Nakhon Ratchasima
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NAKHON RATCHASIMA Nakhon Ratchasima 1 Things to do 1010 Things to do Jim Thompson Farm Phimai Historical Park Wihan Thep Witthayakhom or Wihan Parisutthapanya Nong Phakchi Animal Watching Tower (Nature Trail Km. 33) Namtok Heo Narok - Khao Yai National Park 2 Nakhon Ratchasima 10 Things to do Jim Thompson Farm Wat Thep Phithak Punnaram Thao Suranari Monument Hydroponic Vegetable Farmhouse at Lam Takhong Dam Wang Nam Khiao Flora Park Wang Nam Khiao Satisfaction Questionnaire of Tourist Information Brochures Nakhon Ratchasima 3 วัดพลับ Phimai Historical Park 4 Nakhon Ratchasima CONTENTS HOW TO GET THERE 8 ATTRACTIONS 10 Amphoe Mueang Nakhon Ratchasima 10 Amphoe Dan Khun Thot 17 Amphoe Non Sung 20 Amphoe Phimai 21 Amphoe Haui Thalaeng 25 Amphoe Chok Chai 25 Amphoe Khon Buri 26 Amphoe Soeng Sang 27 Amphoe Sung Noen 27 Amphoe Sikhio 30 Amphoe Pak Thong Chai 32 Amphoe Pak Chong 35 Amphoe Wang Nam Khiao 46 MAJOR EVENTS 51 LOCAL PRODUCTS 52 SOUVENIR SHOPS 52 SUGGESTED ITINERARY 53 MAPS 54 USEFUL PHONE NUMBERS 58 TOURIST INFORMATION CENTRES 59 Nakhon Ratchasima 5 Khao Yai National Park NAKHON RATCHASIMA 6 Nakhon Ratchasima THAI GLOSSARY culture and has a long history. It also has Amphoe : District beautiful nature, with many forests, mountains, Ban : Village waterfalls, and reservoirs. Furthermore, it is Hat : Beach well known for a variety of quality handicrafts Khuean : Dam that visitors can choose from. Maenam : River Mueang : Town or city Nakhon Ratchasima used to be the site of Phrathat : Pagoda or stupa several ancient prehistoric communities Prang : Corn-shaped tower or that continued to grow when the Dvaravati sanctuary culture came in and later when the Khmer Prasat : Castle culture replaced it. An important prehistoric Pratu : Gate site is Ban Prasat. Traces of Dvaravati and SAO : Subdistrict Administrative Khmer cultures are scattered throughout the Organisation province, particularly at Amphoe Sung Noen Soi : Alley and Amphoe Phimai. Song Thaeo : Pick-up trucks but with a roof over the back Nakhon Ratchasima has been a key city since Talat : Market ancient times as an administration centre. It Tambon : Subdistrict was responsible for many northeastern cities Tham : Cave in the past. Even now, its status has remained Tuk-Tuks : Three-wheeled motorized unchanged in that it is the Northeast’s main taxis transportation hub and economic centre. Ubosot or Bot : Ordination hall in a temple Wihan : Image hall in a temple Nakhon Ratchasima is 259 kilometres from Wat : Temple Bangkok and covers an area of 20,494 square Note: English spelling uses the official Thai kilometres, divided into 32 districts : Amphoe transliteration. Posted signs may be spelled Mueang Nakhon Ratchasima, Amphoe Kaeng differently. When seeking help for directions, Sanam Nang, Amphoe Kham Thale So, Amphoe point to the Thai spelling for each place name. Kham Sakaesaeng, Amphoe Khong, Amphoe Khon Buri, Amphoe Chakkarat, Amphoe Nakhon Ratchasima, or “Khorat,” is a large Chaloem Phra Kiat, Amphoe Chum Phuang, province on the Northeastern plateau and Amphoe Chok Chai, Amphoe Dan Khun Thot, is like the gateway to other provinces in Amphoe Thepharak, Amphoe Non Sung, the Northeast. The province is rich in Khmer Amphoe Non Daeng, Amphoe Non