| Official Name: | Maha Sarakham |
| Native Name: | มหาสารคาม |
| Settlement Type: | Town |
| Motto: | เมืองน่าอยู่ คู่การศึกษา พัฒนาองค์กร คุณภาพชีวิต เศรษฐกิจและสังคม อย่างยั่งยืน |
| Flag Size: | 100px |
| Seal Size: | 100px |
| Pushpin Map: | Thailand |
| Pushpin Label Position: | bottom |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location in Thailand |
| Coordinates: | 16.1772°N 103.3008°W |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | Thailand |
| Subdivision Type1: | Province |
| Subdivision Name1: | Maha Sarakham |
| Subdivision Type2: | District |
| Subdivision Name2: | Mueang Maha Sarakham |
| Subdivision Type3: | Subdistrict |
| Subdivision Name3: | Talat |
| Government Type: | Thesaban |
| Leader Title: | Mayor |
| Leader Name: | Kittisak Khanasawas |
| Established Title: | Founded |
| Established Date: | 1936 |
| Unit Pref: | Imperial |
| Area Total Km2: | 24.14 |
| Population As Of: | 2012 |
| Population Total: | 40,154 |
| Population Density Metro Km2: | 1663.38 |
| Population Blank1 Title: | Ethnicities |
| Population Blank2 Title: | Religions |
| Timezone: | ICT |
| Utc Offset: | +7 |
| Postal Code Type: | Postal code |
| Postal Code: | 44000 |
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).[1] 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.[2]
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.
Maha Sarakham has no railway station or airport, and the main transport links are via express bus, or by road connections to the airports in Khon Kaen and Roi Et. Recently the road link south was upgraded and is now mainly dual carriageway highway.