Nature Tourism – Phanom Sawai Forest Park, Surin Province

     Phanom Sawai Forest Park, located in the Nabua Subdistrict and Sawai Subdistrict of Mueang District, Surin Province, is characterized by three mountain tops close together. It is called Memorial Forest Park and is a place of pilgrimage for Buddhists. In the past, the ancient people of Surin believed that Phanom Sawai Mountain was the pilgrimage place where all Buddhists should climb on the first day of the waxing moon, which previously was the traditional holiday of Surin citizens and is still accepted as the traditional holiday of these people.

     Buddhist visitors to Phanom Sawai Mountain may wish to pay homage to nine sacred objects of Surin Province to promote their optimistic enhancement. The sacred objects and places include the Big Buddha image (or Surindramongkol Buddha), Buddha’s footprint trail, ashes of Luang Poo Dul Atulo, Luang Por Dum (or Black Buddha image), Lung Poo Suan, Phanom Sawai stone castle, Kyan Yin Shrine, the sacred turtle, and the holy pool.

     Phu Sawai Forest Park has the unique characteristic that it is the only mountain emerging from the paddy rice farming plain in Surin Province. Many believe that we can see Phanom Rung stone castle in Nakhon Ratchasima from this viewpoint. Previously, this area in Surin province was a volcanic mountain, because of the many stone courtyards scattered widely throughout this area.

     When tourists travel to the Phanom Sawai Forest Park area, they will enjoy an excellent atmosphere of green nature. At the starting point, they can see a beautiful curving arch in the architecture of the ancient Khmer period.

     Walking through the beautiful arch, the tourists can see the arched stupa of Luang Poo Dul Atulo, a highly respected monk among all Surin citizens and all people in Thailand. At the entrance to this stupa, there are bells hanging  all around the opening.

     Furthermore, visitors can climb up more than 200 steps of the staircase to pay homage to Surindramongkol Buddha’s image, located on the top of the mountain. This is a white Buddha image in a blessing posture. While climbing up to pay homage, it is possible to see more than 1,080 hanging bells around the entrance, which you can ring to gain auspicious fortune. Furthermore, on the top of the mountain, there is a beautiful viewpoint of the green rice fields of Surin farmers, spread out in the distance. This is a highly suitable location for relaxing, taking photos, and collecting beautiful sunset scenery.