Maha Sarakham

Maha Sarakham Province is one of the 76 provinces of Thailand lies in central northeastern Thailand also called Isan. Neighbouring provinces are: Kalasin, Roi Et, Surin, Buriram, and Khon Kaen. The town of Maha Sarakham is the provincial capital.The city has long been known as a regional education centre, the so-called “Taxila of Isan” (taking this name from the ancient Hindu centre of learning).It is home to six colleges, as well as Mahasarakham University (MSU) and Maha Sarakham Rajabhat University. Sarakham has the feel of a student town with the younger, more cosmopolitan population much in evidence in the downtown campus area and near MSU’s second campus seven kilometres away at Kham Riang.

For a time Mahasarakham ranked with Sisaket as among the poorest cities in Isan. This is changing, partly under the influence of the rapidly growing student population. Today Maha Sarakham possesses two cinemas, a modern department store and market, and branches of major retailers. There has been extensive building, especially on the eastern fringes of the city.