skill - check the decorative block stuck in half way up a blank wall), and is now in a condition about half way between Prasat Phanomwan and Prasat Hin Khao Phanom Rung. The temple is impressive and the noise from the birds and monkeys can be deafening.
How to get there: It is not as difficult as it might seem but it does involve a lot of time on buses. You will need to catch a bus from Surin to the village of Ban Kruat via Route 2121 and thus past the turn-off to the ruins (where a motorcycle will take you the remainder of the distance). Buses occasionally leave from Surin, cost 25B and will take 2 to 3 hours to reach the turn-off. If no bus appears to be leaving from Surin, catch a bus to the Prasat bus station, 30km south of Surin, and catch another from there. From Prasat to the turn-off, buses leave every hour or so and take between one and two hours to reach the turn-off. Once on the bus be at pains to repeat over and over again where you are going so that they can let you know when to get off. The turn-off itself is not very well signposted, but is around 25km to the east of Ban Kruat. Once at the turn-off motorcycles will ferry you the remaining 10km to the site.