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Nakhon Ratchasima
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Historical sites AND
Museums
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 neighbouring 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
metres 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.
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 travelling on for 5 kilometers. This
riligious 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 lenght 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.
MAHA WEERAWONG 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
Budha images, different sizes ceramics and wood carvings from ancient
monasteries. It is opened every day except Mondays, Tuesdays and
official holidays.
WAT PA SALAWAN
Wat Pa Salawan is located behind Nakhon Ratchasima Railway Station.
This monastery houses the ralics 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
commemmorate 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 notheast 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. |
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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 Brahmanic
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 magnificiently restored and renovated.
The ruins of the facinating 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. These are punetuated by gatetowers (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 Southen gallery describing the
name of King Dharanidharavoraman I (1107-1113). These inscriptions of
different periods also coinsides 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 everday 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 turing right along the highway No. 207 for 22 kms. To
Ban Nang Ram and finally turining left with travelling 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 leterite 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 earthern
Buddha image.
PRANG SIDA
Prang Sida another Khmer ruin, is located at Tambon Sida, about 90 kms.
From Nakhon Ratchasima. |
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ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE 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 beleived 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 dapth 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 wellknow monk live. |
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NATURAL BEAUTY
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 impotant 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 resorvoir.
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 throuugh
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
interwovenn 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 rais. It will be completely built in 1998. There
are lot of About wildlife animals; for example, bison, hog deer, and
animal of the antler kind, wild gibbon, languar, snake, wild cat, etc.
Moreover, there are variety of different species of birds; for
example, classowari 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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Information
provided by T.A.T
(Tourism Autority of Thailand) |
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