The Khao Yai Natioanl Park
The Khao Yai National about 200
kilometers away from Bangkok along Highway No. 2 with 40 kilometers
right turn a Km. 165.5. The tourists who travel by public transport
can take the bus from Bangkok’s Northeastern Bus Turmial to Amphoe
Pak Choang and hire a local mini-bus (Song-Thawo) at Pak Chong market
to Khao Yai. The Khao Yai National Park is covering an area of 2,168
square kilometers in four provinces: Nakhon Ratchasima, Nakhon Nayok,
Saraburi, and Prachin Buri. The Park comprises various mountains,
two important rivers of Lam Takhong and Nakhon Nayok, with many
rare species of fauna and flora and over 20 waterfalls. Camping
sites in the park are available.
Lam Takhong Dam
Located on the edge of Friendship Highway
(Mittraphap Road), forming a large reservoir with a capacity of
310 cubic meters of water, capable of helping a total of 238,000
rai of agricultural land, surrounded by and atmosphere of shady
trees and beautiful views of nature, good to visit for recreation.
Lam Phra Phloeng Dam
It is situated in Pak Thong Chai District,
some 28 kilometers from the main highway. From the dam, boats can
also be hired for going another 23 kilometers up to the reservoir.
Sai Ngam
The place is located in Tambon Nai Muang, Amphoe
Phimai about 1.5 kilometers northeast of Phimai Historical Park.
this is another well-known sight-seeing spot. A road to Sai Ngam
passes through Phimai Irrigation Project. This is a dam built across
Moon River. Sai Ngam is located on the bank of this river. At the
place there are many banyan trees of which with each other until
it is not possible to distinguish on tree's branches and leaves
from those of the other. The interwoven branches and leaves extend
densely over an area of about 15,000 square feet. They are perhaps
the largest banyan trees in Southeast Asia.
Nakhon Ratchasima Zoological
It is 13 kms. away from Nakhon
Ratchasima on Nakhon Ratchasima-Pak Thong Chai road (highway No.
304). It is the fifth zoo of Thailand covers an area of 545 raise.
It will be completely built in 1998. There are lot of interesting
wildlife animals; for example, bison, hog deer, and animal of the
antler kind, wild gibbon, jaguar, snake, wild cat, etc. Moreover,
there are variety of different species of birds; for example, cassowaries
birds from Africa, sarus crane, Thai and Indian peacocks, etc. The
zoo open everyday from 08.00 am. - 04.30 pm. without any charges.
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The Monument of Thao Suranari
The monument of Thao Suranari or Khun Ying Mo is situated in front of the old gate of "
Pratu Chumpon"
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 from the invasion
of the Laotian army led by Price Anuwong of Vientian. Every year
from March 23 to April 3, there is a celebration to honour this
statue which draw thousands of people from town and neighboring
provinces.
Wat Phra Narai Maharat
Wat Rhra Narai Maharat on Prachak
Road houses an image of Narayana (Hindu God) made of sand stone.
The statue is considered the major sacred object of the city. THE
CITY PILLAR is also enshrined in this temple.

Wat
Sala Loi Wat Sala Loi Is located on the bank of Lam Takhong
River about 500 meters off the side-road to Northeast of the town.
The main chapel, which received many awards from various architectural
associations as a modern leading design of religious monument, is
constructed in the shape of Chinese Junk.
Maha Weerwong National Museum
Maha Weerawong National Museum
opposite to the City Hall, exhibits various arts objects and artifacts
donated to Somdet Maha Weerawong, e.g. sand stone Buddha images
of Khmer and Ayutthaya period, Bronze Buddha images, different sizes
ceramics and wood carvings from ancient monasteries. It is opened
every day except Mondays, Tuesdays and official holidays.
Prasat Hin Phanom Wan
Prasat Hin Phanom Wan is located 20 kilometers
from town. It can be reached by following Nakhon Ratchasima-Khon
Kaen Highway; then turning right at kilometer 14-15 and traveling
on for 5 kilometers. This religious place was constructed in the
12th century. Its Khmer style resembles Prasat Hin Phimai but its
size is smaller. Its main stupa facing the east was built of sandstone
an connected the Mandapa by a square path of 25.5 meter length and
10.20 meter width. The Prasat is surrounded by laterite wall and
has Gopuras (entrances) from four directions. Outside the walls,
there are a lot of ponds.
