Maha Viravong National Museum

Nakhon Ratchasima (Khorat)


Though the collection at this seldom-visited museum is very small, it's very good. There's prehistoric pottery (don't miss sneaking a peek at what's stored in the back), Khmer bronze statues and a variety of Buddha images spanning the Dvaravati to Rattanakosin eras.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Nakhon Ratchasima (Khorat) attractions

1. Thao Suranari Monument

0.21 MILES

Thao Suranari, wife of the assistant governor during Rama III's reign, is something of a Wonder Woman in these parts. Ya Mo (Grandma Mo), as she’s…

2. Chumphon Gate

0.21 MILES

The city's only original gate left standing. It was a part of the city walls erected in 1656 by French technicians on the orders of King Narai (Ayuthaya)…

3. Suranari Hall

0.34 MILES

This little white building is a sort of museum to local heroine Thao Suranari, with a cool diorama and an even cooler sculpted mural of the famous battle…

4. Wat Phayap

0.48 MILES

When the abbot of Wat Phayap learned that blasting for a quarry in Saraburi Province was destroying a beautiful cave, he rescued pieces of it and…

5. Pratu Chainarong

0.59 MILES

An ornamental city gate built in the location of the original southern gate.

6. San Jao Lak Meuang

0.6 MILES

Khorat's city pillar shrine is pretty ordinary, but it has a large Dan Kwian (a nearby pottery village) ceramic mural on the wall beside it. It shows…

7. Chang Phueak Shrine

0.66 MILES

The wooden pillar at the centre of this small shrine was once used for tying up sacred 'white' elephants that passed though Khorat on their way to be…

8. Wat Phra Narai Maharat

0.69 MILES

This large temple is of interest primarily for three holy Khmer sandstone sculptures that were unearthed here – Vishnu (Phra Narai in Thai) is the holiest…