Buriram province (, , ) is one of Thailand's seventy-seven
provinces
A province is an administrative division within a country or state. The term derives from the ancient Roman , which was the major territorial and administrative unit of the Roman Empire's territorial possessions outside Italy. The term ''provi ...
(''changwat'') and lies in
lower northeastern Thailand, also called
Isan
Northeast Thailand or Isan (Isan language, Isan/, ; ; also written as Isaan, Isarn, Issarn, Issan, Esan, or Esarn; from Pāli ''isāna'' or Sanskrit ईशान्य ''īśānya'' "northeast") consists of 20 provinces in northeastern Thai ...
. Neighboring provinces are (from south clockwise)
Sa Kaeo
Sa Kaeo (, ) is a town (''thesaban mueang'') in Thailand, about 48 kilometers from the Thai-Cambodia
Cambodia, officially the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country in Southeast Asia on the Mainland Southeast Asia, Indochinese Peninsula. It is ...
,
Nakhon Ratchasima
Nakhon Ratchasima (, ) is the capital of Nakhon Ratchasima province, the largest city in Isan, Northeastern Thailand and the List of municipalities in Thailand#Largest cities by urban population, third-largest city in Thailand. It is 250 km (1 ...
,
Khon Kaen
Khon Kaen (, ) is the capital of Khon Kaen province and the List of municipalities in Thailand#Largest cities by urban population, fourth-largest city in Thailand. It is one of the four major cities of Isan, Northeast Thailand, also known as the ...
,
Maha Sarakham, and
Surin. The name "Buriram" means 'city of happiness'.
Geography

Buriram is at the south end of the
Khorat Plateau
The Khorat Plateau (; ) is a plateau in the northeastern Thai region of Isan. The plateau forms a natural region, named after the short form of Nakhon Ratchasima, a historical barrier controlling access to and from the area.
Geography
The avera ...
, with several extinct
volcano
A volcano is commonly defined as a vent or fissure in the crust of a planetary-mass object, such as Earth, that allows hot lava, volcanic ash, and gases to escape from a magma chamber below the surface.
On Earth, volcanoes are most oft ...
es around the province. The southern limit of the province is a mountainous area at the limit between the
Sankamphaeng Range
The Sankamphaeng Range, also Sankambeng Range or Sungumpang Range (, , ; , ) is one of the mountain ranges separating eastern Thailand from the northeast or Isan. It is in Nakhon Nayok Province, Nakhon Nayok, Prachinburi Province, Prachinburi, Sa ...
and the
Dângrêk Mountains. The total forest area is or 8.8 percent of provincial area.
National park
The province has one national park. Along with three other national parks, the park makes up
region 1 (Prachinburi) of Thailand's protected areas.
*
Ta Phraya National Park,
Wildlife sanctuary
The province has one wildlife sanctuary. Along with two other wildlife sanctuaries, the sanctuary makes up
region 7 (Nakhon Ratchasima) of Thailand's protected areas.
*
Dong Yai Wildlife Sanctuary,
History

The study of archaeologists has found evidence of human habitation since prehistoric times in
Dvaravati
Dvaravati () was a medieval Mon political principality from the 6th century to the 11th century, located in the region now known as central Thailand, and was speculated to be a succeeding state of Lang-chia or Lang-ya-hsiu (). It was describe ...
period in Buriram including cultural evidence from the ancient
Khmer Empire
The Khmer Empire was an empire in Southeast Asia, centered on Hydraulic empire, hydraulic cities in what is now northern Cambodia. Known as Kambuja (; ) by its inhabitants, it grew out of the former civilization of Chenla and lasted from 802 t ...
, which has both a brick castle and more than 60 stone castles, and have found important archaeological sites, including kilns, pottery and pottery, earthenware called Khmer wares, which determines the age around the 15th-18th. After the period of ancient Khmer or Khmer culture, the historical evidence of Buriram began to appear again at the end of the
Ayutthaya period
The Ayutthaya Kingdom or the Empire of Ayutthaya was a Thai people, Thai kingdom that existed in Southeast Asia from 1351 to 1767, centered around the city of Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya (city), Ayutthaya, in Siam, or present-day Thailand. Europe ...
, which appears to be an old city and later appeared in the
Thonburi period to the
Rattanakosin period that Buriram was a city.
About a thousand years ago, the area that makes up today's Buriram Province was under the
Khmer Empire
The Khmer Empire was an empire in Southeast Asia, centered on Hydraulic empire, hydraulic cities in what is now northern Cambodia. Known as Kambuja (; ) by its inhabitants, it grew out of the former civilization of Chenla and lasted from 802 t ...
and many ruins remain from that time. The largest, standing on an extinct
volcano
A volcano is commonly defined as a vent or fissure in the crust of a planetary-mass object, such as Earth, that allows hot lava, volcanic ash, and gases to escape from a magma chamber below the surface.
