This 200-year-old temple is as old (or young, depending on your perspective) as the city of Surin itself. It was built during the administration of the city's first mayor, Phraya Surinpakdi Srinarong Changwang. For the people of Surin, it is the most important temple, as it houses Luang Pho Phra Chi, a highly revered Buddha statue. Designated a royal temple in 1977, it also contains a highly regarded statue of Luang Pu Dulaya Atulo, a monk who once lived here. A small museum is dedicated to him. Wat Burapharam consists of a main hall, to the right of which is another building with more modern, curved lines, and a smaller building containing the famous bicentennial Buddha statue, which appears to have been recently replaced with a copy. In April 2013, the statue standing there was brand new and white, and a worker was painting it gold. Don't expect miracles, it's a fairly ordinary temple, although the walls inside the small building at the back, where the Buddha is located, are beautifully decorated.

Free admission. Open from 5:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Tel.: 044 514 234

In Surin I explored the city only on foot, but you can also rent a tuk-tuk or a rickshaw.

Wat Burapharam is a temple, and when visiting a temple in Thailand there are some rules to follow: appropriate clothing (knees and shoulders should be covered), take off your shoes when entering the building, be quiet, do not hug or kiss, do not point your feet at the Buddha statue, do not smoke.

How to get there

How do you get to Wat Burapharam? In Surin, I only explored the city on foot, but you can also hire a tuk-tuk or a rickshaw.