Wat Pa Salawan
Wat Pa Salawan is located behind Nakhon Ratchasima
Railway Station. This monastery houses the relics of Acharn Man,
Acharn Tim, and Acharn Sao, three holy well known Buddhist monks
of Thailand.
Miss Boonlua Memorial
Miss Boonlua Memorial is located in
Boonlua vidhyanusorn school, 12 kms. From the city on the highway
to Chaiyaphum. The statue is to commemorate the heroic deed of miss
Boonlua and the people of Nakhon Ratchasima who died in the battle
of Thung Samrit in 1826.
The Phimai National Museum
The Phimai National Museum is
at the approach in Amphoe Phimai, some 60 kilometers northeast of
Nakhon Ratchasima. The museum houses an extensive collection of
succeeding eras of Ancient Khmer and Dvaravati artifacts : carved
sandstone pediments and lintels from the 6th century Dvaravati Period,
and those of Khmer,s ranging from the early Koh Ker style from 9th
century Dvaravati style to Angkor Wat’s Bayon style of the 12th
century.
The Phimai Historical Park
The Phimai Historical Park Dotted
about Thailand’s great northeastern plateau are numerous temples
of varying sizes; most of these structures are believed to be about
a thousand years old. These building-built of brick, stone, or combinations
of the two material-are of two types: those built by persons
of Brahman culture, these have three to five-storied bases surmounted
by prominent spires; those constructed by Buddhist patronages, have
a low base an their spires are not so tall. The most spectacular
of them all is at Phimai, 60 kms. Northeast of Nakhon Ratchasima.
Prasat Hin Phimai which is the charmingly amusing largest sandstone
sanctuary in Thailand almost situated in the center of Phimai Ancient
city which carries a rectangular shape of 665 meters wide and 1,030
meters long. Nowadays, the Sanctuary looks magnificently restored
and renovated. The ruins of the fascinating ancient Khmer architecture
has been preserved as the National Historical Park. The monument
itself is surrounded with two red sandstone walls; the external
wall and the gallery. There are punctuated by gate towers (Gopuras)
at four cardinal points, North, South, East and West. The main entrance
is decorated with Naga balustrade which faces to the south where
there are ancient routes cut from Angkor. The main white sandstone
Prang has its place in the middle, towers of 28 meters in height,
and flanked by two minor buildings, of the left was built in laterite
called
"Prang Bhramadhat"
and on the right was built in sandstone called "Prang Hin Daeng".
Evidences of the main sanctuary reveal that all the external lintels
including pediments involve Hinduism, such as the carvings of Ramayana
Story, Figures of Hindu Gods like Shiva and Vishnu whereas the internal
lintels involve typically masterful religious art of Mahayana Buddhism.
Though, it can be concluded that Phimai Sanctuary way built for
the worship of both Mahayana Buddhism and Hinduism: one of the internal
lintels represents Trilokayavichaya Buddhism who standing on Hindo
Gods, Shiva and his wife, seems to mean that Buddhism becomes more
significant than Hinduism. Two stone inscriptions encountered, the
first mentions the name of King suriyavoraman I (1002-1050) while
the second at the door frame of the Southern gallery describing
the name of King Dharanidharavoraman I (1107-1113). These inscriptions
of different periods also coincides with the characteristics of
the artifacts found inside the main prang, therefore, the well-restored
ruins of Phimai Sanctuary may have been built in between late 11th
mid 12th centuries. The Phimai Historical Park opens every day from
7.30-18.00 hrs. Admission fee is 20 Baht per person.
Prasat
Nang Ram Prasat Nang Ram is located 79 kilometers far
from town on the route No. 2 It can be reached by driving 62 kilometers
to the crossroads of Ban Wat, then touring right along the highway
No. 207 for 22 kms. To Ban Nang Ram and finally turning left with
traveling further for 4 kilometers. Prasat Nang Ram was built in
Khmer style during the 12th century to be a nursing place. The sanctuary
consists of the main stupa an vihara surrounded by laterite walls.
Outside the wall, there is a pond lined with stepped laterite. Far
away 80 meters, surrounded by laterite walls and the U-shaped pond
are other three stupas assumed to be the residence of medical men.