On Earth, volcanoes are most oft ...
, is in the
Phanom Rung Historical Park. According to an inscription found there, its local ruler recognised the authority of the Khmer king. However, the area was remote and sparsely populated, and little is recorded about it until the
Rattanakosin Kingdom. In the early-19th century, Muang Pae, the largest town, acknowledged Thai sovereignty and was renamed Buriram. Following administrative reforms in the late-19th century, Buriram was formally incorporated into Thailand as a province with its own governor.
Culture
Festivals
Aside from important religious days like
Songkran Day and New Year's Day, Buriram also has other local festivals such as the festival of the 5th
lunar month
In lunar calendars, a lunar month is the time between two successive syzygies of the same type: new moons or full moons. The precise definition varies, especially for the beginning of the month.
Variations
In Shona, Middle Eastern, and Euro ...
when residents make merit, bathe Buddha images and the aged, play traditional sports such as Saba and tug of war. In some areas like Phutthaisong District, it is custom to do the Bang Fai traditional rocket dance, Khao Phansa, at the beginning of
Buddhist Lent and
Loi Krathong
Loy Krathong (, , ) is a Thai festival celebrated annually throughout Kingdom of Thailand, Thailand and in nearby countries with significant Southwestern Tai languages, South Western Tai cultures (Laos, Shan State, Shan, Mon State, Mon, Tanintha ...
.
Demographics
Buriram is one of the northeastern provinces with a sizable
Northern Khmer population. The
Isan language
Isan or Northeastern Thai (Endonym and exonym, autonym: /, ; , ) refers to the local development of the Lao language in Thailand, after the political split of the Lao-speaking world at the Mekong River at the conclusion of the Franco-Siamese c ...
is spoken by most, but according to the most recent census 27.6% of the population also speak
Northern Khmer in everyday life.
Symbols

The provincial seal depicts
Phanom Rung temple, a Khmer-style
Hindu
Hindus (; ; also known as Sanātanīs) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism, also known by its endonym Sanātana Dharma. Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pp. 35–37 Historically, the term has also be ...
shrine dedicated to
Shiva
Shiva (; , ), also known as Mahadeva (; , , Help:IPA/Sanskrit, ɐɦaːd̪eːʋɐh and Hara, is one of the Hindu deities, principal deities of Hinduism. He is the God in Hinduism, Supreme Being in Shaivism, one of the major traditions w ...
. It was in use from the 9th through the 12th centuries, when the
Khmer Empire
The Khmer Empire was an empire in Southeast Asia, centered on Hydraulic empire, hydraulic cities in what is now northern Cambodia. Known as Kambuja (; ) by its inhabitants, it grew out of the former civilization of Chenla and lasted from 802 t ...
's control of the region was ended by the Thais of
Ayutthaya Kingdom
The Ayutthaya Kingdom or the Empire of Ayutthaya was a Thai people, Thai kingdom that existed in Southeast Asia from 1351 to 1767, centered around the city of Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya (city), Ayutthaya, in Siam, or present-day Thailand. Europe ...
. The ruins are now preserved in a historical park.
The provincial flower is the yellow cotton tree (''
Cochlospermum regium''). The
provincial tree is the pink shower (''
Cassia grandis
''Cassia grandis'', one of several species called pink shower tree, and known as carao in Spanish language, Spanish, is a flowering plant in the family Fabaceae, native to the neotropics, that grows up to . The species is distributed from southe ...
''). The
Asian glass shrimp (''
Macrobrachium lanchesteri'') is the provincial aquatic animal.
The province's motto is "the city of sandstone sanctuaries, land of volcanoes, beautiful silk, rich culture and the best city of sport".
Administrative divisions

Provincial government
The province is divided into 23 districts (''
amphoe
An amphoe (sometimes also ''amphur'', , )—usually translated as "district"—is the second level administrative subdivision of Thailand. Groups of ''amphoe'' or districts make up the Provinces of Thailand, provinces, and are analogous to count ...
s''). The districts are further divided into 189 subdistricts (''
tambon
''Tambon'' (, ) is a local governmental unit in Thailand. Below district (''amphoe'') and province ('' changwat''), they form the third administrative subdivision level. there were 7,255 tambons, not including the 180 ''khwaeng'' of Bangkok, whi ...
s'') and 2,212 villages (''
muban
Muban (; , ) is the lowest Administrative divisions of Thailand, administrative sub-division of Thailand. Usually translated as 'village' and sometimes as 'hamlet (place), hamlet', they are a subdivision of a tambon (subdistrict). , there were 74 ...
s'').
