Agenda: Elephant festival in Surin (third week of November)
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The elephant festival is held in Surin every year on the third weekend of November. No fewer than 300 jumbos march through the streets of the city in a colorful procession during this festival.
It is an annual event that has grown in popularity since it was first held in the XNUMXs. Today, thousands attend the event in Surin in northeastern Thailand. The Surin region has had an affinity with elephants for centuries. In the past, the men of the area, especially the Suay tribe, were highly skilled at capturing wild elephants and the animals were used for logging and heavy lifting, including building temples. The elephants were also trained to be used in battle and the mahouts from Surin were among the best in Siam.
Party buffet for the jumbos
On Friday mornings, the elephants move through the center of town to the roundabout with the elephant monument. An extensive festive buffet has been set up in front of the grandstand with dignitaries: not for the bobos, but for the jumbos. The entire event is rich in Thai folklore with music and dance. The public can walk among the elephants and also take a ride on an elephant. There is a festive atmosphere around the roundabout with many food and drink stalls.
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History of the Elephant
On Saturdays, a three-hour elephant show takes place at the stadium. For anyone who has ever experienced an elephant show, this spectacle really adds something. Just because of the large number of participating elephants. During the program, the history of elephants in Thailand is discussed. This program will be repeated on Sunday. Even outside the hours of the official program the jumbos dominate the street scene of the Surin.
Surin
Surin is located in the south of Isan: the unknown, authentic east of Thailand where the paths have not yet been trodden by streams of tourists. Yet this region has a lot to offer that makes a visit more than worth it. Not far from Surin, various Khmer temples adorn the landscape. The literal and figurative highlight is the Phanung Rung temple, which is located on top of an extinct volcano. This temple is considered to be the best restored Khmer temple in the world. In the national park Phu Chong Na Yoi, the Huai Luang waterfall crashes down with a lot of noise. Despite the unfamiliarity, there are excellent ones hotels and resorts with swimming pools for a cooling dip after a great day of cycling through Thailand's colorful everyday life.