Nakhon Ratchasima

About

Nakhon Ratchasima, more commonly known as Korat, was founded in the late seventeenth century by King Narai to defend the Ayutthaya Kingdom's border from Laotian or Khmer attack. In 1826, local heroine Thao Suranaree reclaimed the city from King Anouvong's Laotian forces, an act for which she’s still revered - her statue in the centre of the city is the single most visited landmark. Nearby is Wat Sala Loi, a temple constructed by Thao and her husband, where a statue of the war heroine stands along clay representations of the life of Buddha, and her ashes are interred. In the old quarter, you’ll be able to see the original defensive moats and fortified gates, as well as a wealth of Chinese shrines and old shophouses. As the gateway to Isaan, Korat has a distinctive cuisine blending central and northern flavors, such as som tam Khorat, a Lao/Isaan-style fermented fish on green papaya salad.