Nakhon Ratchasima (Thai: นครราชสีมา, IPA: [naˡkʰon ˡraːtʃasiːˈmaː]) is a city (thesaban nakhon) in the north-east (Isan) of Thailand and gateway to Isan. It is the capital of the Nakhon Ratchasima Province and Nakhon Ratchasima district. As of 2008[1], in the municipal area has a population of 2,565,117.

History

Archeological evidence has discovered that there were two ancient towns that later became named Sema and Nakhon Raj which currently are in Sung Noen district, 32 km west of present-day Nakhonratchasima (Khorat). The province was once part of the Khmer empire (known in Khmer as Nokor Reach Seyma/Nokor Reach Borei and Koreach). From 1656-1688 King Narai of Ayutthaya Kingdom ordered Khorat to be built to guard Ayutthaya eastern frontier.

From the beginning of Bangkok period, Nakhon Ratchasima became the kingdom's biggest northeastern stronghold, supervising the Kingdom's Laotian and Khmer 'vassals'.

The city was attacked by Anouvong, the King of Vientiane, in 1826 in an attempt to halt growing Siamese control of Laos. A prominent legendary figure at this time wasThao Suranaree a local heroine who has been honored with a statue in the center of downtown Korat; she is credited with having saved the city from Anouvong's army.

The old town of Khorat east of the Thao Suranaree monument was designed and built by a French engineer who is believed to be the same one who built Naraimaharaj Palace in Lopburi.The French-based design is reflected in the city's moat system that surrounds the innermost of the city [it was designed before the invention of the car, and is a 'rolling traffic jam'].

Nakhon Ratchasima continued to be the important, political and economic center in the northeastern region even after the administrative reform in the late nineteenth century

Transportation

Nakhon Ratchasima is connected with the northeastern railway line, connecting Bangkok with Ubon Ratchathani and Nong Khai. Also passing the city is Mittraphap Road (Thailand Route 2). 26 km east of the city is the Nakhon Ratchasima Airport.

As of 30 November 2006, the airport does not handle passenger traffic, and shipping has not been seen as a major commercial possibility. Passenger service has been attempted many times with financial failure (charges were as low as 99 baht to fly to Bangkok), authorities are still discussing ways to make the over 400 million baht investment several years ago a paying venture.

Major Points of Interest

• Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base was used by the United States Air Force during the Vietnam War. It is located some 8km south of the city.
• Korat Zoo - The zoo is first-class and worth the visit (by personal account). Admission fee: 50B for Thais, 100B for foreign tourists. The zoo is located about 13km south of the city of Nakhon Ratchasima on highway 304 and the new water park korat is in around the northeast.
• Thao Suranaree Monument - This is currently under major renovation. Lady Mo statue itself is in place, and vendors providing flowers and incense, etc., are currently nearby in makeshift stalls.
• Wat Salaloi
• His Majesty the King's 80th Birthday Anniversary, 5th December 2007 Sports Complex is a multi-use stadium in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand, that is currently under construction. Completed in 2007, it will mainly be used mostly for football matches and hosted the opening and closing ceremonies for the 2007 Southeast Asian Games. The stadium holds 20,000 people.

Korat has becoming increasingly attractive to foreigners over the last five years, with growing numbers from mostly North America and Europe moving to the province. Still rustic, with cheap housing and land prices, the province is located only three hours' drive from Bangkok, (by bus or train) and as its Gateway to the Northeast moniker suggests, Korat connects the other 18 NE Thailand provinces with the central region by rail and highway.