Surin National Museum

Surin National Museum

พิพิธภัณฑ์สถานแห่งชาติสุรินทร์

A Cultural Heritage Center of Lower Isan

The Surin National Museum is located in Nok Mueang Subdistrict, Mueang District, Surin Province.

It is an important center for learning about the history and culture of Lower Northeastern Thailand. The museum was established to collect, preserve, and exhibit antiquities, artifacts, and stories that reflect the identity of the people of Surin and the various ethnic groups in the region, particularly the Kuy (or Suay) people, who have had a long-standing relationship with elephants.

Prehistoric Artifacts

Exhibited Artifacts from Surin Province

The museum displays artifacts excavated in Surin, including stone tools, bronze items, beads, and ancient pottery dating back thousands of years. These relics reveal the early human settlements in the region and showcase the development of traditional technologies over time.

The Way of Life of the Kuy People Who Handle Elephants

The Kuy People and Their Elephants

The Kuy ethnic group has maintained a deep and long-standing bond with elephants. This exhibition showcases their way of life, beliefs, and rituals, including elephant care, ordination ceremonies, paying respect to elephant masters, and the important role of mahouts who oversee and manage elephants within the community.

Ancient Khmer Art

Surin was once under the influence of the ancient Khmer Empire. This exhibition displays artifacts characteristic of Khmer art, including decorated columns, pediments, ceremonial headdresses, and lingams, all recovered from local archaeological sites such as Sikhoraphum Temple and Ban Pluang Temple, among others.

Surin Cultural Identity Exhibition

The exhibition features a replica of a traditional Thai house, showcasing the daily life of local people. Visitors can explore agricultural practices, handicrafts, and cultural skills such as silk weaving and silverwork, reflecting the local wisdom of Surin that has been preserved and passed down through generations.