The City of Korat
The province of Korat or “Khorat” is the largest in Thailand and it is also known as Nakhon Ratchasima. The city covers an area of 25,494 square kilometers and it is inclusive of mountainous topography and plateaus. There is a lot to explore in the land of Korat,Thailand: the stunning natural beauty like Khao Yai national park and the korat plateau, immaculate historical destinations like Phimai historical park, attractive traditions and delightful generosity are enough to catch the attention of the tourists.
People in Korat are mainly engaged in agricultural work that includes cultivation of rice, tapioca, peanuts, corn, jute, sugar cane, sesame, etc. Korat serves as the lower northeastern region’s gateway or the Isaan door.
The symbol of Korat is Thao Suranaree. Also called "Ya Mo", Thao Suranaree is a woman who protected the city and the kingdom of Siam against the invasion of the Laos' army.
Location
Korat is the capital of the Nakhon Ratchasima Province and it is located in the north eastern part of Thailand. The city is bordered by Buriram to the east; Chaiyaphum, Saraburi and Nakhon Nayok to the west; Chaiyaphum, Khon Kaen to the north; and Prachin Buri, Nakhon Nayok to the south.
History
According to the study on the ruins, it was established that there were two towns in the area that are now located in the Sung Noen district. These towns are now known as Sema and Nakhon Raj. Nakhon Ratchasima was under the Khmer empire before the 14th century, but King Narai of Ayutthaya Kingdom constructed a 'new' Korat between the period of 1656 to 1688 to protect the northeastern border of Ayutthaya.
Attractions
Over the last few years, the popularity of Korat has really soared high among the foreign tourists. Some of the major attractions of the city are mentioned here.
Khao Yai National Park
This is a huge park that covers an area of 2,168 square kilometers. The park expands over four provinces that include Nakhon Ratchasima, Nakhon Nayok, Prachin Buri and Saraburi. Based in the mountain range of Phanom Dong Rak, Khao Yai National Park has also got recognition from the National Park Heritage of Asian Group Countries. On 18th September 1962, it became the first national park of Thailand and it is popular for rainforests and green ambience. Wide diversity of plants is found here such as scented plants, herbs and commercial plants as well. There are excellent mountain ranges that stand at the elevation of 800 to 3,000 meters above sea level. Therefore, the climate at Khao Yai National Park is comfortable even in summer.
Phimai Historical Park
This is the site of one of the most vital historical destinations in Thailand. The park features the Phimai Sanctuary where at the entrance a stone slab is placed with the word Phimai inscribed on it.
Wat Thammachak Semaram
This is another religious site famous for a massive reclining image of Lord Buddha. This figure is made up of red sandstone, which is 2.8 meters high and 13.3 meters long. The huge image is from 657 AD and it expands from north to south.
In addition to that, there are other attractions in Korat such as Chok Chai Farm, Wat Sala Loi, the Nakhon Ratchasima Zoo, Prasat Phanom Wan, Lam Takhong Dam, Dan Kwian pottery village and much more. Travel with us on Koratmap and visit virtually were we live.
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