Nakhon Ratchasima which is also known as Korat, the city is located around 259 km from Bangkok. The city is the capital city of the Nakhon Ratchasima Province and is the sixth biggest city in Thailand. It is considered one of the four major cities of Isan in Thailand which are also known as the “Big 4 of Isan”. It acts as a major gateway to Isan, what are the things to do in Nakhon Ratchasima?
Nakhon Ratchasima is less visited by tourists, especially compared to other places around Thailand. In Nakhon Ratchasima, you can visit the Khao Yai national park. There are a number of temples and historical sites that are worth visiting such as Wat Phayap temple or Korat City gates. And you can enjoy eating the local Thai food at one of the many restaurants around the city.
In this post, we will go through things to do in Nakhon Ratchasima Thailand. Let’s get started!
Read more on Thailand
- How Much Does A Beer Cost In Thailand?
- Reasons Not To Visit Thailand
- Things To Do In Ranong Thailand
- What Are The Best Party Islands In Thailand?
- Does It Snow In Thailand?
- Things To Do In Hat Yai Thailand
- Should I Exchange Money Before I Travel To Thailand?
- Is there Uber In Phuket Thailand?
The Best Time To Travel To Nakhon Ratchasima Thailand
Nakhon Ratchasima has an average temperature of between 27°C to 33°C all year round. The monsoon season runs from May to October, with heavy showers.
The best time to visit Nakhon Ratchasima is between November and February for the cooler weather.
Things To Do In Nakhon Ratchasima Thailand
Nakhon Ratchasima is a city located in the province of Nakhon Ratchasima north of Bangkok. It acts as a major gateway to the Isan region, it is not commonly visited by tourists. There are fun things to do in Nakhon Ratchasima that will keep you busy for a few days.
Here is our list of things to do in Nakhon Ratchasima Thailand.
Explore Khao Yai National Park
Khao Yai National Park is the third biggest national park in Thailand. You can go on the hiking trails, see the jungle and the waterfalls. It is home to thousands of different plant species along with hundreds of bird species.
Some of the animals that call this home include elephants, bears, lizards, a crocodile, a scorpion, gibbons, and bird species. Definitely, a must-do if you are a nature lover and outdoor enthusiast.
There is an entry fee, for Thais, it costs 40 baht, and for foreigners pay 400 baht.
Visit Nakhon Ratchasima Zoo
This zoo is well maintained has many animals and has a good little waterpark. Plus, some great little rides for the kids. The zoo covers a massive area with animals from all over the world.
Animals you will see are lions, leopards, rhinoceros, elephants, buffalos, lizards, camels, and also marine life.
You can rent a golf cart or hire a buggy to get around, especially with children which makes life easier. Especially, if it was far too hot to walk around.
See Wat Phayap Temple
Wat Phayap Temple is located at the corner of the old city and it is a short walk from the Ya Mo statue. You will get to see a cave temple within the temple compound itself.
The cave is really a man-made structure and the stalactites are also man-made. I strongly recommend visiting it.
Visit Phimai Historical Park
The Phimai Historical Park is one of the largest Khmer temples from the 12th Century in Thailand. The complex is quite extensive with bridges and a Khmer prang looming over the surroundings.
A tiny miniature of Angkor consists of two temple buildings, one huge outer terrace and one inner terrace, surrounding corridors, and one small museum. Well maintained, located in the center of the town.
The entry fee is 20 baht for Thais and 100 baht for everyone else.
See The Lam Takhong Dam
The Lam Takhong Dam is an embankment dam on the Lam Takhong River between Pak Chona and Sikhio Districts in Korat Thailand. Lam Takhong Dam is a water reservoir located on Tambon Lat Bua Khao about 62 km away from the city.
Built-in 1974 and commissioned by the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand, it is around 40 meters deep with its primary goal of irrigation.
It has beautiful scenery with visitors being allowed to walk on the dam to enjoy the view of the reservoir with the fantastic background of mountains. There is a beautiful viewpoint of Lamtakong Dam.
See Korat City Gates
Most cities in Thailand once had defensive walls and the old city of Khorat used to be surrounded by walls. With the main purpose of protecting the kingdom’s borders from invaders.
Today only one of the four gates that used to lead into the old town is still in its original state, while the others have been renovated and restructured.
Old tales will tell you that any foreigner walking through these gates ends up staying in Korat for extended periods of time.
Experience The Korat Horse Racing Club
Located near Suranaree Army Region 2 from the west of the city. There is horse racing where you can watch racing and put your money on the outcome. You will see the horses warming up as some are fully sweating and can barely walk before they make it to the gates.
Great to spend a few hours enjoying good food, some drinks, and gambling. The stadium is very standard and nothing fancy.
Visit The Thao Suranaree Monument
The statue of Thao Suranaree stands in the center of town. Loved and honored for saving Nakhon Ratchasima from invaders.
Crowds gather at all hours of the day offering flowers, incense, gold leaf, and oil for lamps to be kept lit all the time. They pray or plead for success in what they are persuading like students asking her for better results.
The monument is certainly worth visiting for a photo opportunity and is found in Korat near the Chumphon Gate.
USEFUL TRAVEL RESOURCES
Book Accommodation
Booking.com has a large range of properties from hotels, hostels, guesthouses, and resorts where you will find the best deals. Airbnb and Hostelworld also have a good range of places to stay at good prices.
Booking Flight
Skyscanner is a flight search comparison website that searches millions of flights all at once. Ultimately it is the best flight comparison website online at the moment.
Booking Transportation & Things To Do
Rome2rio and 12Go are useful to plan how to get anywhere by searching train, bus, car, and ferry routes. Especially useful in countries like Vietnam or Thailand. While Klook is great for exploring things to do in each place.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is cheap and more than likely you will never need to use it but you will have peace of mind if something does happen, you are covered in case of an emergency. World Nomads have great customer service and competitive prices.
Check out our resource page for the best companies to use when you travel.
Wrapping Up
Finally, in Nakhon Ratchasima, you can visit the Khao Yai national park. Also, there are a number of temples and historical sites that are worth visiting such as Wat Phayap temple or Korat City gates. As well as you can enjoy eating local Thai food at one of the many restaurants around the city.
And that’s it for now! I’d love to know if this guide on the things to do in Nakhon Ratchasima Thailand has helped you. Let me know if you have any questions and let me know if there is more to add.
Did you enjoy this post? Then don’t forget to pin it!
