South Thailand / Surat Thani's Festivals, Places of Interest
Festivals
Chak Phra Festival
Surat Thani celebrates the official end of the annual 3-month Buddhist Rains Retreat (Phansa), usually mid-October, with an unusual festival. The Chak Phra Festival (literally ‘the procession of hauling the Buddha image’) stems from the belief that the Buddha ascended to heaven during Phansa (before his death) to preach to his mother. The festival marks the Buddha’s return to earth and is an occasion for religious merit-making and general celebration.
The locals organize dazzling land and fluvial processions of revered Buddha images (to symbolize the Buddha’s return to earth) and boat races on the Tapi River where long boats, each manned by up to 50 oarsmen, are ebulliently raced.
Rongrian Rambutan Day
The fair is held the first weekend of August. The first Rambutan tree was planted in Surat Thani in 1926, and this fair celebrates the delicious fruit, which now grows widely in the area. Highlights include exhibitions of local products and ornamental plants, floats adorned with Rambutan and other fruits, and demonstrations of trained monkeys who harvest coconuts.
Places of Interest
Khao Sok National Park
The park, 109km (68mi) from Surat Thani city near Takhun village on highway 401, the road from Surat Thani city to Phuket, has verdant forest-covered hills within an area of some 644sqkm (64,400 hectares, 161,000 acres) and is great for hiking, viewing birds and wildlife, or just relaxing. Many kinds of rare wildlife are found, including elephants, tapirs, bison, bears and black panthers. Places worth visiting within the park, mostly by foot, include the Sip Et Chan (Eleven Stage) Waterfall, some 4km (3mi) from the park office; the Mae Yai (Mother-in-Law) Waterfall, which can be reached by car; and several other waterfalls and caves, reached exclusively by foot.
To go to the park, there are buses from Surat Thani Bus Terminal, Talaat Mai Road to Phuket which pass the park on their route.
Hut type accommodations is available in the park at economy rates. Besides, 1km (0.6mi) before reaching the park, there is a private-run bungalow called Tree Tops Guest House. Reservations can be made at the Reservation Section, Forestry Department, Bkk Tel (02) 579-0529, 579-4842 or Surat Thani Tel (077) 27-3772; and for the Tree Tops Guest House call Bkk Tel (02) 233-0196, 236-7919.
Khao Tapet
The Khao Tapet Nature & Wildlife Center is some 6km (4mi) from Surat Thani city along the Surat-Nasarn Road, Highway 4009. On 465 hectares (1,162 acres), the center has many caged wild animals. The hilltop, some 210m (689ft) above sea level, offers a panoramic views of Bandon municipality and the Tapi River and Bandon Bay. Guest house accommodation is available at the center.
Sri Surat Stupa, also locally known as Phra That Khao Tapet, is on the summit of the hill. The Stupa houses Buddha relics donated by the Indian government some 30 years ago. Architecturally, the shrine embodies Srivisaya and Bangkok-period styles.
Rongrian Rambutan Plantations
Surat Thani’s Rongrian Rambutan are considered the best Rambutan in Thailand. The original seeds were brought from Penang, Malaysia and grown near Nasarn in 1926. For some unexplained reason, one Rambutan tree changed into a new breed - Rongrian Rambutan.
The Rongrian Rambutan plantations cover an area of some 500sqkm (50,000 hectares, 125,000 acres). Most are near Nasarn some 40km (25mi) south of Surat Thani city. The best period to visit the plantation is from August to October.
Wipawadee Waterfall
The fall is at Pak Praek village, some 30km (19mi) east of Surat Thani city along the Surat Thani - Nakhon Si Thammarat Road. The picturesque, medium-sized waterfall has bucolic surroundings and attracts many visitors during public holidays.
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