Local government
As of 26 November 2019 there are: one Buriram Provincial Administration Organisation (') and 62 municipal (''thesaban'') areas in the province. Buriram, Chum Het and Nang Rong have town (''
thesaban mueang
Thesaban (, , , Pali: desapāla (protector of region) are the municipalities of Thailand. There are three levels of municipalities: city, town, and sub-district. Bangkok and Pattaya are special municipal entities not included in the ''thesaban'' ...
'') status. Further 59 subdistrict municipalities (''
thesaban tambon
Thesaban (, , , Pali, Pali: desapāla (protector of region) are the municipalities of Thailand. There are three levels of municipalities: city, town, and sub-district. Bangkok and Pattaya are special municipal entities not included in the ''thesa ...
''). The non-municipal areas are administered by 146 Subdistrict Administrative Organisations - SAO (''ongkan borihan suan tambon'').
Transport
Airports
Buriram Airport is the only airport in Buriram province. Two airlines,
Nok Air and
Thai AirAsia
Thai AirAsia (, ) is a Thai low-cost airline. It is a joint venture of Malaysian AirAsia () and Thailand's Asia Aviation. It serves AirAsia's regularly scheduled domestic and international flights from Bangkok and other cities in Thailand.
H ...
, serve Buriram from
Don Mueang International Airport
Don Mueang International Airport — known as Bangkok International Airport before 2006 — is one of two international airports serving Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, the other being Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK).
The airport is considered ...
(DMK).
Highways
*Highway 218: Buriram -
Nang Rong
*Highway 219:
Ban Kruat -
Prakhon Chai - Buriram -
Ban Dan -
Satuek -
Phayakkhaphum Phisai -
Yang Sisurat -
Na Chueak -
Borabue
*Highway 226:
Nakhon Ratchasima
Nakhon Ratchasima (, ) is the capital of Nakhon Ratchasima province, the largest city in Isan, Northeastern Thailand and the List of municipalities in Thailand#Largest cities by urban population, third-largest city in Thailand. It is 250 km (1 ...
-
Chaloem Phra Kiat -
Chakkarat -
Huai Thalaeng -
Lam Plai Mat - Buriram -
Krasang -
Surin -
Sikhoraphum -
Samrong Thap -
Huai Thap Than -
Uthumphon Phisai -
Sisaket
Sisaket (, , ; Northern Khmer dialect, Northern Khmer: ) is a Thesaban#Town municipality, town municipality in Isan, northeast Thailand, incorporating Mueang Nuea and Mueang Tai Subdistricts and parts of Cham, Nong Khrok, Pho, Phon kha, and Ya P ...
-
Kanthararom -
Warin Chamrap -
Ubon Ratchathani
Ubon Ratchathani (, ) is one of the four main cities in Thailand's Isan region, alongside Nakhon Ratchasima (Khorat), Udon Thani, and Khon Kaen, collectively known as the "big four of Isan." Located on the Mun River in the southeastern Isan, ...
*Highway 2074: Buriram -
Khu Mueang -
Phutthaisong
Intercity transit
State Railway of Thailand
The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) (, abbrev. รฟท., ) is the state-owned rail operator under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Transport (Thailand), Ministry of Transport in Thailand.
History
The SRT was founded as the Royal State Rail ...
(SRT), the national passenger rail system, provides service to Buriram at the
Buriram Railway Station. SRT provides many services such as limited express trains to
Bangkok
Bangkok, officially known in Thai language, Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon and colloquially as Krung Thep, is the capital and most populous city of Thailand. The city occupies in the Chao Phraya River delta in central Thailand and has an estim ...
and
Ubon Ratchathani
Ubon Ratchathani (, ) is one of the four main cities in Thailand's Isan region, alongside Nakhon Ratchasima (Khorat), Udon Thani, and Khon Kaen, collectively known as the "big four of Isan." Located on the Mun River in the southeastern Isan, ...
, commuter trains to
Nakhon Ratchasima
Nakhon Ratchasima (, ) is the capital of Nakhon Ratchasima province, the largest city in Isan, Northeastern Thailand and the List of municipalities in Thailand#Largest cities by urban population, third-largest city in Thailand. It is 250 km (1 ...
and beyond.
The Transport Co., Ltd. operates a bus depot at Buriram Bus Station, and Nakhonchai Air has its bus station adjacent.
Public transit
The Buriram
Songthaew System (BSS) provides public transportation for the city. BSS was established many years ago. There are two lines: Line 1 (Buriram Municipality Market-
Khao Kradong Forest Park
Khao Kradong Forest Park () is a forest park in Buriram Province
Buriram province (, , ) is one of Thailand's seventy-seven Provinces of Thailand, provinces (''changwat'') and lies in Isan#Administrative divisions, lower northeastern Thailand, ...