Khao Chan Ngam Cave
Khao Chan Ngam Cave is located a Ban Loet
Sawat 58 kilometers a way from Nakhon Ratchasima on Highway No.
2 with 4 kilometers left turn at km. 198. The cave is famous for
pre-historic color paintings.
Prang Ku
Prang Ku is located at Wat Ban Ku in Tambon Dan Tanin,
74 kms. Away from Nakhon Ratchasima. The ancient Khmer style spire
of square-shape foundation piled up to the top with sandstone houses
an earthen Buddha image.
Prang ida
Prang Sida another Khmer ruin, is located at Tambon
Sida, about 90 kms. From Nakhon Ratchasima.
Archaeological Ste At Ban Prasat
Archaeological site at Ban Prasat is located at ban Prasat Tai, Mu 7, Tambon Than
Prasat, Amphoe Non Sang, 45 kms. Far from Nakhon Ratchasima on the
Nakhon Ratchasima-Phimai route with a 2 km. left turn. There are
2 excavating sites, each with 3 pits, with the following discoveries:
At the depth of 3.50-4.50 meters, lie human skeletons and various
kinds of artifact including an ancient weapon shaped like a discus
made of white marble-like stone, huge animal bones, ornaments made
of animal bones and shells, and an ancient axe-like weapon. The
discoveries in this layer are believed to be of pre-historic period,
about 3,000 years ago. At the depth of 2.30-3.0 meters, ancient
bronze weapons such as a sharp lance-like weapon, stone beads of
many strange colors, red and black painted pottery with incised
decoration, as well as golden wrist and ankle bracelets believed
to be of Dvaravati period (1,600-,800) years ago) have been unearthed.
At the depth of 1.50-2.0 meters, the discoveries include a kiln
and color glazed pottery of mixed Khmer and modern styles, containers
similar to those of modern time, as well as swords and weapons like
those of contemporary period. They can be dated back to at least
600 years ago up to now. According to an exploration by the Division
of Archaeology back in 1977, Ban Prasat is an enclose site of an
irregular shape with surrounding moat and mound measuring 700 x
450 meters. The area slopes southwards with its highest point rising
some 4 meters from the surrounding rice fields. The site is believed
to be an agricultural community of pre-historic period in the southern
Northeast with its own typical civilization differing from that
of Ban Chiang, Changwat Udon Thani, which dated back some 500-1,000
years younger.
Wat Na Phra That
Wat Na Phra That is located at Ban Takhu
only 4 kilometers from the Pak Thong Chai district office on highway
No. 2238. There is an old chapel in which beautiful mural paintings
of the Early Rattanakosin period can be seen on the walls. The door
of "Ho Trai" or the hall for keeping the scripture is also elaborately
carved.
Prasat Pha Kho
Prasat Pha Kho is located at Tambon Krathok.
From town take highway No. 224 for 29 kms., then take the highway
No. 2071 for 3 kms. Prasat Pha Kho was built in the Bapuan Khmer
style. The complex consists of two buildings with a ditch around
them.
Muang Khorat
Muang Khorat an ancient town of Khmer period,
is located some 32 kilometers southwest of Nakhon Ratchasima on
the way to Amphoe Sung Noen with 3 kilometers right turn at Wat
Yan Sophit Wanaram The ruins comprise Prasat Hin Non ku Prasat Hin
Muang Khaek and Prasat Hin Muang Kao which have been already restored
by the Fine Arts Department.
Muang Sema
Muang Sema is located at Tambon Sema, 4 kilometers
away from Sung Noen Market. It is also the deserted town of oval
shape, 1400 meters wide and 2,000 meters long, surrounded by laterite
wall. A lot of artifacts were found in the excavation. These include
an 11.7 meter long sandstone reclining Buddha Image in Wat Thammachak
Semaram and pieces of ancient sema stones (that mark the sacred
area of a Buddhist temple). It is believed that the town was built
in Dvaravati period.
Wat Ban Rai
Wat Ban Rai is located at Tambon Kut Phiman.
Take Mittraphap Rd. for 60 kms. To Dan Khun Thot, then take highway
No. 2217 for 10 kms. Wat Ban Rai is a famous monastery where Luang
Pho Khun Porisutho, the well know monk live.
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