Located on Thailand's extending northeastern plateau, about 260 km to the northeast of Bangkok, Nakhon Ratchasima is the largest province in the Issan region of the country. It occupies an area of 25,494 square kilometers, almost are plateaus and mountains. It has been known as 'Khorat' and plays a role of the gateway to the lower northeastern region.
Based on the temple ruins in the Phimai historic park, people assume that Nakhon Ratchasima province was an important centre with large Northern Khmer population lived there during the reign of Khmer empire in the 11th century. It was also the most significant center of politics and econimics in the northeastern region. In the late nineteenth century, the railroad reaching Khorat became the transition of two major rail lines in Issan region and in the 1970s, it was a military base of the United States supporting the Vietnam War.
With mountainous terrain, Nakhon offers abundant splendid natural scenery, fascinating traditions and awesome cultural and historical sites such as Thailand’s oldest national park as well as the neweast World Heritage site, Khao Yai; a significent provincial capital of the Angkor Empire, the Khmer temple in Phimai; Thao Suranari Monument, a memorial Thai heroin; Mueng Sema Historical Sites with many laterine and sanstone ruins & artifacts; Wat Thammachak Semaram religious site and Prasat Mueang Khaek santuries, etc. In addition, Khmer ruins are the other main attractions with various popular ones including the well-known statue of Khan Ying Mo, Prasat Non Ku, Prasat Mueang Kao, etc. Nakhon also hosts abundance of beautiful natural attractions in its hills, forests, waterfalls and wildlife that you can access easily as Khao Yai national Park, Phimai Historical Park, nakhon Ratchasima Zoo, etc.
Besides, tourists coming here can join in a number of intersting activities including swimming at the Olympic sized Waterslide Park, bird spotting at Khao Yai, horse racing at the Second Army Area, go carting, mountaing climbing, driving, horse riding and scenery viewing, etc, which surely interest you so much.