Line), and Line 2 (Ban Bua Line). Both lines are colored pink.
Health
Buriram's main hospital is
Buriram Hospital operated by the
Ministry of Public Health.
Sports
Buriram promotes itself as a city of sport.
Buriram United is the most successful football team in Thailand after sweeping all before them by winning the league, the FA Cup, the League Cup, and
AFC Champions League
The AFC Champions League Elite (abbreviated as the ACL Elite) is an annual continental club association football, football competition organised by the Asian Football Confederation, and contested by Asia's List of top-division football clubs i ...
quarter-finalist. Buriram United play home games at
Chang Arena
The Buriram Stadium (known for sponsorship purposes as Chang Arena) is a 32,600-seat association football, football stadium in Buriram province, Buriram, Thailand. The stadium is the home of Buriram United F.C., Buriram United. Chang Arena is t ...
, the largest club-owned football stadium in Thailand.
A
FIA Grade 1 and
FIM
FIM may refer to:
Organizations and companies
* Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme, the International Motorcycling Federation
* Flint Institute of Music, in Michigan, United States
* Fox Interactive Media, now News Corp. Digital Media
* ...
Grade A racing circuit,
Chang International Circuit, is near Chang Arena.
File:Chang Arena A.jpg, Chang Arena
The Buriram Stadium (known for sponsorship purposes as Chang Arena) is a 32,600-seat association football, football stadium in Buriram province, Buriram, Thailand. The stadium is the home of Buriram United F.C., Buriram United. Chang Arena is t ...
the largest club-owned football stadium in Thailand of Buriram United
File:Marc Márquez 2018 Buriram 6.jpg, Marc Márquez
Marc Márquez Alentà (born 17 February 1993) is a Spanish Grand Prix motorcycle road racer who races for the Ducati Lenovo Team. He previously raced for the Ducati satellite team Gresini in 2024 and Honda's factory team from his MotoGP deb ...
at Chang International Circuit
Human achievement index 2022
Since 2003, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Thailand has tracked progress on human development at sub-national level using the
Human achievement index (HAI), a composite index covering all the eight key areas of human development. National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB) has taken over this task since 2017.
Notable people
*
Pira Sudham () (born 1942), writer, author of Monsoon Country
*
Newin Chidchob () (born 1958), politician, chairman of
Buriram United
*
Samransak Muangsurin () (born 1959), former
Muay Thai
Muay Thai or Muaythai (, , ), sometimes referred to as Thai boxing, the Art of Eight Limbs or the Science of Eight Limbs, is a Thai martial art and full-contact combat sport that uses stand-up striking, sweeps, and various clinch fighting, cl ...
fighter
*
Burklerk Pinsinchai () (born 1966), former Muay Thai fighter
*
Coban Lookchaomaesaitong () (born 1966), former Muay Thai fighter
*
Changpuek Kiatsongrit () (born 1966), former Muay Thai fighter
*
Saencherng Pinsinchai () (born 1967), former Muay Thai fighter
*
Namphon Nongkeepahuyuth () (1969–2016), late Muay Thai fighter
*
Therdkiat Sitthepitak () (born 1970), former Muay Thai fighter
*
Namkabuan Nongkeepahuyuth () (1973–2017), late Muay Thai fighter
*
Samkor Chor.Rathchatasupak () (born 1975), former Muay Thai fighter
*
Kompayak Porpramook () (born 1982), former professional boxer
*
Sam-A Gaiyanghadao () (born 1983), former Muay Thai fighter and professional boxer
*
Panomroonglek Kratingdaenggym () (born 1984), former Muay Thai fighter and professional boxer
*
Teerachai Sithmorseng () (born 1992), professional boxer
*
Sasalak Haiprakhon
Sasalak Haiprakhon (, born 8 January 1996) is a Thai professional footballer who plays as a left-back or a winger for Buriram United and the Thailand national team.
Career
On 23 June 2021, Sasalak joined Korean K League 1 side, Jeonbuk H ...
() (born 1996), footballer
*
Lalisa Manobal () (born 1997), a member of the South Korean girl group
Blackpink
Blackpink (, stylized in all caps or as BLɅϽKPIИK) is a South Korean girl group formed by YG Entertainment. The group is composed of four members: Jisoo, Jennie (singer), Jennie, Rosé (singer), Rosé, and Lisa (rapper), Lisa. Regarded by ...
*
Chatchu-on Moksri () (born 1999), volleyball player
References
External links
*
Tourism Authority of Thailand: About Buriram''Buriram Times''Golden Jubilee Network province guidecurrently empty-->
Provincial website (Thai)
{{Authority control
Isan
Provinces of Thailand