NAKHON RATCHASIMA

NAKHON RATCHASIMA

The city of various Khmer ruins and the famous statue of Khun Ying Mo named Nakhon Ratchasima or commonly known as "Khorat" is situated on a plateau, about 260 kilometres northeast of Bangkok. The city itself serves as the Gateway to the Northeastern Region.

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Monument of Thao Suranari


Monument of Thao Suranari or Khun Ying Mo is situated in front of the old gate of ''Pratu Chumpon'' on the west side of the city. This monument was erected in 1934 to commemorate the heroic deed of Khun Ying Mo, wife of the Deputy Governor of Khorat during the reign of King Rama III, who managed to save the city from the invasion of the Laotian army led by Prince Anuwong of Vinentianne. Every year from March 23 to April 3, there is a cerebration to honour this statue which draws thousands of people from town and neighbouring provinces.

Chumphon Gate
Pratu Chum Phon is behind the Monument of Thao Suranari. It is an old city gate built during the reign of King Narai the Great in 1656. The king commanded that a strong city wall be built. Engineers from France, then an ally of the country, designed the city plan. Nakhon Ratchasima at that time was an outpost in the shape of a rectangle of 1,000 x 1,700 metres. The western Chum Phon Gate is the only 1 of 4 city gates that still stands. The other three gates have been rebuilt. Chum Phon Gate is built of large stones and bricks and covered with plaster. The top is a watchtower made of wood with a tiled roof and decorated in the Thai style.

Prasat Phanom Wan
Prasat Phanom Wan is in Ban Makha, Tambon Pho, around 15 kilometres from the city on the Nakhon Ratchasima-Khon Kaen road. A sign on the right shows the way on a road 5 kilometres more. This is an interesting Khmer sanctuary. It is believed that it was built in the 15th Buddhist century. Later during the 18th-19th centuries, a stone building was built over it. From inscriptions found at the site, it is known that the sanctuary was used in the Hindu religion and later became a Buddhist site. Although most of it is in ruins, there is a clear form present, like the square main pagoda facing east and a tiered pagoda in front, as well as a path linking the two structures.

Chang Phuak Shrine
Chang Phuak Shrine is a small shrine on the northern part of the city moat at the corner of Manat and Phon Saen roads. It houses a Takhian Hin tree stump that was where the people of Phu Khiao tied elephants for inspectors to look at before presenting them to King Rama I for his transport.

Nakhon Ratchasima Zoo
About 30 kilometer from town along the Khorat-Pak Thong Chai route, covers a vast stretch of land comprising a reservoir and habitation areas for animals amidst the surrounding nearest to their natural environment. Open daily between 8.30-16.30 hrs.

Wat Sala Thong
Wat Sala Thong is in Tambon Hua Thale, about 1 kilometre southeast of the city. This is temple of the Dhamayuti sect. The area around the temple was originally a dense forest where a large sitting stone Buddha image in the Pa Lelai posture was located out in the open. A convocation hall was later built to cover it. The temple has a large pagoda that was built over a smaller one that encased the holy relics of Lord Buddha that were taken from Myanmar’s Chiang Tung.

Northeastern Museum
Northeastern Museum of Petrified Wood and mineral resources is situated in Mu 7, Tambon Suranari.At present, this area has a collection of over 10,000 petrified wood pieces. Some are displayed in the garden. Within this compound, petrified wood was unearthed just beneath the surface to 8 metres underground. The wood discovered is of various sizes from pebbles to rocks with a diameter of over 50 centimetres, and some pieces are more than 1 metre long. The wood comes in many colours in the same stone and in different ones. They are aged from 1 to 70 million years old.

Wat Sala Loi


Wat Sala Loi is located on the bank of Lam Takhong River, about 400 meters off the Northeast of the town. The main chapel, which received many awards from various architectural associations as a modern leading design of religious monument, is constructed in the shape of a Chinese Junk.

City Pillar
City Pillar is at the corner of Chom Phon and Prachak roads. This Chinese-style shrine houses the city pillar that is worshipped by Thais and Chinese. Built in the reign of King Narai the Great during 1656-1688, the shrine and city pillar are made of wood. The inner eastern wall is covered with fired clay tiles with raised designs of the battle of Thao Suranari and the way of life of Thais in ancient times.

