Northeast Thailand / Nakhon Ratchasima
The city, on a plateau and about 259km (162mi) northeast of Bangkok, is the gateway to the northeastern region. While the official name is Nakhon Ratchasima, it is commonly known just as Khorat.
The city is the capital of Khorat Province which is divided into 21 districts and 2 sub-districts.
Accommodation
Anachak; 62/1 Chomsurangyat Rd, Tel 24-3825
99 rooms, sgl/dbl 150-300 (f, ac)
At-Sadang; 315 At-Sadang Rd, Tel 24-2514
40 rooms, sgl/dbl 150-200 (f, ac)
Cathay; 3692/5-6 Ratchadamnoen Rd, Tel 24-2889
48 rooms, sgl/dbl 90-150 (f, ac)
Chao Phaya; 203/1-3 Chomsurangyat Rd
62 rooms, sgl/dbl 150-350 (f, ac)
Chomsurang; 2701/2 Mahadthai Rd
Tel 25-7087 to 92
123 rooms, sgl/dbl 350-1,500 (ac)
Chomphon; 701-2 Pho Klang Rd
Tel 24-2453, 25-1591
69 rooms, sgl/dbl 100-180 (f, ac)
Damrongrak; 120 Chomphon Rd, Tel 24-2504
53 rooms, sgl/dbl 90-180 (f, ac)
Erawan; 14-16 Mittraphap Rd; Tel 24-5546, 25-2554
21 rooms, sgl/dbl 80-180 (f, ac)
Fa-Sang; 68-70 Mukkhamontri Rd
Tel 24-2143, 24-3342
77 rooms, sgl/dbl 100-240 (f, ac)
Fa-Thai; 35-39 Pho Klang Rd
Tel 24-2533, 25-2797
90 rooms, sgl/dbl 70—240 (f, ac)
Kings; 85 Mittraphap Rd, Tel 25-3360
62 rooms, sgl/dbl 160-330 (f, ac)
Kitphaibun; 3291 Mukkhamontri Rd
Tel 24-2346, 24-2922, 24-2604
29. rooms, sgl/dbl 80-200 (f, ac)
Lak Muang; 1925-7 Chomphon Rd, Tel 24-2837
71 rooms, sgl/dbl 80-130 (f)
Muangmai Korat; 191 At-Sadang Rd, Tel 24-5365
115 rooms, sgl/dbl 150-650 (f, ac)
Muang Thong; 1302 Chomphon Rd, Tel 24-2090
52 rooms, sgl/dbl 80-150 (f)
Narai; 229 Mu 14, Mittraphap Rd, Tel 24-6206
30 rooms, sgl/dbl 80-180 (f, ac)
Pho Thong; 179 Pho Klang Rd, Tel 24-2084, 24-3985
52 rooms, sgl/dbl 80-100 (f)
Sakhon ; 46-48 At-Sadang Rd, Tel 24-1260
77 rooms, sgl/dbl 100-240 (f, ac)
Siam; 3618/15 Mittraphap Rd, Tel 24-2187
28 rooms, sgl/dbl 80-16O (f)
Sirat; 7 Suranari Rd, Tel 24-3116
39 rooms, sgl/dbl 80-120 (f)
Siri; 167-168 Pho Klang Rd, Tel 24-2831
59 rooms, sgl/dbl 80-180 (f)
Si Chomphon; 133-135 Chomphon Rd
Tel 24-2460, 24-2988
68 rooms, sgl/dbl 100-200 (f)
Si Mittraphap; 3714/7-9 Mittraphap Rd, Tel 24-1844
30 rooms, sgl/dbl 80-120 (f)
Si Phatthana; 346 Suranari Rd, Tel 24-6323
183 rooms, sgl/dbl 25-0-500 (ac)
Si Suk Bungalow; 3570 Suranari Rd, Tel 24-4055
27 rooms, sgl/dbl 80-120 (f)
Si Sura; 809/10-2 Suranari Rd; Tel 24-3321, 24-2929
49 rooms, sgl/dbl 80-120 (f)
Si Wichai; 714 Suranari Rd, Tel 24-2194
50 rooms, sgl/dbl 80-150 (f)
Suan Wattana Bungalow; 3395/30 Mittraphap Rd
Tel 24-1554; 13 rooms, sgl/dbl 100-200 (f)
Thai Hotel; 646-50 Mittraphap Rd
Tel 24-1613 to 4, 24-2253
110 rooms, sgl/dbl 22-0-330 (f, ac)
Thai Phokkhaphan; 104-6 At-Sadang Rd
Tel 24-2454, 24-2564
33 rooms, sgl/dbl 90-180 (f, ac)
Tokyo; 256-8 Suranari Rd, Tel 24-2788, 24-2873
41 rooms, sgl/dbl 80-180 (f, ac)
Korat Doctor’s Guest House; 78 Suebsiri Rd, Soi 4 Tel 25-5846; 3 rooms, sgl/dbl 50-150 (f, ac)
Places of Interest
Thao Suranari Monument
This monument in front of the old gate of Pratu Chumphon on the west side of the city was erected in 1934 to commemorate the local heroine Khun Ying Mo, wife of the Deputy Governor of Khorat during the reign of King Rama III, who managed to save the city from invasion by the Laotian army led by Prince Anuwong of Vientiane. Every year from March 23 to April 3, there is a celebration to honor this statue which draws thousands of people from the city and neighboring provinces.
