Thailand Guides - Nakhon Ratchasima

Nakhon Ratchasima, generally known as "Khorat", is Thailand's largest province situated on sprawling northeast plateau. It is currently the main transportation, industrial and economic hub of the Northeast.

Overview

Located approximately 260 kilometres northeast of Bangkok, the city itself serves as the gateway to the lower I-San region. Geographically, Nakhon Ratchasima borders on Chaiyaphum and Khon Kaen Provinces in the north, Buriram Province in the east, Chaiyaphum and Saraburi Provinces in the west and Nakhon Nayok and Prachinburi Provinces in the south.

Inhabitants of the province are mainly engaged in agricultural activities that include farming of rice and other crops such as sugar cane, tapioca, corn, jute, peanuts, sesame and fruits. Most of the factories are rice mills, tapioca product manufacturers, and industrial factories.

Attraction

Khorat boasts one of the finest national parks in the world, Khao Yai National Park. Covering over 2,176 square km, the park extends into four provinces and offers one of the largest monsoon forests anywhere and is widely considered to be amongst the world's best national parks and has been recognized as such by the United Nations. Khao Yai has an impressive abundance of wildlife, including wild elephants, bears, tigers and leopards, just to name a few. Birds are also plentiful and some particularly rare species, such as the great hornbill.

The famous Monument of Khun Ying Mo (Thao Suranari) or known as Ya Mo in Thai, is situated 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 front the invasion of the Laotian army led by Prince Anuwong of Vientiane.