Maha Sarakham
From Wikitravel
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Maha Sarakham (มหาสารคาม, also spelt Mahasarakham) is the provincial capital of Maha Sarakham Province.
[edit] Understand
Maha Sarakham means "city of great education" and is aptly named considering it hosts seven institutions of higher learning.
1. Mahasarakham University Its faculties include Humanities, Accounting, Engineering, Biological Sciences, Public Health, Pharmacy, Politics and Governance and others. The university maintains two campuses; one downtown, and a newer one about eight kilometers north of the city. The university is especially known for its strong English department which has spawned several national student champions in speech competition in recent years. Nearly 30 instructors are from abroad and the school is host to several hundred exchange students, mostly from China. (2009)
2. Mahasarakham Rajabhat University (primarily a teacher's college)
3. Mahasarakham Vocational College
4. Mahasarakham Nursing College
5. Mahasarakham Sports College (international film star and martial arts expert "Tony Jaa" of the Thai movies Ong Baak and Tom Yung Goong received his college training here).
6. Mahasrakham Technical College
7. Mahasarakham Agricultural College
STUDENT LIFE
Because the city is primarily a college and university town, costs for food and housing are quite low. A large part of the resident population are teachers and staff of the many schools in the city. As expected, the population also grows and shrinks with the annual academic calendar cycles of semesters and summer breaks as students flow into and out of the city and its environs. Mahasarakham University alone boasts nearly 40,000 students. Literally hundreds of dormitories are scattered throughout the city and its environs.
BASE FOR EXPLORATION
Mahasarakham's central location is a convenient base from which to explore Thailand's nearby neighbors of Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam. Directly west is the Friendship Bridge Two, spanning the Mehkhong River at Mukdahan, where one can cross a narrow section of Laos and be in Hue, Vietnam by the end of the day. One can travel south to Sisaket province where it is now easy to cross over into Cambodia, relatively close to Seam Reap and the famed Angkor Wat. Four hours north, one can cross the original Friendship Bridge into Laos, just a dozen kilometers from the capital city of Vientiane.
Mahasarakham is also at the very geographic center of Isaan, making it a decidedly convenient base from which to explore all of Isaan. Most sightseeing destinations in Isaan are no more than a three to four hour bus ride in nearly every direction from the city. This includes the Mehkhong River communities to the north and east (Nong Khai, Nakhon Phanom, etc.) and the famous ancient Isaan temple ruins to the south and southeast (Phanom Rung, Khao Phra Vihan, etc.). Korat (Nakhorn Ratchasima), three hours to the southwest, is the gateway to the spectacular Kao Yai National Park which showcases Southeast Asian flora and fauna, where elephants and tigers roam free.
[edit] Get in
To/From Bangkok:
First class / VIP bus service is available to/from Bangkok direct to Mahasarakham. There are about 8 buses daily. Overnight buses to Bangkok leave Mahasarakham between 8:30pm and 10:30pm. As of September 2009, fare is about 400 baht.
In Bangkok, buses leave from Morchit Northeastern Bus Terminal and in Mahasarakham, about 1 block south of the SermThai shopping plaza.
Regular bus service from several nearby cities is also available daily. Banner signs at the bus station are printed in Thai and English. You may either purchase a ticket before you get on the bus, or just pay in baht after you get on the bus.
As of September 2009, bus fares from Khon Kaen or Roi-Et to Maha Sarakham was 45 baht for a one way ticket.
The last bus out of town is often at 6 or 7 pm, so inquire before you stay too long.
[edit] Get around
Public transportation in the city is limited to songthaews, motorcycle taxis and tuk-tuks. The dark blue songthaews leave from the central bus station and travel north on highway 213 to Thakhongyang and Mahasarakham University about eight kilometers west and north of downtown. The drivers will stop anywhere along the way when the passengers signal with a buzzer. Cost is about 10 baht, and pay after exiting the songthaew.
[edit][add listing] See
Mahasarakham University has a modern campus just north of town about 8 kilometers on highway 213. The university has an outdoor museum built in traditional Isaan style as well as a small zoo. The university's older campus near downtown has The Museum of Northeastern Culture.
A beautiful park, Wang Ma Cha ("Fish Sanctuary") is about five kilometers northeast of downtown. A great place to relax at the many gazebos on the lake, feed the huge catfish, and wander through the little zoo. It is suggested to have a tuk-tuk driver who knows the park, to take you there, and then pay him waiting time for the duration of your stay at the park to ensure return transportation.
About 90 minutes south of Mahasarakham is a quite large chedi "Prathat Na Dune" which houses a relic of Buddha. The surrounding large park is a great place for a picnic in the shade of the many trees which are part of the grounds. A nearby replica of an ancient Isaan village gives you a feel for the cultural roots of the area. You will see exhibits which show the silk-making process as well as ancient farm implements.
[edit][add listing] Do
Cinema: SermThai Plaza and Center Point Mall
Bowling: Center Point Mall
Karaoke: SermThai, and Best Buddy in Thakhonyang
Computer Games: Throughout the city but mostly concentrated in the Rahjahbaht Unversity area and Thakhonyang village (near Mahasarakham University, Kamriang Campus).
Pottery Village: About 5 kilometers southeast of downtown toward Roi-Et
Silk Village: About 10 kilometers southwest of downtown toward Borabue
Museum of Northeastern Culture, Mahasarakham University, downtown campus
[edit][add listing] Buy
There is a modern shopping center ("Sermthai") on the main street between the bus station and the Taksila hotel. Here you will find the obligatory KFC restaurant, Swendsons, a four-plex cinema, several banks as well as excellent street food vendors.
An even newer shopping center has opened up about 5 kilometers north of town on highway 213. It is a Big C department store surrounded by many smaller shops and restaurants.
[edit][add listing] Eat
The Living Room Restaurant is located about three kilometers north of downtown on highway 213. It is in the Takasila 2 Apartment complex (not to be confused with Takasila Hotel downtown). It is a lunch and dinner, air-conditioned restaurant with authentic Thai, American and Italian cuisine. The "American BBQ Ribs" and Italian pizzas are authentic and delicious. Prices are reasonable and the atmosphere is definitively western. T: 043-742-752
Chawala Restaurant near Mahasarakham University, Kamriang Campus, is a high-end Thai restaurant with a pleasant ancient Isaan temple-style wall carvings to lend an Isaan atmosphere. Go north from Mahasarakham on highway 213 until you come to the large "Mahasarakham University" sign (northeast entrance to the school). Turn left and the restaurant is on the left side in about two kilometers.
Just a few doors down from the Chawala (above)is a small but authentic Japanese restaurant, Kyoto, open for lunch and dinner.
[edit][add listing] Drink
[edit][add listing] Sleep
- Taksila Hotel - a 4-star hotel is nice, but not spectacular, accommodation. Room prices start around 850 baht per night. The hotel has a good massage service, and there is a nearby fully-equipped fitness center across the parking lot from the hotel. (September 2009)
- New Pattana Hotel, a 3-star hotel, is just behind the Taksila Hotel, and rates are about 450 baht per night (September 2009).
- Vasu Hotel a 2 star hotel, is about 4 blocks west of the bus station on the same street which parallels the canal. Rates are about 350-400 baht per night (September 2009)
[edit] Get out
There are about 8 direct buses to Bangkok which leave each day about one block south of the SermThai shopping plaza. Tour class and VIP class available.
Also, provincial buses serve the nearby cities of Khon Kaen and Roi-Et. See above "Get In" section for more details.
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