Nakhon Ratchasima

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This article is about the city Nakhon Ratchasima. For other uses, see Nakhon Ratchasima (disambiguation).
For the cat breed originating from this city, see Korat.
City of Nakhon Ratchasima
เทศบาลนครนครราชสีมา
Korat City
Aerial view of the city
Nickname(s): Khorat / Korat
City of Nakhon Ratchasima is located in Thailand
City of Nakhon Ratchasima
Coordinates: 14°58′50″N 102°6′00″E / 14.98056°N 102.1°E / 14.98056; 102.1
Country Thailand Thailand
District Mueang Nakhon Ratchasima
Province Nakhon Ratchasima
- Settled AD.1656 (Ayutthaya Period)
- as Sanitary districts January 3, 1908
- as Municipality December 7, 1935
Government
 • Type City Municipality
 • Mayor Surawuth Cherdchai
 • Municipal Clerk Arlom Tangtaku
Area
 • City 37.5 km2 (14.5 sq mi)
 • Land 37.4 km2 (14.45 sq mi)
 • Metro 767.98 km2 (296.52 sq mi)
Population (2011)
 • City 166,217
 • Density 4,432.45/km2 (11,480.0/sq mi)
 • Metro 444,023
 • Metro density 578.17/km2 (1,497.5/sq mi)
 • Demonym Korat
Time zone Thailand (UTC+7)
Area code(s) 044

Nakhon Ratchasima (Thai: นครราชสีมา, pronounced [náʔkʰɔːn râːt.tɕʰa.sǐː.maː]) or (Khmer: Nokor Reach Seyma) is a city (thesaban nakhon) in the northeast (Isan) of Thailand and gateway to Isan. It is the capital of the Nakhon Ratchasima Province and Nakhon Ratchasima district. As of August 16, 2010,[1] the municipal area has a population of 142,645.

The city is also commonly known as Korat (RTGS Khorat, โคราช), a short version of the full name. It is located at the western edge of the Khorat Plateau and historically marked the boundary between the Lao and Siamese territory, however now is considered a gateway to the Northeast (Isan). Its geographical location is 14°58.5′N 102°6′E / 14.975°N 102.1°E / 14.975; 102.1Coordinates: 14°58.5′N 102°6′E / 14.975°N 102.1°E / 14.975; 102.1.

Nakhon Ratchasima is also the center of the Nakhon Ratchasima Metropolitan Area.

Contents

[edit] History

Archeological evidence suggests that there were two ancient towns that later became named Sema and Nakhon Raj which currently are in Sung Noen district, 32 km west of present-day Nakhonratchasima (Korat). Nakhon means capital, Raj means kingdom or state in Hindi languages. See also Bai Sema.

Prior to the fourteenth century, the area of Nakhon Ratchasima was under the Khmer empire suzerainty (known in Khmer as Nokor Reach Seyma / Nokor Reach Borei, and Koreach) while another town to the north, Phimai, was likely more important.

Narai, king of the Ayutthaya from 1656 to 1688, ordered a new city built, to serve as a stronghold on Ayutthaya's northeastern frontier. Nakhon Ratchasima was subsequently mentioned in Siamese chronicles and legal documents as a 'second - class' city of the kingdom. A governor was named who ruled the city as a dynasty.

In the aftermath of the final phase of the Ayutthaya kingdom that had ended with its complete destruction by the Burmese in 1767, Prince Theppipit, a son of King Boromakot, attempted to set himself up the ruler of Phimai holding sway over Korat and other eastern provinces. King Taksin of the successor Thonburi Kingdom (1768–1782) sent two of his generals, the brothers Thong Duang and Boonma to defeat the prince, who was then executed in 1768. Thong Duang became King Rama I of the kingdom in 1782, and Korat became his strategic stronghold on the northeastern frontier supervising Lao and Khmer tributary states.

Statue of Lady Mo in Khorat city centre.

In 1826, Vientiane King Chao Anouvong perceived Siam as weakened, and attacked Korat in the Laotian Rebellion against King Rama III that was to rage on for two years.[2] Lady Mo, the wife of the deputy governor at the time, is credited with having freed the city from Anouvong's army, and has been honored with a statue in the center of downtown Korat. The old, walled town east of the monument was designed and built by a French engineer who is believed to be the one who also built Naraimaharaj Palace in Lopburi. The French-based design is reflected in the moat system that surrounds the innermost portion of the city.

Nakhon Ratchasima continued to be an important political and economic center in the northeastern region under the Monthon administrative reforms of the late nineteenth century. In November 1900, the Royal State Railways of Siam began operation of the Nakhon Ratchasima Line from Bangkok with Korat Station as its terminus. The Ubon Ratchathani Line to the town of Warin opened 1 November 1922. The Thanon Chira Junction to Khon Kaen opened on 1 April 1933. Korat station was changed to Nakhon Ratchasima Railway Station in 1934.

In October 1933, after the Siamese revolution of 1932 had ended the absolute monarchy, the city became the headquarters of the Boworadet Rebellion, an abortive uprising against the new government in Bangkok.