Thai, Nakhon Ratchasima 7 Amphoe Ban Lueam, Amphoe Bua Rai, Amphoe Khon Buri 58 kilometres Amphoe Bua Yai, Amphoe Prathai, Amphoe Amphoe Khong 79 kilometres Pak Thong Chai, Amphoe Pak Chong, Amphoe Amphoe Lam Thamenchai 120 kilometres Phra Thong Kham, Amphoe Phimai, Amphoe Amphoe Mueang Yang 110 kilometres Mueang Yang, Amphoe Lam Thamenchai, Amphoe Non Daeng 30 kilometres Amphoe Wang Nam Khiao, Amphoe Sikhio, Amphoe Non Sung 37 kilometres Amphoe Sida, Amphoe Sung Noen, Amphoe Amphoe Non Thai 29 kilometres Soeng Sang, Amphoe Nong Bunmak and Amphoe Nong Bunmak 52 kilometres Amphoe Haui Thalaeng. Amphoe Pak Chong 85 kilometres Amphoe Pak Thong Chai 34 kilometres Distance from Nakhon Ratchasima to Amphoe Phimai 60 kilometres Nearby Provinces Amphoe Phra Thong Kham 37 kilometres Chaiyaphum 119 kilometres Amphoe Prathai 97 kilometres Khon Kaen 190 kilometres Amphoe Sida 85 kilometres Buri Ram 151 kilometres Amphoe Sikhio 45 kilometres Sa Kaeo 184 kilometres Amphoe Soeng Sang 88 kilometres Prachin Buri 194 kilometres Amphoe Sung Noen 36 kilometres Nakhon Nayok 213 kilometres Amphoe Thepharak 90 kilometres Saraburi 152 kilometres Amphoe Wang Nam Khiao 70 kilometres Lop Buri 198 kilometres HOW TO GET THERE Distance from Amphoe Mueang Nakhon By car: Nakhon Ratchasima can be accessible Ratchasima to Other Districts via multiple routes as follows: Amphoe Ban Lueam 85 kilometres 1. From Bangkok, take Highway No. 1 Amphoe Bua Rai 106 kilometres (Phahon Yothin Road) to Saraburi city and Amphoe Bua Yai 101 kilometres turn right onto Highway No. 2 (Mittraphap Amphoe Chakkarat 40 kilometres Road) then go straight to Nakhon Ratchasima. Amphoe Chaloem Phra Kiat 18 kilometres The total distance is 259 kilometres. Amphoe Chok Chai 31 kilometres 2. From Bangkok, take Highway No. 304 past Amphoe Chum Phuang 98 kilometres Chachoengsao province, Amphoe Phanom Amphoe Dan Khun Thot 84 kilometres Sarakham, Amphoe Kabin Buri, Amphoe Wang Amphoe Haui Thalaeng 65 kilometres Nam Khiao, and Amphoe Pak Thong Chai until Amphoe Kaeng Sanam Nang 130 kilometres reaching Nakhon Ratchasima city. The total Amphoe Kham Sakaesaeng 50 kilometres distance is 273 kilometres. Amphoe Kham Thale So 22 kilometres 8 Nakhon Ratchasima Camsite Area at Pha Kep Tawan 3. From Bangkok, take Highway No. 305 - The Transport Co., Ltd., Tel. 1490, (Rangsit – Nakhon Nayok Road) and then 0 2936 2852-66. Nakhon Ratchasima Office, Highway No. 33 to Amphoe Kabin Buri and Tel. 0 4425 6006-7, Pak Chong Office, Tel. turn onto Highway No. 304 past Amphoe 0 4431 3750, or www.transport.co.th. Wang Nam Khiao and Amphoe Pak Thong - Chan Tour Co., Ltd., Tel. 08 6304 7035, Chai until reaching Nakhon Ratchasima city. Nakhon Ratchasima Office, Tel. 0 4427 2151. The total distance is 310 kilometres. - Ratchasima Tour Co., Ltd., Tel. 0 2936 1615, Nakhon Ratchasima Office Tel. 0 4424 By bus: From Bangkok, take a bus from the 5443, and Pak Chong Office Tel. 0 4431 2131. Bangkok Bus Terminal (Mo Chit 2), Kamphaeng - Suranari Air Co., Ltd., Tel. 0 4425 Phet 2 Road to the Nakhon Ratchasima 1567, 09 3547 3344. Bus Terminal 2 (Mittraphap Road, Amphoe - Air Korat Pattana Co., Ltd., Tel. 0 2936 Mueang Nakhon Ratchasima). For more 2252, Nakhon Ratchasima Office, Tel. 0 4423 information, please contact Tel. 0 4425 0378, or www.airkorat.com. 6006-7. The bus