✨Korat 2 Days 1 Night Trip: A Journey Through Time from Past to Present✨
Nakhon Ratchasima Province, or Korat, is like the gateway to the Northeast of Thailand. It is a city with outstanding features and diversity in nature, culture, lifestyle, and food.
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Buddy will take friends back to get to know Korat from prehistoric times to the present with a sample 2-day, 1-night travel itinerary. Following this itinerary will definitely help you get to know Korat better.
✨ Buddy invites you to explore Nakhon Ratchasima (Korat) with a 2-day, 1-night trip. This itinerary will take you on a journey to experience the unique blend and diversity of nature, culture, lifestyle, and food that this region has to offer.
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📍 Day 1
Petrified Wood Museum (Thailand Tourism Awards)
The Memorial Monument of Thao Suranaree
Wat Sala Loi
Phanom Wan Sanctuary (Prasat Hin Phanom Wan)
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📍 Day 2
Phimai Historical Park
Phimai National Museum
Sai Ngam
The Petrified Wood Museum, Petrified Wood Research Institute, Ban Khrok Duean Ha.
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Located in Ban Khrok Duean Ha, Mittraphap-Nong Pling Road, Suranari Subdistrict, it is the first museum of its kind in Thailand and one of only seven in the world that exhibits large prehistoric plants dating back approximately 800,000–320 million years.
It is a learning resource for the beginning of the Korat UNESCO Global Geopark, which the UNESCO Executive Board met in Paris, France, on May 17, 2023, with an agenda to consider the recognition of all 18 geoparks worldwide, including the Korat Geopark, as a UNESCO Global Geopark.
The interior exhibits are about the origin of the world, the evolution of living things, and petrified wood.
There is also a museum exhibiting ancient elephants of 8 genera out of the 42 genera found worldwide, including four-tusked elephants, shovel-tusked elephants, and scimitar-tusked elephants (approximately 16-5 million years old), as well as fossils of various other animals such as giant turtles, gavial, and apes (tailless primates with an evolutionary lineage close to humans).
In addition, there is also a petrified wood garden outside the building for visitors to explore.
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The Petrified Wood Museum, Petrified Wood Research Institute, Ban Khrok Duean Ha.
📍 184 Moo 7, Mittraphap - Nong Pling Rd., Ban Khrok Duean Ha, Suranari Subdistrict, Mueang District, Nakhon Ratchasima Province 🕛 Open Tuesday – Sunday, 09.00 a.m. - 03.30 p.m.
📞 0 4437 0739-40
💵 Museum Admission Fees:
- Children (Youth): 50 THB
- Adults : 120 THB
🌐 https://maps.app.goo.gl/fetPko99CWrbpDm67
The Memorial Monument of Thao Suranaree
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Built in 1934 to commemorate the heroic deeds of "Ya Mo," the monument stands on a high base. Above it is a sculpture of Ya Mo in a standing pose, dressed in royal regalia, with her right hand holding a sword pointing downwards. It is cast in blackened copper and faces west towards Bangkok.
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Thao Suranari's original name was Khun Ying Mo. She was the wife of the deputy governor of Nakhon Ratchasima. In 1826, Chao Anouvong of Vientiane led an army to seize Korat and forcibly relocated people, including Khun Ying Mo. Khun Ying Mo devised a plan to help the villagers by delaying the army while waiting for reinforcements. They then fought together until the army was defeated and retreated back to Vientiane. King Nangklao (Rama III) then graciously bestowed upon Khun Ying Mo the title of "Thao Suranari."
Behind the Thao Suranari Monument is the location of Chumphon Gate, a city gate built during the reign of King Narai to defend against enemy invasions. It is characterized by Thai architecture in the Ayutthaya style, with a roof covered in terracotta tiles. Originally, there were 4 city gates, but currently, only Chumphon Gate remains in a complete state.
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The people of Korat believe that if you pass through Chumphon Gate you will have good luck.
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Thao Suranari Monument
📍 Ratchadamnoen Rd., Nai Mueang Subdistrict, Mueang Nakhon Ratchasima District, Nakhon Ratchasima Province
🌐 https://maps.app.goo.gl/R56U4K1DhG9fgZFo7
Wat Sala Loi
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This temple was built around 1827 AD by Thao Suranari and her husband, Phraya Suriyadej, the Secretary of Nakhon Ratchasima.
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The name "Wat Sala Loi" (Floating Pavilion Temple) has its origin in the following story: After defeating Chao Anouvong's army at Thung Samrit, Thao Suranari was leading her troops back to Nakhon Ratchasima. While resting at Tha Tako, she ordered her soldiers to build a raft in the shape of a pavilion and float it down the Lam Takhong River as a divination. She prayed that if the pavilion raft came to rest at any particular spot, she would build a temple there as a memorial. It turned out that the raft floated and became lodged on the right bank of the Lam Takhong, which is the location of the present-day Wat Sala Loi.
Within the temple, there are several interesting places, such as the old ubosot (main hall), the new ubosot, and the chedi (stupa) containing Ya Mo's ashes.
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The old ubosot is a small ubosot with no windows and only one entrance and exit at the front, also known as a "Maha Ut" ubosot. Inside is enshrined a Lan Chang-style Buddha image in the Mara Vichai posture, which Thao Suranari had built as a memorial to her victory over Chao Anouvong.
