Attraction
in Nakhon Ratchasima
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Chang
Phueak Shrine
Located north of the city’s moat, at the corner of Manat
and Phon Saen Roads is a shrine of historical importance.
The shrine contains a Takhian Hin tree stump, which
was where the people of Phu Khiao tied elephants for
inspection before presenting them to King Rama I. (Ratanakosin
Era)
Chumphon
Gate
Situated behind Thao Suranari Monument is the old city
gate that can be dated back to the 17th century. During
the reign of King Narai the construction of a stronger
city wall was commanded. A wooden watchtower with a
tiled roof and decorated in the Thai-style was constructed
on top of the Gate, which was constructed of stone and
brick and covered with plaster. This Gate is the only
gate of the four original gates that is open to the
public, as the other three are being renovated.
City
Pillar
Located at the corner of Chumpon Road and Prachak Road,
near Thao Suranari Monument, is the City Pillar. A Chinese-style
shrine that houses the City Pillar was established in
the reign of King Narai the Great. The inner eastern
wall is covered with terra-cotta tiles with raised designs
depicting Thao Suranari in battle and scenes of ancient
daily life in Khorat.
Maha
Wirawong National Museum
Opposite the City Hall is Wat Sutthachinda, a compound
where Maha Wirawong National Museum is located. Featuring
a collection of Khmer and Ayutthaya art objects including
woodcarvings, ceramics and sandstone images, the museum
is open from Wednesday to Sunday, between 9.00 a.m.
and 4.00 p.m. The admission fee is 10 bahts/person.
For more information, call 044 242958.
Monument
of Thao Suranari
Commonly dubbed as Khun Ying Mo or Ya Mo, Thao Suranari
was a courageous Thai woman, a wife of the Deputy Governor
of Khorat during the reign of King Rama III (1824 –
1851). She led the residents of Khorat in a battle against
the Laotian army headed by Prince Anuwong of Vientiane.
This much worshipped shrine was built in 1934 to honor
her heroic deeds that saved the people from being captured.
There is an annual celebration held from 23 March to
3 April to pay homage to the shrine which is located
at the Chumphon Gate on the west side of the city. Offerings
to Thao Suranari range from a miniature model of a bus
to colorful clothes. It is believed that through the
offerings, Thao Suranar’s spirit will protect the petitioner
from danger and the bad spirits.
Interesting
events: Khorat songs (phleng Khorat) is sung in the
evenings on a stage near the shrine. They are traditional
folk songs worth listening.
Nakhon
Ratchasima Zoo
Covering an area of 545 rai (218 acres), the zoo is
one of the most modern in Asia. The enclosures are large
and landscaped by section to match the habitat of each
animal most of which have come from Africa. The most
popular animals are penguins, seals, African elephants,
rhinoceros, cheetahs, lions, zebras, and giraffes. There
is also a reptile building and a hornbill garden. In
addition to being an ideal place to study biology, the
zoo is a great place for relaxation as the grounds are
decorated with lovely flowers. Other than the shuttle
services that are provided to transport visitors around
the zoo, there are bicycles available for rent. The
zoo is open daily between 8.30 a.m. and 4.30 p.m. The
fee is 10 bahts for children, 30 bahts for adults, and
30 bahts for four-wheel vehicles. For information, call
0 4435 7355, 0 4421 6251-3 or visit www.zoothailand.org.
The
Zoo is located approximately 18 kilometers south of
the city on Highway No. 304 (Nakhon Ratchasima-Pak Thong
Chai), however, it is also accessible via Highway No.
2310 (approximately 1 kilometer drive). Visitors traveling
by bus from the city can take air-conditioned bus No.
1415.
Petrified
Wood Park
This Petrified Wood Park located in Tambon Suranari
has a collection of over 10,000 petrified wood pieces.
These wood pieces were unearthed from just beneath the
surface to a depth of 8 meters.
The
wood is of various sizes ranging from pebbles to rocks
with a diameter of over 50 centimeters, while some pieces
are more than 1 meter long. The petrified wood pieces
appear in a range of colors and have been aged at between
1 and 70 million years. Provincial authorities plan
to turn this area into a petrified wood park and the
first museum of its kind in Asia in order to conserve
these prehistoric treasures for future generations to
study.
To
reach the Park, take Highway No. 304 (Nakhon Ratchasima-Pak
Thong Chai) for 19 kilometers, turn right into Suranari
University of Technology (second gate) and drive for
3 kilometers, turn left onto the Mitraparp-Nong Pling
city bypass and drive for 2 kilometers to Wat Krok Duean
Ha.
Prasat
Phanom Wan 
An interesting Khmer sanctuary, Prasat Phanom Wan is
believed to have been built in the 10th century. During
the 13th and 14th 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, the layout of the structure that is still
clearly visible includes a square main pagoda facing
east and a tiered pagoda in front, as well as a path
linking the two structures.
To
the southwest of the main pagoda is a building of red
sandstone called “Prang Noi.” Inside is a large stone
Buddha image. A roofed sandstone walkway and a laterite
wall surround the sanctuary. A Gopura (a sanctuary doorway
or porch) in the form of a tall tower is situated in
all 4 directions. Around 230 meters east of the sanctuary
are traces of a moat and an earth hill that was the
site of another Khmer building called “Noen Oraphim.”
Other
Khmer ruins within Nakhon Ratchasima include Prasat
Hin Nang Ram, Prang Ban Ku and Prang Sida all of which
are similar to Phimai ruins but somewhat smaller.
This
sanctuary is located in Ban Makha, Tambon Pho, around
15 kilometers from the city on the Nakhon Ratchasima-Khon
Kaen Road. A sign on the right provides visitors with
additional directions.
Rajabhat
Nakhon Ratchasima Arts and Culture Center
This Center is the repository of all the information
on I-san’s history. Information on the region’s history,
culture and traditional way of life are displayed in
this wooden, two-storey house. For more information,
call 044 246341 ext. 1216. To get there from Rajabhat
Institute which is located on Suranari Road, turn left
at the sign and proceed to the center.
Tham
Khao Chan Ngam
The cave is located approximately 58 kilometers southwest
of the city, off of Highway No. 2. Consisting of a series
of rock formations, the cave is notable for its prehistoric
paintings with figures of people and animals drawn in
coarse red paint. Historians claim that an agrarian
community inhabited this area some 3,000 to 4,000 years
ago.
Wat
Phra Narai
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 Province’s most sacred object.
Wat
Sala Loi
Situated 500 meters east of the northeastern corner
of the moat, from Rop Mueang Road, the temple is famous
for its “bot” (preaching hall) which resembles a Chinese
sailing junk. That is why the monastery got its name
Wat Sala Loi, which means the temple of the floating
pavilion. The bot was awarded the best avant-grade religious
building by the Siam Society in 1973. Additional attractions
are a large white standing Buddha enshrined inside the
temple and a plaster sculpture of Thao Suranari, sitting
in a praying position in the middle of a pond in front
of the door.
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)
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Nakhon
Ratchasima, generally known as "Khorat", is
Thailand’s largest province situated on sprawling northeast
plateau. Located approximately 260 kilometers northeast
of Bangkok, the city itself serves as the gateway to
the lower I-San region.