 Samui
The
name literally
means
"city
of the
good people"
and
is the
former
seat of
the Sivichaya
Empire.
It is
the largest
and most
important
province
of the
South,
located
644 kms.
from Bangkok.
It occupies
an area
of 12,891.5
square
kilometers
bordering
on Chumphon
and the
Gulf of
Thailand
to the
north,
Nakhon
Si Thammarat
and Krabi
to the
south,
Phangnga
and Ranong
to the
west and
the Gulf
of Thailand
and Nakhon
Si Thammarat
to the
east.
|
Surat
Thani
once formed
part,
and may
have been
the centre
of the
Mahayana
Buddhist,
Srivijaya
Empire
which,
steeped
in legend
and mystery,
dominated
the Malay
peninsula
and much
of Java
some 1,500
years
ago. Srivijaya
was best
described
by the
itinerant
Chinese
monk I
Ching
after
a pilgrimage
he made
to India
during
the late
600s.
Archaeological
discoveries
at Chaiya
indicate
the former
empire's
splendour. |
Geographic
characteristics
of Surat
Thani
are high
plateau
and mountains
covered
with valuable
woodforest
to the
west and
low basins
in the
central
and eastern
seashore
area.
There
are a
tremendous
number
of islands
along
the coast
and two
major
rivers:
the Tapi
River
and Phum
Duang
River.
It is
administratively
divided
into 18
Amphoes
and 1
King Amphoe
i.e.,
Amphoe
Muang,
Ban Na
San, Ban
Ta Khun,
Chaiya,
Don Sak,
Kanchanadit,
Khian
Sa, Khiri
Ratthanikhom,
|
Koh
Phangna,
Koh Samui,
Phanom,
Phrasaeng,
Phunphin,
Tha Chana,
Tha Chang,
Wiang
Sa, Ban
Na Doem,
Chai Buri
and King
Amphoe
Wiphawadi. |
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