The new ubosot was built in 1967 AD, designed by Associate Professor Dr. Wirot Srisuro. It is an applied Thai art style, designed in the shape of a junk (sampao boat), and decorated with terracotta tiles, a renowned product from Dan Kwian Subdistrict. This ubosot received the Outstanding Pioneering Religious Building Award from the Association of Siamese Architects under Royal Patronage and an award from the Sathirakoses-Nagapradipa Foundation in 1973 AD.
In front of the old ubosot, there is a chedi containing the ashes of Ya Mo and a replica of the Ya Mo, which is a copy of the actual real one.
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Wat Sala Loi
📍 Soi Thao Sura 3, Nai Mueang Subdistrict, Mueang Nakhon Ratchasima District, Nakhon Ratchasima Province
🌐 https://maps.app.goo.gl/2vWtVW6P2Mp8wKbK6
Phanom Wan Sanctuary (Prasat Hin Phanom Wan)
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Located at Ban Makha, Ban Pho Subdistrict, Mueang Nakhon Ratchasima District, Nakhon Ratchasima Province.
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The location of Prasat Hin Phanom Wan is on a hill higher than the surrounding area. It was built according to the beliefs of Hinduism, specifically the Shaivism sect, which venerates Shiva as the supreme god.
The main prang (Prasat Prathan) is constructed of sandstone, laterite, and brick. The main prang is the most important principal architecture, located at the center of the inner courtyard of the castle, facing east.
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Phanom Wan Sanctuary and its various structures were built according to Khmer architectural style, with construction spanning from the 15th to the 17th Buddhist centuries. Furthermore, evidence of prehistoric community inhabitation from the Bronze Age (3,400 - 2,500 years ago) and the Iron Age (2,500 - 1,500 years ago) has been found in the area prior to the construction of Phanom Wan Sanctuary.
Currently, inside the main prang, there is a Buddha image in the posture of bestowing forgiveness (Abhaya Mudra), which was mostly modified during the Ayutthaya period. This shows that Phanom Wan Sanctuary remains a religious site respected and venerated by the local community.
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Phanom Wan Sanctuary
📍 Ban Makha, Ban Pho Subdistrict, Mueang Nakhon Ratchasima District, Nakhon Ratchasima Province
🕛 Open daily from 08.30 a.m. - 06.00 p.m.
📞 0 4447 1518
💵 Entrance Fee 50 baht
🌐 https://maps.app.goo.gl/ZzUHJW1s9psSjZ65A
Phimai Historical Park, Nakhon Ratchasima Province
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It is a Mahayana Buddhist sanctuary located in the center of Phimai town and is also the largest Khom art religious site in Thailand. It is currently located within the Phimai Historical Park.
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The name "Phimai" likely comes from the word "Vimaya" or "Vimayapura" which appears in Khmer inscriptions on stone slabs at the front door frame of the cloister of the castle, and this name also appears in several other inscriptions.
This castle has a special characteristic, it faces south, unlike other castles that usually face east. It is presumed that this is to align with the route coming from Mueang Phra Nakhon, the capital of the Khom Empire.
Phimai Historical Park
📍 Nai Mueang Subdistrict Phimai District Nakhon Ratchasima Province
🕛 Open daily from 08.30 a.m. - 05.30 p.m.
📞 0 4447 1535
💵 Entrance Fee 100 baht
🌐 https://maps.app.goo.gl/ZkjtDkTfzV4sW3pz9
Phimai National Museum
Located on Tha Songkran Road, at the foot of Tha Songkran Bridge, on the banks of the Mun River, Nai Mueang Subdistrict, Phimai District, Nakhon Ratchasima Province. It is approximately 300 meters northeast of Phimai Castle and 5 kilometers from Mueang Nakhon Ratchasima District.
This museum began as an open-air museum under the supervision of the Archaeology Division of the Fine Arts Department to preserve and display artifacts unearthed during the restoration of Phimai Castle, along with artifacts collected from various provinces in the northeastern region.
Currently, Phimai National Museum is a center for collecting historical and archaeological knowledge by gathering evidence of artifacts and works of art, displaying stories about the foundations and development of Isan culture in the past that flourished in the lower Isan area along the Mun and Chi Rivers in Nakhon Ratchasima, Chaiyaphum, and Buriram Provinces, from prehistoric times, approximately 3,100 years ago, to the present.
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Phimai National Museum
📍 Tha Songkran Road, Nai Mueang Subdistrict, Phimai District, Nakhon Ratchasima Province
🕛 Open Wednesday-Sunday, 09.00 a.m. - 04.00 p.m. Closed on Monday, Tuesday, and public holidays.
📞 0 4447 1167
💵 Entrance Fee 100 baht
🌐 https://maps.app.goo.gl/kMgXcDEg2ymMv3A16
Sai Ngam
It is located on the banks of the Mun River, at the Phimai Dam. Before crossing the Tha Songkran Bridge into Phimai town, there is a junction leading to Phimai Dam for approximately 2 kilometers.
This area is covered by a perennial plant with the local name "Sai Yoi". Studies have found that this beautiful banyan tree has grown and spread its branches, providing shade for over 350 years. Sai Ngam began to be known and famous since Her Majesty Queen Sri Bajarindra, in the reign of King Rama V, visited Phimai on January 21, 1911, and bestowed the name "Sai Ngam" upon this tourist attraction.
Sai Ngam
📍 Sai Ngam Sai Ngam Village, Chonprathan Road, Nai Mueang Subdistrict, Phimai District, Nakhon Ratchasima Province
🌐 https://maps.app.goo.gl/VJ3ErtaBRN9PmJ8d7
