Surat Thani

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This article is about the town Surat Thani. For other uses, see Surat Thani (disambiguation).

Surat Thani (Thai: สุราษฎร์ธานี) is a city in Amphoe Mueang Surat Thani, Surat Thani Province, southern Thailand. It is the capital of the province Surat Thani.

The city has a population of 124,918 (2006), and an area of 68.97 square kilometers. The city's population density is 1,811.19 inhabitants per km². It is located at 9°8′N 99°19′E, at the mouth of the river Tapi on the Gulf of Thailand. The city has no tourist attractions, and is thus only known to tourists as a transfer to the nearby Ko Samui island.

City pillar shrine in Surat Thani

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

1 History
2 Traffic
3 Administration
4 External links

[edit] History

The city received its name by King Vajiravudh (Rama VI) in 1915. The name means City of Good People, and 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.

In 1932 Surat Thani became a sanitary district (sukhaphiban). On December 7 it was elevated to a town (thesaban mueang), with a municipal area of 2.67. The area of the municipality was enlarged to 6.95 km² on October 14 1958, and on December 22 1994 it was further enlarged to 68.97 km².

Since 1969 Surat Thani is the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Surat Thani, responsible for about 6000 Catholic Christians in southern Thailand.

[edit] Traffic

Surat Thani is connected with Bangkok by the southern railway, even though the Surat Thani Railway Station is actually located Phunphin, about 15 km away from city. Asian highway AH2 also passes the city at Phunphin. A regional airport, Surat Thani International Airport, is about 30 km from the city. Though some ferries to Ko Samui start at the city itself, but the main ferry station is at Don Sak, 40 km east of the city.

[edit] 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. The town is subdivided into 45 communities (chumchon).