Maha Sarakham
Encyclopedia
Maha Sarakham is the capital city of Maha Sarakham Province
in Thailand
's Northeastern (Isan
) region. Sarakham, as it is known to its inhabitants, is located in a rice-growing area on the southern Korat plain, straddling the Chi River
.
The city has long been known as a regional education centre, the so-called Taksila of Isan (taking this name from the ancient Hindu centre of learning). It is home to six colleges, as well as Maha Sarakham University (MSU) and Maha Sarakham Rajabhat University. Sarakham has the feel of a student town with the younger, more cosmopolitan population much in evidence in the downtown campus area and near MSU’s second campus a few miles away at Kamlieng.
For a time Maha Sarakham ranked with Si Siket as among the poorest cities in Isan. This is changing, partly under the influence of the rapidly growing student population. Today Maha Sarakham possesses two cinemas, a modern department store and market, and branches of the Tesco Lotus
and Big C
supermarkets. There has been extensive building development, especially on the eastern fringes of the city. Nevertheless Sarakham remains a place where bicycle rickshaws
take the place of taxis, and where visitors can still observe many aspects of life in a traditional mid-Isan town.
There are a number of important temples and religious sites in the province, notably at nearby Kantharawichai District
and at Na Dun District
to the south. The city and surrounding area contain a number of attractive parks. Maha Sarakham city has no railway station or airport, and the main transport links are via express bus, or by road connections to the airports in Khon Kaen
and Roi Et
. Recently the road link south was upgraded and is now mainly dual carriageway highway.
Maha Sarakham Province
Maha Sarakham is one of the provinces of Thailand, located in the northeastern region of Thailand. Neighboring provinces are Kalasin, Roi Et, Surin, Buriram and Khon Kaen....
in Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
's Northeastern (Isan
Isan
Isan is the northeastern region of Thailand. It is located on the Khorat Plateau, bordered by the Mekong River to the north and east, by Cambodia to the southeast and the Prachinburi mountains south of Nakhon Ratchasima...
) region. Sarakham, as it is known to its inhabitants, is located in a rice-growing area on the southern Korat plain, straddling the Chi River
Chi River
The Chi River is the longest river in Thailand; it extends 765 km, but carries less water than the second longest river, the Mun. In the Isan dialect of this region, and also in the adjacent language Lao, the name of the river is actually pronounced "Nam Si" but the transliteration Chi...
.
The city has long been known as a regional education centre, the so-called Taksila of Isan (taking this name from the ancient Hindu centre of learning). It is home to six colleges, as well as Maha Sarakham University (MSU) and Maha Sarakham Rajabhat University. Sarakham has the feel of a student town with the younger, more cosmopolitan population much in evidence in the downtown campus area and near MSU’s second campus a few miles away at Kamlieng.
For a time Maha Sarakham ranked with Si Siket as among the poorest cities in Isan. This is changing, partly under the influence of the rapidly growing student population. Today Maha Sarakham possesses two cinemas, a modern department store and market, and branches of the Tesco Lotus
Tesco Lotus
thumb|right|200px|Tesco Lotus Hypermarket, Lat Phrao Branch]]Tesco Lotus is a hypermarket chain in Thailand, Cambodia and China . In Thailand, the stores are operated by Ek-Chai Distribution System Co., Ltd....
and Big C
BigC
Big C, or Big C Supercenter , is a grocery and general merchandising retailer headquartered in Bangkok, Thailand. It is the leading hypermarket chain in Thailand, managed under the umbrella of Groupe Casino...
supermarkets. There has been extensive building development, especially on the eastern fringes of the city. Nevertheless Sarakham remains a place where bicycle rickshaws
Cycle rickshaw
The cycle rickshaw is a small-scale local means of transport; it is also known by a variety of other names such as velotaxi, pedicab, bikecab, cyclo, becak, trisikad, or trishaw or, simply, rickshaw which also refers to auto rickshaws, and the, now uncommon, rickshaws pulled by a person on foot...
take the place of taxis, and where visitors can still observe many aspects of life in a traditional mid-Isan town.
There are a number of important temples and religious sites in the province, notably at nearby Kantharawichai District
Amphoe Kantharawichai
Kantharawichai is a district in the northern part of Maha Sarakham Province, northeastern Thailand.-Geography:Neighboring districts are Mueang Maha Sarakham, Kosum Phisai and Chiang Yuen of Maha Sarakham Province, Yang Talat and Khong Chai of Kalasin Province.-History:The district goes back to...
and at Na Dun District
Amphoe Na Dun
Na Dun is a district in the south of Maha Sarakham Province, northeastern Thailand.-Geography:Neighboring districts are Phayakkhaphum Phisai, Yang Sisurat, Na Chueak and Wapi Pathum of Maha Sarakham Province, and Pathum Rat of Roi Et Province.-History:The area was made a minor district on...
to the south. The city and surrounding area contain a number of attractive parks. Maha Sarakham city has no railway station or airport, and the main transport links are via express bus, or by road connections to the airports in Khon Kaen
Khon Kaen
Khon Kaen is a city in Isan, Thailand. It is also the capital of Khon Kaen province and the Khon Kaen district.-Geography and demography:Khon Kaen is located in the Khorat Plateau, in the central-northwestern area of Isaan...
and Roi Et
Roi Et
Roi Et is a town in Northeastern Thailand, capital of the Roi Et Province. It covers the whole tambon Nai Mueang of Mueang Roi Et district. As of 2006 it has a population of 34,229....
. Recently the road link south was upgraded and is now mainly dual carriageway highway.