Getty Images

Nakhon Ratchasima (Khorat)

Nakhorn Ratchasima is a big, busy city with little in the way of major sights, but one that for many travelers serves as the gateway to Isan. Khorat (โคราช), as most people call the city, has a strong sense of regional identity (people call themselves kon koh·râht instead of kon ee·săhn) and is at its best in its quieter nooks, such as inside the eastern side of the historic moat, where local life goes on in a fairly traditional way and you are more likely to run into a metre-long monitor lizard than another traveler.

Explore Nakhon Ratchasima (Khorat)

T
Thao Suranari Monument
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…
W
Wat Salaloi
The city's most interesting temple was said to be founded by local heroine Thao Suranari and her husband in 1827. Half of her ashes are interred in a…
M
Maha Viravong National Museum
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…
S
Save One Market
An enormous market that's almost a city unto itself, 'safe wan' doesn't just stand out for its size, it offers more than just the usual Thai market tat…
W
Wat Phayap
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…
W
Wat Phra Narai Maharat
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…
S
Suranari Hall
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…
S
San Jao Lak Meuang
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…
C
Chumphon Gate
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)…

T
Thao Suranari Monument
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…
W
Wat Salaloi
The city's most interesting temple was said to be founded by local heroine Thao Suranari and her husband in 1827. Half of her ashes are interred in a…
M
Maha Viravong National Museum
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…
S
Save One Market
An enormous market that's almost a city unto itself, 'safe wan' doesn't just stand out for its size, it offers more than just the usual Thai market tat…
W
Wat Phayap
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…
W
Wat Phra Narai Maharat
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…
S
Suranari Hall
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…
S
San Jao Lak Meuang
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…
C
Chumphon Gate
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)…

Top attractions

These are our favorite local haunts, touristy spots, and hidden gems throughout Nakhon Ratchasima (Khorat).

See
Thao Suranari Monument
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…
See
Wat Salaloi
The city's most interesting temple was said to be founded by local heroine Thao Suranari and her husband in 1827. Half of her ashes are interred in a…
See
Maha Viravong National Museum
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…
See
Save One Market
An enormous market that's almost a city unto itself, 'safe wan' doesn't just stand out for its size, it offers more than just the usual Thai market tat…
See
Wat Phayap
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…
See
Wat Phra Narai Maharat
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…
See
Suranari Hall
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…
See
San Jao Lak Meuang
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…
See
Chumphon Gate
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)…

Guidebooks

Learn more about Nakhon Ratchasima (Khorat)

Uncover the heart of travel and be inspired to see new sights with one of Lonely Planet’s in-depth, award-winning guidebooks.