Wat Phra Narai Maharat
The Wat on Prachak Road houses a sandstone image of the Hindu god Narayana. The statue is considered the major sacred object of the city. The city pillar is also enshrined in this temple.
Wat Sala Loi
The Wat on the bank of Lam Thakhong River, about 400m (about one third of a mile) northeast of the city has a main chapel constructed in the shape of a Chinese junk. The structure has received many awards from various architectural associations as a exemplary modern design of religious monuments.
Silver Lake Park
The park, near the Amphawan intersection of the Friendship Highway, not far from the city center is the most popular open area of Khorat. It has a large swimming pool with a slide, a flower garden and a restaurant.
Khmer Ruins
Aside from those at Phimai (see below), Khmer ruins around Nakhon Ratchasima are those of Prasat Hin Wat Phanom Wan, about 20km (13mi) from the city, Prasat Hin Wat Nang Ram some 80km (50mi) northeast of Khorat near Prathai, Prang Ban Ku and Prang Si Da. All of these are similar to the Phimai ruins but smaller in size. (For explanations of the terms Prasat and Prang, see the part on architecture in the chapter Art & Culture.)
Transportation
Bangkok - Nakhon Ratchasima
Thai Airways has one to two daily direct flight from Bangkok to Nakhon Ratchasima. Departure are most of the time in the early evening. Flight time is around 40min. The price of a one-way ticket is 540 Baht.
All trains going from Bangkok to Ubon Ratchathani as well as rail cars going to Udon Thani and Surin stop at Nakhon Ratchasima. Departures at Bangkok’s Hua Lamphong Station are at 6:50 (arrival at Nakhon Ratchasima 11:36), 7:15 (arr 13:58), 8:20 (arr 12:22), 11:05 (arr 15:12), 15:25 (arr 21:28), 18:45 (arr 23:56), 21:00 (arr 1:58), 21:50 (arr 2:31), 22:25 (arr 2:56), 22:45 (arr 4:02) and 23:25 (arr 5:35). Fare (excluding surcharges for rapid or express trains and aircon) is 50 Baht for 3rd class, 104 Baht for 2nd class and 207 Baht for 1st class. The rail distance is 264km.
Buses from Bangkok’s Northern Bus Terminal on Phahonyothin Road; 258km, non-aircon 51 Baht, 5:00 and every 20min until 21:30; aircon 92 Baht, 4:00, 5:20, 5:40, 6:00, 6:15, 6:30, 6:45, 7:00, 7:45 and every 15min until 22:30
Nakhon Ratchasima - Bangkok
Thai Airways has one daily direct flight from Nakhon Ratchasima to Bangkok. For most flights, departure is in the evening. Flight time is around 40min. The price of a one-way ticket is 540 Baht.
All trains from Ubon Ratchathani to Bangkok stop at Nakhon Ratchasima. Departures from Nakhon Ratchasima for Bangkok’s Hua Lamphong Station are at 0:15 (arrival in Bangkok at 5:20), 1:07 (arr 5:40), 5:32 (arr 12:00), 10:30 (arr 15:00), 12:24 (arr 16:30), 12:35 (arr 17:25), 13:50 (arr 19:40), 20:26 (arr 3:00), 22:10 (arr 3:30), 22:57 (arr 4:00) and 23:30 (arr 4:35). For fares and distance see entries under the opposite direction.
Provincial Flights
Nakhon Ratchasima - Ubon Ratchathani
Thai Airways has one direct flight per week, on Saturdays, from Nakhon Ratchasima to Ubon Ratchathani. Departure is in the morning. Flight time is around 45min.
Dan Kwian Village
Dan Kwian near Chok Chai on Highway 24, about 14km (9mi) south of Nakhon Ratchasima city, is noted for its unique pottery and other ceramics. The reason why Dan Kwian became famous for pottery and not just any other village in the area is the special quality clay, or rather combination of clays, found there - tough and ductile with the color of rust.
Very tough and dark brown clay, taken from the banks of the River Mun at the point where it passes through Dan Kwian, called Din Fark Mun, is mixed with a yellow sand clay found at many spots off the river bank. The mixed clay is kept wet at least for a night under some cover. The next day, the clay mixture is kneaded for 2 hours until it develops a good texture. The well mixed clay then is formed on a rotating board.
The formed product is left to dry under a plastic cover for around 15 days and a further 15 days without the cover. After that, it is baked in an earthen oven in an elaborate process. First the clay item is just warmed up to about 50° Celsius (122° F) for some 24 hours; only then is the temperature raised to about 1250° Celsius (2280° F), and this heat is maintained for about 19 hours.
After the baking, the oven must be kept closed for at least 24 hours. The ovens usually have small windows which allow the worker to check on how many items are misshapen or broken.
For generations, the local people have made different types of bowls and jars for preserved fish (Plarah), grinding bowls for local salad (Somtam) and containers for local fermented liquor. As Dan Kwian was for centuries on the cross-road of traders traveling with bull carts from Nakhon Ratchasima to Buriram, Surin and further on to the Khmer realm, its pottery was widely distributed.
Newer ceramic products of Dan Kwian are rather on the decorative than the practical side. They include ash trays, vases, patterned bottles, flower bowls, lamp sheets and garden sculptures.
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