Surat
Thani is a city with a long history. Archeologists believe that
it was once a community of prehistoric tribes of indigenous people
including the Saemang and original Malays who built their communities
on the Tapee River Basin and Ao Ban Don. Later on, the Indians
migrated into the area and gradually spread out their culture,
as evidenced in the discovery of ruins of ancient communities
in Tha Chana and Chaiya Sub-districts.
In the 13th century, the city became a part of and, as some historians
might claim, a center of the glorious Srivijaya Empire the kingdom
that dominated the whole Malay Peninsula and much of Java. It
was during this period that Mahayana Buddhist reached its height
of influence. The empires grandeur can still be admired in many
areas of Chaiya District. 
When the empire hit the bottom, it was divided into 3 main cities
namely Chaiya, Tha Thong and Khiri Rat. They were all under the
jurisdiction of Nakhon Si Thammarat until King Rama IV decided
to move Tha Thong City to Ban Don and required that it report
directly to Bangkoks administration. The name Ban Don was, at
the time, changed to Kanchanadit. It was with the establishment
of the Monthon, a former administrative unit, that all three cities
were merged into one under the name Chaiya. In 1915, King Rama
VI changed the name Chaiya to Surat Thani.
The seal of Surat Thani says a lot about its history. Featuring
the pagoda of Phra Boromathat Chaiya, the seal is proof of the
influence of Mahayana Buddhist on Surat Thani. Phra Boromathat
Chaiya is the most revered and important historical place in the
province. It is believed that the pagoda contains Buddha relics.
Today, Surat Thani is an important commercial and shipping hub
for rubber and coconut trading.
