The modern-day city of Surin was founded before the reign of Rama I in Thailand. The first leader of the city was a man who gave a tribute to Rama I before he was crowned king, it was a white elephant. The same man, called Chiangpum, became the first governor of the province when Rama I became the king. The elephant has become so entwined with the history of the province that a white elephant is on the seal of the province, and there is an elephant day in the city.

Geography of Surin

Surin is located on the southern part of Thailand, and in fact, just over the border is Cambodia, which shows just how close it is in proximity to another country. The Dongrek Mountain Chain surrounds the area and serves as the natural boundary between Thailand and Cambodia as far as Surin goes. The Mekong River has a tributary that runs through the northern part of the province, the Mun River and its valley. Surin was already considered as a city even during the reign of Rama I, which was quite a long time ago. Currently, it has seventeen districts that monitor each of the one hundred fifty-eight sub districts in the area. Surin is around four hundred and fifty km away from Bangkok by car, and if you’re traveling by train, thirty km less.

Attractions in the City

Surin has quite a lot going for it for tourists, and it’s one of the reasons that the place is as popular as a tourist destination in Thailand. There are many things to see and do while staying here, and of course, traditional industries that still survive to this day with the help of the skills of master craftsmen, passed down from generation to generation. These include basket weaving, silver smiths, and silk production, which is part of why the province is so famous in Thailand.

A basketry village is located somewhere on the outskirts of the province, around fourteen kilometers away from the main road, and the village produces rattan products of different varieties, and mostly its basket weaving shops that grab the attention of tourists for their souvenirs. Tough and inexpensive, these baskets were originally meant for heavy everyday usage. Another set of villages, specializing this time in silver works, is also on the outskirts of the province, and you can buy a lot of items crafted from silver, from luxurious household utensils to ornaments and accessories and jewelry like bracelets, necklaces, watches, and the like. This village is lined with silversmiths operating in the village and displaying their wares for buyers to see.

Elephants in Surin

The elephant has a significant place in the history of the city and province of Surin, and if not for the white elephant that was given as a tribute to the king, the province’s fate would probably be very different from the situation it enjoys now. An elephant show is held annually in Surin, usually in the later half of November, and it brings a huge crowd each year. Trained elephants compete in shows, parades, competitions of skill and strength, and these are truly a sight to see, with the intelligent creatures demonstrating skills not normally expected of animals, like dragging whole logs.

Traveling to Surin

There are three main options to choose from when going to Surin. The most common method would be by bus, with trips going out daily from Bangkok, and travel time taking approximately six hours. Both air conditioned and open air buses are available, and rates vary depending on which bus you take. Another common, and much faster method of travel would be by train, also with daily schedules going to and out of the city. When you reach the area you can finish the trip to your destination by local bus lines. The third would be taking your own car to the area, but that would be recommended only for those capable of navigating through unfamiliar territory. Check with people who’ve been there to see if you can do it yourself.

Investing in Surin Properties

You should have a pretty good idea on what you want from your decision to invest in Surin’s different properties available for your purchase or lease arrangements. If it’s for your personal investment, you probably won’t be bothered too much by issues on whether prices are stable or growth sustainable, and you’ll probably be more concerned with the location, scenery, and everyday living in the area you’ll be buying a property in.

However, if it’s business and profits that you want when you’re investigating available properties in Surin, you have a lot more considerations to take as far as buying properties goes. The average minimum investment growth in properties in this area hovers at six percent, and of course, this is the average minimum, meaning it could be more if you make the right decisions. That’s in terms of value, which still doesn’t account for the earnings you may gain should you decide to lease the land out to others, especially for tourists in need of vacation homes in Surin. In this respect, the most profitable properties would be luxury villas, as they command higher premiums due to their size and increased levels of luxury.

Between buying and leasing a property in Surin, it’s best to make your decision on the factor of the property itself, because with leases for either commercial or residential properties in Surin, you’ll be limited with the number of changes you can make. If you own the property however, you’ll only be limited by local laws and you can do pretty much whatever you want and modify the property as much as you like. The payment options would also pretty much depend on the purpose of your purchase, as it can be straight cash or mortgaged. With mortgages however, you should make sure that the yield from your investment is higher and provides room for growth above your mortgage payments, otherwise, you could be facing negative returns from the start.