In April 1981 during another attempted coup, the government, together with the royal family, took refuge in Korat.

From 1962 - 1976, Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base was host to components of the Royal Thai Air Force, the United States Air Force, and a complement of the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF). After the US withdrawal in 1976, the Thai Air Force assumed full control. During the 1980s and early 1990s, the airfield was jointly operated as a civil airport for Nakhon Ratchasima. This was ended with the opening of Nakhon Ratchasima Airport in the early 1990s.

Korat City Panorama view from Fort Suranaree Hospital

[edit] Transportation

Nakhon Ratchasima is connected with the northeastern railway line, connecting Bangkok with Ubon Ratchathani and Nong Khai. Also passing the city is Mittraphap Road (Thailand Route 2). 26 km east of the city is the Nakhon Ratchasima Airport.

As of 30 November 2006, the airport does not handle passenger traffic, and shipping has not been seen as a major commercial possibility. Passenger service has been attempted many times with financial failure (charges were as low as 99 baht to fly to Bangkok), authorities are still discussing ways to make the over 400 million baht investment several years ago a paying venture.

Commencing August 19, 2010, Happy Air (HPY) plans to fly from Nakhon Ratchasima to Chiang Mai and Bangkok with the 33-seat Swedish built Saab 340.

[edit] Major Points of Interest

Korat has becoming increasingly attractive to foreigners over the last five years, with growing numbers from mostly North America and Europe moving to the province. Still rustic, with cheap housing and land prices, the province is located only three hours' drive from Bangkok, (by bus or train) and as its Gateway to the Northeast moniker suggests, Korat connects the other 18 NE Thailand provinces with the central region by rail and highway.

[edit] Weather

There are generally three seasons in the region: Hot (February - May), Rainy (May - October), Cold (October - February). In the cold season, temperatures in Korat proper will drop to about 60 degrees F, and in rural areas, down to the low fifties.

Climate data for Nakhon Ratchasima
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 30.9
(87.6)		 33.6
(92.5)		 35.8
(96.4)		 36.6
(97.9)		 35.1
(95.2)		 34.4
(93.9)		 33.9
(93.0)		 33.2
(91.8)		 32.2
(90.0)		 30.9
(87.6)		 29.7
(85.5)		 29.1
(84.4)		 33.0
(91.4)
Average low °C (°F) 17.9
(64.2)		 20.5
(68.9)		 22.8
(73.0)		 24.5
(76.1)		 24.7
(76.5)		 24.8
(76.6)		 24.3
(75.7)		 24.2
(75.6)		 23.7
(74.7)		 22.9
(73.2)		 20.5
(68.9)		 17.6
(63.7)		 22.4
(72.3)
Precipitation mm (inches) 5.9
(0.232)		 17.8
(0.701)		 37.1
(1.461)		 63.5
(2.5)		 140.5
(5.531)		 108.3
(4.264)		 113.7
(4.476)		 146.2
(5.756)		 221.6
(8.724)		 143.4
(5.646)		 27.3
(1.075)		 18.3
(0.72)		 1,044.0
(41.102)
Source: World Weather Information Service [4]

[edit] Education

[edit] Universities

There are 4 universities in the area.

[edit] Schools

[edit] Elementary Schools

  • Ruammit School
  • Sukhanaree School
  • Anuban Nakhonratchasima School
  • Wat Sakaew School
  • Muang Nakhonratchasima School

[edit] High Schools

[edit] Facilities

[edit] Hospitals

  • Fort Suranaree Hospital
  • Saint Mary's Hospital
  • Korat Memorial Hospital
  • Bangkok-Ratchasima Hospital
  • Po-Pat Hospital
  • Maharat Nakhon Ratchasima Hospital
  • The Golden Gate Hospital

[edit] Hotels

  • Best Hotel
  • Sima-Thani Hotel
  • Dusit Princess Korat Hotel
  • Raya Grand Hotel
  • City Park Hotel [1]
  • Rachaphruk Grand Hotel
  • Hermitage Hotel
  • Sri Pattana Hotel
  • Panjadara Hotel

[2]

[edit] Shopping Center & Department Store

[edit] Local media

[edit] Newspapers

  • The Korat Daily. Thai language.
  • The Korat Post. English-language monthly.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Department of Provincial Administration, Ministry of Interior, Royal Thai Government. As of August 16, 2010
  2. ^ Chandler, David P.; Roff, William R.; Smail, John R.W.; Steinberg, David Joel; Taylor, Robert H.; Woodside, Alexander & Wyatt, David K. (1987) [1971] "13 Siam, 1767–1868" in David, Steinberg In search of Southeast Asia (Revised ed.) Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press pp. 113–117 ISBN 0-8248-1110-0 OCLC 500095794 Lay summary (Jan 08, 2008) 
  3. ^ http://stuckinthailand.com/korat/trip-to-the-zoo-in-korat
  4. ^ "World Weather Information Service - Nakhon Ratchasima". http://www.worldweather.org/089/c00573.htm. Retrieved 2008-09-02. 

[edit] External links

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