service operating daily is provided by the following companies: Nakhon Ratchasima 9 By pubic van: From Bangkok, there are public Amphoe Chok Chai. Tuk (motor-three-wheeler), vans operating daily from the Bangkok Bus motorcycle-taxi, and metred taxi are also Terminal (Mo Chit 2), Kamphaeng Phet 2 available and provide services within the city. Road, to the Nakhon Ratchasima Bus Terminal 2 by many companies; for example, Interprovincial Travel - Chakkarat Tour (Bangkok - Nakhon The Nakhon Ratchasima Bus Terminal 2 Ratchasima - Amphoe Chakkarat) Tel. 08 7097 (Mittraphap Road), has public buses operating 3200, 08 6393 5400, or www.chakkarattour.com. to Chaiyaphum, Khon Kaen, Udon Thani, - Saree Tour (Bangkok - Nakhon Nong Khai, Nakhon Phanom, Sakon Nakhon, Ratchasima) Tel. 09 8712 0440, 09 8712 3003. Kalasin, Ubon Ratchathani, Buri Ram, Surin, and other provinces in other regions; for By train: The train routing Bangkok – Nakhon example, Bangkok, Lop Buri, Sing Buri, Nakhon Ratchasima operates daily. For further Sawan, Phitsanulok, Chiang Mai, Amphoe information, please contact the State Railway Mae Sai (Chiang Rai), Chon Buri, Pattaya, of Thailand (SRT) call centre at Tel. 1690, Rayong, Chanthaburi, Trat, Sa Kaeo, Krabi, 0 2220 4334, 0 2220 4261, the Nakhon etc. For more information, please call Tel. Ratchasima Railway Station (Mukmontri Road, 0 4425 6006-7. Tambon Nai Mueang) Tel. 0 4424 2044, the Pak Chong Railway Station Tel. 0 4431 1534, ATTRACTIONS or www.railway.co.th. Amphoe Mueang Nakhon Ratchasima Thao Suranari Monument (อนุสาวรีย์ท้าว Local Transportation สุรนารี) is a memorial to the Thai heroine called The Nakhon Ratchasima Bus Terminal 1 (Burin ‘Ya Mo’ by locals. Built in 1934, it is located in Road, Tambon Nai Mueang) Tel. 0 4424 2899, the city centre. People from other provinces is a hub of Song Thaeo pickups running within who visit Khorat and locals usually come the town of Nakhon Ratchasima and a pick-up to pay homage here and ask for blessings. point of the public buses and vans running The statue is made of black copper. It is from the city to other outer districts; such 1.85 metres high and is dressed in regalia as, Amphoe Sikhio, Amphoe Dan Khun Thot, in a standing posture. The right hand holds Amphoe Non Sung, Amphoe Bua Yai, Amphoe a sword and the statue faces west towards Pak Thong Chai, Amphoe Pak Chong, etc. the capital of Bangkok. The monument base holds her ashes. The Nakhon Ratchasima Bus Terminal 2 (Mittraphap Road), has public buses Thao Suranari was originally Khunying Mo, to Amphoe Phimai, Ban Dan Kwian, and the wife of the assistant governor of Nakhon 10 Nakhon Ratchasima Thao Suranari Monument Ratchasima. In 1826, Chao Anuwong of Vientiane metres. The western Chum Phon Gate is had Khorat under siege but Khunying Mo rallied the only 1 of 4 city gates that still stands. villagers to fight againt Chao Anuwong. After The other three gates have been rebuilt. the battle was over, King Rama III promoted Chum Phon Gate is built of large stones and her to Thao Suranari. Every year during 23 bricks and covered with plaster. The top is a March to 3 April, the people would hold a festival to honour her bravery. Pratu Chum Phon (ประตูชุมพล) is behind Thao Suranari Monument. It is an old city gate built during the reign of King Narai the Great in 1656.