Surat Thani
City in southern Thailand
title: "Surat Thani" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["surat-thani", "populated-places-in-surat-thani-province", "cities-and-towns-in-thailand"] description: "City in southern Thailand" topic_path: "geography" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surat_Thani" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary City in southern Thailand ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox settlement"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Surat Thani |
| official_name | City of Surat Thani |
| เทศบาลนครสุราษฎร์ธานี | |
| native_name | สุราษฎร์ธานี |
| settlement_type | City Municipality |
| image_skyline | {{multiple image |
| perrow | 1/2/2/1 |
| border | infobox |
| total_width | 250 |
| image1 | Surat Thani skyline.jpg |
| image2 | Wat Thung Luang46881.jpg |
| image3 | Surat Thani Lak Mueang.jpg |
| image4 | Surat Thani municipal office 1.jpg |
| image5 | Surat thani airport.jpg |
| image6 | Surat Thani waterfront.jpg |
| image_caption | From top left: Skyline of Surat Thani, Wat Thung Luang in Wiang Sa District, City Pillar Shrine of Surat Thani in Mueang Surat Thani District, municipal office, Surat Thani International Airport, the Ta Pi River flowing through Surat Thani |
| image_map | Mueang Surat Thani location.svg |
| mapsize | 250px |
| map_caption | Location of Surat Thani |
| pushpin_map | Thailand |
| pushpin_mapsize | 250 |
| pushpin_label_position | left |
| pushpin_map_caption | Location in Thailand |
| subdivision_type | Country |
| subdivision_name | |
| subdivision_type1 | Province |
| subdivision_name1 | Surat Thani |
| subdivision_type2 | District |
| subdivision_name2 | Mueang Surat Thani |
| leader_title | Mayor |
| leader_name | Theerakit Wangmuthitakul |
| established_title | Sanitation |
| established_date | 21 December 1930 |
| established_title1 | Town |
| municipality | |
| established_date1 | 7 December 1935 |
| established_title2 | City |
| municipality | |
| established_date2 | 4 May 2007 |
| unit_pref | Metric |
| area_rank | 5th |
| area_total_km2 | 68.97 |
| population_as_of | 2019 |
| population_footnotes | |
| population_total | 132,040 |
| (Registered residents) | |
| population_rank | 6th in Thailand |
| population_density_km2 | 1,914 |
| timezone | ICT |
| utc_offset | +7 |
| coordinates | |
| elevation_m | 10 |
| postal_code_type | Postcode |
| postal_code | 84000 |
| area_code_type | Calling code |
| area_code | 077 |
| website | |
| :: |
::callout[type=note] the town Surat Thani ::
| name = Surat Thani | official_name = City of Surat Thani เทศบาลนครสุราษฎร์ธานี | other_name = | native_name = สุราษฎร์ธานี | nickname = | settlement_type = City Municipality | motto = | image_skyline = {{multiple image | perrow = 1/2/2/1 | border = infobox | total_width = 250 | image1 = Surat Thani skyline.jpg | image2 = Wat Thung Luang46881.jpg |image3 = Surat Thani Lak Mueang.jpg | image4 = Surat Thani municipal office 1.jpg | image5 = Surat thani airport.jpg | image6 = Surat Thani waterfront.jpg | image_caption = From top left: Skyline of Surat Thani, Wat Thung Luang in Wiang Sa District, City Pillar Shrine of Surat Thani in Mueang Surat Thani District, municipal office, Surat Thani International Airport, the Ta Pi River flowing through Surat Thani | image_flag = | flag_size = | image_seal = | seal_size = | image_shield = | shield_size = | image_blank_emblem = | blank_emblem_type = | blank_emblem_size = | image_map = Mueang Surat Thani location.svg | mapsize = 250px | map_caption = Location of Surat Thani | image_map1 = | mapsize1 = | map_caption1 = | pushpin_map = Thailand | pushpin_mapsize = 250 | pushpin_label_position = left | pushpin_map_caption = Location in Thailand | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = | subdivision_type1 = Province | subdivision_name1 = Surat Thani | subdivision_type2 = District | subdivision_name2 = Mueang Surat Thani | subdivision_type3 = | subdivision_name3 = | subdivision_type4 = | subdivision_name4 = | government_footnotes = | government_type = | leader_title = Mayor | leader_name = Theerakit Wangmuthitakul | leader_title1 = | leader_name1 = | leader_title2 = | leader_name2 = | leader_title3 = | leader_name3 = | leader_title4 = | leader_name4 = | established_title = Sanitation | established_date = 21 December 1930 | established_title1 = Town municipality | established_date1 = 7 December 1935 | established_title2 = City municipality | established_date2 = 4 May 2007 | area_magnitude = | unit_pref = Metric | area_footnotes = | area_rank = 5th | area_total_km2 = 68.97 | area_land_km2 = | area_water_km2 = | area_total_sq_mi = | area_land_sq_mi = | area_water_sq_mi = | area_water_percent = | area_urban_km2 = | area_urban_sq_mi = | area_metro_km2 = | area_metro_sq_mi = | area_blank1_title = | area_blank1_km2 = | area_blank1_sq_mi = | population_as_of = 2019 | population_footnotes = | population_note = | population_total = 132,040 (Registered residents) | population_rank = 6th in Thailand | population_density_km2 = 1,914 | population_density_sq_mi = | population_metro = | population_density_metro_km2 = | population_density_metro_sq_mi = | population_urban = | population_density_urban_km2 = | population_density_urban_sq_mi = | population_blank1_title = | population_blank1 = | population_blank2_title = | population_blank2 = | population_density_blank1_km2 = | population_density_blank1_sq_mi = | timezone = ICT | utc_offset = +7 | timezone_DST = | utc_offset_DST = | coordinates = | elevation_footnotes = | elevation_m = 10 | elevation_ft = | postal_code_type = Postcode | postal_code = 84000 | area_code_type = Calling code | area_code = 077 | website = | footnotes =
Surat Thani (, ) is a city in Amphoe Mueang Surat Thani, Surat Thani Province, southern Thailand. It lies 651 km south of Bangkok. It is the capital of Surat Thani Province. The city has a population of 132,040 (2019), and an area of 68.97 km2. The city's population density is 1,914 inhabitants per km2.
Surat Thani is located near the mouth of the Tapi River on the Gulf of Thailand. The city offers no major tourist attractions in itself, and is mainly known to tourists as the jumping-off point to Ko Samui, Ko Tao, and Ko Pha Ngan. It is the regional commercial center, with a seaport dealing in the main products of the province, rubber and coconuts.
Toponymy
The city received its name, which means "city of good people", by King Vajiravudh (Rama VI) in 1915. The name was given to the city due to the intense devotion of the locals to Buddhism. Previously the city was known as Bandon (), meaning "village on higher ground". The name of the city is taken from the Indian city Surat in Gujarat on the Indian River Tapi. King Vajiravudh (Rama VI) gave this name to his city as he was impressed with the Indian city.
History
On 21 December 1930 Surat Thani became a sanitary district (sukhaphiban), which was upgraded to a town (thesaban mueang) on 7 December 1935, with a municipal area of 2.67 km2. The area of the municipality was enlarged to 6.95 km2 on 14 October 1958, and on 22 December 1994 it was further enlarged to 68.97 km2.{{cite journal|journal=Royal Gazette|volume=111|issue=59 ก|pages=29–32|script-title=th:พระราชกฤษฎีกาเปลี่ยนแปลงเขตเทศบาลเมืองสุราษฎร์ธานี จังหวัดสุราษฎร์ธานี (ฉบับที่ ๒) พ.ศ. ๒๕๓๗|url=http://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2537/A/059/29.PDF |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080409014525/http://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2537/A/059/29.PDF |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 9, 2008 |date=December 21, 1994|language=th}} On 4 May 2007, the town was upgraded to city status (thesaban nakhon).
Transportation
Rail
Surat Thani is connected with Bangkok by the Southern Line of the State Railway of Thailand. Surat Thani Railway Station is the main station of the province. It is in Phunphin, about 15 km from Surat Thani.
Road
Surat Thani is connected to Nakhon Si Thammarat by Route 401. Asian highway AH2 also passes the city at Phunphin.
Air
Surat Thani International Airport is about 30 km from the city by road.
Water
There are three main ferry companies that operate from mainland Surat Thani to the islands: Lomprayah, Seatran, and Raja.
There are only two ferry piers in Muang Surat Thani: Tapee Pier, which Lomprayah's High Speed Catarman operates from, and Bandon Pier, which is for night boats only. Seatran Pier and Raja Pier are both located in Don Sak District, 65km (40mi) east of the city centre.