Wat Phra Narai Maharat
Located on Prajak Road, the monastery houses a Khmer sandstone statue of Vishnu, the Hindu god. This statue is highly revered by local residents and is considered the Provinces most sacred object.

Maha Wirawong National Museum
Maha Wirawong National Museum is in Wat Sutthachinda opposite the provincial hall. It displays items that Somdet Phra Maha Wirawong, the ex-abbot of Wat Sutthachinda, collected, as well as artefacts that the Fine Arts Department found in Nakhon Ratchasima and nearby provinces and donations. Most items are Buddha images, including stone images of the Khmer period, images from the Ayutthaya period, bronze images, earthenware, ancient utensils, and woodcarving. The museum is open during 9 a.m.-4 p.m. from Wednesday to Sunday. It is closed on public holidays. The entry fee is 10 baht. For information, call tel. 0 4424 2958.

Prasat Hin Phimai


Prasat Hin Phimai is the largest sandstone sanctuary in Thailand almost situated in the center of Phimai Ancient city which carries a rectangular shape of 665 meters wide and 1,030 meters long. The Sanctuary has been magnificently restored and renovated ruins and has been preserved as a National Historical Park.

Phimai National Museum
Also on the way to Phimai is the Phimai National Museum housing valuable historical objects and archaeological remains found in the region.

Other Khmer ruins within Nakhon Ratchasima include Prasat Hin Phanom Wan located about 20 kilometres from town, Prasat Hin Nang Ram some 80 kilometres northeast of Khorat in Amphoe Prathai, Prang Ban Ku and Prang Sida all of which are similar to Phimai ruins but somewhat smaller

Khao Yai National Park
The park, which covers an area of 2,168 square kilometers in the Phanom Dong Rak mountain range, stretches over 4 provinces including Nakhon Ratchasima, Nakhon Nayok, Saraburi, and Prachin Buri. Khao Yai became Thailands first national park on 18th September 1962 and is also originally recognized as the National Park Heritage of Asian Group Countries.

Amphoe Pak Thong Chai


Amphoe Pak Thong Chai itself is also noted for its finest silk. The town is situated about 32 kilometres from Nakhon Ratchasima along Highway No. 304.

Farm Chokchai


Farm Chokchai is a fully integrated dairy farm perched on a vast stretch of plains amidst a scenic surrounding. An agro-tourism farm where visitors can learn about milking, making of fresh milk ice cream, animal feed plant, and several other activities. Superb tourist facilities provided.

Wat Thep Phithak Punnaram
Located at Khao Si Siat Aa, in Tambon Klang Dong, the temple houses a huge seated Buddha image that is 27 meters wide and 45 meters high. The image is enshrined on a mountaintop that can be reached via a 1,250 steps representing the number of monks that gathered spontaneously to hear the Lord Buddha's first sermon. (an occasion that is commemorated on Magha Puja Day)

Rai Suwan

Maize and Sorghum Research Centre (Rai Suwan) formerly called Thana Farm and belonging to Field Marshall Sarit Thanarat, the Farm was later transferred to Kasetsart University and became the Maize and Sorghum Research Center. The main purpose of the Center is to carry out research and publicize technology for the growing of maize and sorghum as well as other field crops. The Center also other provides support for research and training at both domestic and international levels, in addition, to producing seeds of maize, sorghum and other field crops. Basic tourist facilities provided are a touring route, toilets, field crop seeds for sale and food stalls. Advance contact is recommended.

Wat Na Phra That
Wat Na Phra That is located four kilometers from the Pak Thong Chai District office. The temple has an old chapel in which beautiful mural paintings of the Early Rattanakosin period can be seen on the walls. The door of "Ho Trai" or the hall for keeping the scripture is also elaborately carved.

Lam Phra Phloeng Dam
Lam Phra Phloeng Dam is situated in Amphoe Pak Thong Chai on a side road some 28 kilometres from the main highway. From the Dam, boats can also be be hired to go another 23 kilometres up the reservoir to Namtok Pak Thong Chai (waterfall) or Namtok Khlong Ki. Here is another spot for retreat and relaxation.