Thailand's Annual Surin Elephant Round-Up Festival

Most of us will remember the great wrinkly beasts standing on their heads at circuses and in some zoos, doing their antics, to attract the crowds. Elephants are born performers. We just can't resist these lovable animals.

Visit Thailand's Annual Surin Elephant Round Up Festival

If you want to see the elephants at their most appealing, then you should visit Thailand's Annual Surin Elephant Round Up Festival . It is held every year in November at Srinarong open-air stadium in Surin. Please check, Thailand Tourism Authority website, for the actual date, as the date varies every year, but is usually held in the third week of November.

Elephant Show and Elephant Soccer Game

In this 4 hour spectacle, you will see demonstrations of how wild elephants are captured and trained for work. There are amazing displays of strength and skill, as well as humorous highlights such as an elephant soccer game, an elephant tug of war and even an elephant talent show. In the gripping climax, the whole troop, gloriously bedecked in full war regalia, will re-enact a mass mediaeval battle.

More than 100 elephants will take part in this Thailand's Annual Surin Elephant Round Up Festival.

The best way to see the festival is on Thailand Tourism Authority package tour. Check the website for more detail.

(Elephant clip art taken under CC at http://openclipart.org/detail/23244/elephant-by-papapishu-23244)

Surin is a quiet province and does not receive that many tourists as compared to other parts of Thailand. However, in November, it is the busiest. Surin has long been linked with elephants and is often called 'Province of Elephants'. Many of Surin's folks are known for their ability to capture and rounding up wild elephants. They are also well known for their skills in training and taming these wild elephants.

Thailand's elephant are easy to train

Unlike the African elephants, Thai elephants are easily tamed and domesticated within weeks.

As such, you will see many of Surin's elephants and their mahouts in Bangkok and other major tourist towns in Thailand, to earn a living, for most part of the year. But come November, they will all go back to their native Surin, for Thailand's Annual Surin Elephant Round Up festival.

Elephant has played a significant role in Thailand's history and culture. It has been revered for centuries and now stands as a living symbol of Thailand. It was used in battles as well as a beast of burden for the logging industries. It also has a special religious significance to the Hindu and Buddhist faiths.

To celebrate the importance and significance of Thai elephants to its citizens, the government organized the Surin Elephant Round Up festival on an annual basis, since 1960.

Surin Province is in the Mun River Basin, in the lower northeast part of Thailand. From Bangkok, Thailand's capital city, it is about 284miles (457km) by car and 260miles (420km) by train.

Surin is now known both locally and internationally, for its annual elephant round up festival. You will also find in Surin; Khmer Ruins, the famous jasmine rice and of course Thai silk, which make Surin an interesting place to visit.

Getting to Surin from Bangkok

By Bus : The daily buses from Bangkok's Northern Bus Terminal will take about 6 hours to arrive in Surin

By Train : Take the train from Bangkok Railway Station (Hua Lam Phong) that departs daily. This is a 260 mile (420 km) journey

By Car : If you intend to drive, it is best to have with you a GPS navigation system such as Garmin. It will be easier to navigate through the massive traffic that is famous in Bangkok. If you don't have one, then follow this direction : Take Highway 1 (Phahonyothin Road) and at Saraburi, turn right to Highway 2 (Mitraphap Road). Then go in the direction of Highway 24 (Chok Chai-Det Udom route) via the Amphoe Nang Rong and Amphoe Prasa. Then turn left to highway 214 which will lead you to Surin Province. Total distance about 284 miles (457 km)

Getting to Bangkok, Thailand capital city

Most major airlines will fly from major cities in USA, Europe, Britain, Australia and from most parts of the world, to Bangkok, either on a direct flight or with a one stop over. Check travel web site such as Hotwire for the best travel deal.

My other hubs on festivals which might interest you are:

• Thaipusam Celebration in Malaysia a Hindu religious festival that can be considered as the most spectacular of all the Hindu festival
• Chinese New Year Celebration in Malaysia which marked the beginning of the Chinese New Lunar Calendar. It also ushers in the new animal year. For 2012, it is the Year of Dragon.
• Pongal Celebration in Malaysia a Hindu thanks giving festival
• Diwali Celebration in Malaysia another Hindu celebration akin to the Christians celebrating Christmas

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