Climate
Surat Thani has a tropical monsoon climate (Köppen climate classification Aw). Like other parts of Southern Thailand, Surat Thani has only two seasons; wet and dry. Temperatures are fairly stable throughout the year, although the pre-monsoon months (March–May) are somewhat hotter. There is a short dry season from January to April, followed by the wet season that lasts from May to December. The heaviest rains occur in October and November.
|location = Surat Thani (1991–2020, extremes 1960-present) |metric first = Yes |single line = Yes |collapsed = |Jan record high C = 35.0 |Feb record high C = 37.6 |Mar record high C = 39.0 |Apr record high C = 41.0 |May record high C = 40.0 |Jun record high C = 39.5 |Jul record high C = 37.5 |Aug record high C = 36.6 |Sep record high C = 36.5 |Oct record high C = 36.0 |Nov record high C = 36.3 |Dec record high C = 35.0 |year record high C = |Jan record low C = 12.4 |Feb record low C = 14.2 |Mar record low C = 17.0 |Apr record low C = 20.0 |May record low C = 20.7 |Jun record low C = 20.5 |Jul record low C = 20.5 |Aug record low C = 20.2 |Sep record low C = 19.7 |Oct record low C = 19.5 |Nov record low C = 16.3 |Dec record low C = 16.6 |year record low C = |Jan high C = 31.0 |Feb high C = 32.7 |Mar high C = 34.5 |Apr high C = 35.4 |May high C = 34.5 |Jun high C = 33.6 |Jul high C = 33.3 |Aug high C = 33.3 |Sep high C = 32.9 |Oct high C = 32.1 |Nov high C = 30.8 |Dec high C = 30.1 | year high C = |Jan mean C = 26.0 |Feb mean C = 26.7 |Mar mean C = 27.8 |Apr mean C = 28.6 |May mean C = 28.1 |Jun mean C = 27.7 |Jul mean C = 27.3 |Aug mean C = 27.3 |Sep mean C = 27.0 |Oct mean C = 26.7 |Nov mean C = 26.3 |Dec mean C = 25.8 | year mean C = |Jan low C = 22.1 |Feb low C = 21.8 |Mar low C = 22.8 |Apr low C = 23.9 |May low C = 24.3 |Jun low C = 23.9 |Jul low C = 23.7 |Aug low C = 23.6 |Sep low C = 23.6 |Oct low C = 23.6 |Nov low C = 23.4 |Dec low C = 22.7 | year low C = |precipitation colour = green |Jan precipitation mm = 75.0 |Feb precipitation mm = 24.1 |Mar precipitation mm = 84.0 |Apr precipitation mm = 73.3 |May precipitation mm = 151.2 |Jun precipitation mm = 133.4 |Jul precipitation mm = 134.4 |Aug precipitation mm = 127.3 |Sep precipitation mm = 171.9 |Oct precipitation mm = 202.3 |Nov precipitation mm = 254.8 |Dec precipitation mm = 170.3 | year precipitation mm = 1602 |unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm |Jan precipitation days = 5.4 |Feb precipitation days = 1.9 |Mar precipitation days = 4.2 |Apr precipitation days = 5.9 |May precipitation days = 13.1 |Jun precipitation days = 12.3 |Jul precipitation days = 13.2 |Aug precipitation days = 12.4 |Sep precipitation days = 14.3 |Oct precipitation days = 15.8 |Nov precipitation days = 13.8 |Dec precipitation days = 10.5 |year precipitation days = 122.8 |Jan humidity = 83.2 |Feb humidity = 79.0 |Mar humidity = 77.5 |Apr humidity = 78.4 |May humidity = 82.5 |Jun humidity = 82.6 |Jul humidity = 83.0 |Aug humidity = 82.9 |Sep humidity = 84.5 |Oct humidity = 86.6 |Nov humidity = 87.5 |Dec humidity = 86.0 | year humidity = 82.8 |Jan sun = 198.4 |Feb sun = 214.7 |Mar sun = 201.5 |Apr sun = 183.0 |May sun = 155.0 |Jun sun = 114.0 |Jul sun = 114.7 |Aug sun = 114.7 |Sep sun = 108.0 |Oct sun = 108.5 |Nov sun = 138.0 |Dec sun = 176.7 |year sun = |Jand sun = 6.4 |Febd sun = 7.6 |Mard sun = 6.5 |Aprd sun = 6.1 |Mayd sun = 5.0 |Jund sun = 3.8 |Juld sun = 3.7 |Augd sun = 3.7 |Sepd sun = 3.6 |Octd sun = 3.5 |Novd sun = 4.6 |Decd sun = 5.7 |yeard sun = 5.0 |source 1 = World Meteorological Organization{{cite web | url = https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/1.1/data/0-data/Region-2-WMO-Normals-9120/Thailand/CSV/SuratThani_48551.csv | title = World Meteorological Organization Climate Normals for 1991–2020 | publisher = World Meteorological Organization | access-date = 12 October 2023}} |source 2 = Office of Water Management and Hydrology, Royal Irrigation Department (sun 1981–2010){{cite web | url = http://water.rid.go.th/hwm/cropwater/CWRdata/ETo/ETo_PenMon_2554.pdf | title = ปริมาณการใช้น้ำของพืชอ้างอิงโดยวิธีของ Penman Monteith (Reference Crop Evapotranspiration by Penman Monteith) | publisher = Office of Water Management and Hydrology, Royal Irrigation Department | page = 106 | language = th | access-date = 7 August 2016}}(extremes){{cite web | url = http://climate.tmd.go.th/content/file/75 | title = Climatological Data for the Period 1981–2010 | publisher = Thai Meteorological Department | accessdate = 4 August 2016}}
Culture
Festivals
- Chak Phra - Celebrating Buddha's symbolic return to earth at the end of Buddhist Lent. Parade, floats and long-boat races.
- Tham Bun Dern Sip (ทำบุญเดือนสิบ) - Southern Thai Festival of the Tenth Lunar Month
- Surat Food Fair – Held annually in March (2019 dates: 8-16 March) along the Tapi River. The largest food festival in Southern Thailand.
- Surat Thani Vegetarian Festival - Held annually in October (2018 dates: 8-15 October). Parades, more vegetarian options in restaurants and shops, and free food at the Chinese temples
- Songkran - Thai New Year Festival
- Loi Krathong -
Sports
Surat Thani is home to the Surat Thani Football Club (nicknamed “Police Tero”, previously known as “The Roosters”) and the Surat Thani Futsal Club (nicknamed “The Chargers”).
Education
Colleges and universities
- Prince of Songkla University (PSU), Surat Thani Campus
- Surat Thani Rajabhat University (SRU)
- Tapee University
- Suratthani Technical College
- Surat Thani Vocational Education College
- Surat Commercial Technology College
- Surat Thani Polytechnic College
Primary and secondary
Primary and secondary schools with English instruction include:
- Surat Thani International School (STIS)
- Oonrak International Bilingual School
- Joy Bilingual School
- Sarasas Witaed Suratthani School
Secondary
Hospitals
- Ministry of Public Health
- Surat Thani Hospital - public hospital
- Suan Saranrom Hospital - psychiatric hospital
- Suratthani Cancer Hospital - cancer hospital
- Military
- Fort Wiphavadirangsit Hospital - military hospital
- Wing 7 Hospital - Wing 7 Royal Thai Air Force
- Private
- Bangkok Hospital Surat - private hospital
- Thaksin Hospital - private hospital
Administration
::data[format=table]
| Subdistrict | Villages | Community | People | Households |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Makham Tia | 6 | - | 73,626 | 42,602 |
| Bang Kung | 5 | - | 28,219 | 14,317 |
| Talat | 1 | - | 26,405 | 15,902 |
| Bang Bai Mai | 2 | - | 1,495 | 1,095 |
| Bang Chan | 1 | - | 1,284 | 355 |
| Khlong Chanak | 3 | - | 1,011 | 277 |
| :: |
The administration of Surat Thani city municipality is responsible for an area that covers 68.97 square kilometers (26.63 square miles) and consists of six subdistricts, 18 villages (muban), 132,040 people in 74,548 households.
Notable people
- Phukphong Phongpetra, police officer.
- Panipak Wongpattanakit, taekwondo athlete.
References
References
- (31 December 2019). "รายงานสถิติจำนวนประชากรและบ้านประจำปี พ.ศ.2562".
- Royal Gazette. link. (December 21, 1930)
- Royal Gazette. link. (December 10, 1935)
- Royal Gazette. link. (October 14, 1958)
- Royal Gazette. link. (June 4, 2007)
- "Surat Thani Airport". OurAirports.
- "Vegetarian Festival Thailand 2018". Borboleta Bag.
::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::