|
Khao Yai
National Park
The park, which covers an area of
2,168 square kilometers in the Phanom Dong Rak mountain range,
stretches over 4 provinces including Nakhon Ratchasima, Nakhon Nayok,
Saraburi, and Prachin Buri. Khao Yai became Thailands first national
park on 18th September 1962 and is also originally recognized as the
National Park Heritage of Asian Group Countries.
The park is comprised of mixed
forests and rainforests with some wide plains and grasslands
interspersed with verdant forests. There are many valuable plants,
including commercial plants, scented plants and herbs. In addition,
there are several mountains with peaks ranging from 800 to 3,000
meters above sea level making Khao Yai a cool climate area, even in
summer.
The most popular time to visit
Khao Yai is during the cool season or from October to February. In the
rainy season, the area is refreshingly green with overflowing
waterfalls, sending echoes all around.
Monument of
Thao Suranari
Thao Suranari Monument is a
memorial to the Thai heroine called ‘Ya Mo’ by locals. Built in 1934,
it is located in the city centre. People from other provinces who
visit Khorat and locals usually come to pay homage here and ask for
blessings. The statue is made of black copper. It is 1.85 metres
high and is dressed in regalia in a standing posture. The right hand
holds a sword and the statue faces west towards the capital of
Bangkok. The monument base holds her ashes.
Thao Suranari was originally Khunying Mo, the wife of the assistant
governor of Nakhon Ratchasima. In 1826, Chao Anuwong of Vientiane had
Khorat under siege but Khunying Mo rallied villagers to fight against
Chao Anuwong. After the battle was over, King Rama III promoted her
to Thao Suranari. Every year during 23 March to 3 April, the people
would hold a festival to honour her bravery.
City Pillar
City Pillar is at the corner of Chom Phon and Prachak roads. This
Chinese-style shrine houses the city pillar that is worshipped by
Thais and Chinese. Built in the reign of King Narai the Great during
1656-1688, the shrine and city pillar are made of wood. The inner
eastern wall is covered with fired clay tiles with raised designs of
the battle of Thao Suranari and the way of life of Thais in ancient
times.
Chang
Phueak Shrine
Chang Phuak Shrine is a small shrine on the northern part of the city
moat at the corner of Manat and Phon Saen roads. It houses a Takhian
Hin tree stump that was where the people of Phu Khiao tied elephants
for inspectors to look at before presenting them to King Rama I for
his transport.
Prang Ku
Prang Ku is in Wat Ban Ku School, Tambon Don Tanin. Take Highway No. 2
for about 74 kilometres, then turn left at the highway police kiosk to
Ban Non Ta Then for around 6 kilometres and turn right to Wat Ban Ku
School. The site is a small Khmer pagoda with a square base, built of
layers of laterite from bottom to top. However, much of it is in
ruins, only part of the low base remains. Inside the pagoda are 4-5
fired clay Buddha images.
Chom Tawan Beach (Hat Chom Tawan)
This is a large beach by the lake, under the office of the 5th Thap
Lan National Park Management Area (Lam Plai Mat) that is responsible
for jungles in the park in Soeng Sang, Khon Buri and Wang Nam Khiao
Districts. A rest area has been developed for the public around the
reservoir and plots of land have been designated for locals to make a
living and reduce the problem of illegal logging. Tourists normally
come to this beach to swim, dine, camp and enjoy the scenery.
Long-tail boats can be hired to go on the reservoir. Trekking to
various spots like Wang Phi Sua (where a lot of butterflies can be
seen in winter), Phra cave, Communist cave and the gigantic Takhian
Thong tree that is believed to be over a thousand years old are also
popular activities. For more information, call (66) 4444-8386.
Prang
Sida
Prang Sida is similar to Prang Ku at Tambon Don Tanin, but this pagoda
is closed on all 4 sides. It was a Brahman religious site, dated from
around the 12th-13th Buddhist centuries, that was constructed entirely
of laterite in the ancient Khmer style with sculpted plaster designs
facing the east and an outer wall surrounding the site. From the
Khorat city, take Highway No. 2 for about 84 kilometers to Sida
intersection and turn right onto Highway No. 202 (to Amphoe Prathai)
for about 1.5 kilometers, then take a left and proceed for about 2
kilometers to the temple.
Chokchai Farm
Location: 169 Mu 2 Thanon
Mittaphap, Amphur Pak Chong, Nakhon Ratchasima 30130. Tel. (66)
4432-8485. Ext. 116, (66) 4432-8386, (66) 4436-1770-4. Head Office
tel. (66) 2532-2846 ext. 135, (66) 2523-9103. Chokchai
Farm is a fully integrated dairy farm perched on a vast stretch of
plains amidst a scenic surrounding. An agro-tourism farm where
visitors can learn about milking, making of fresh milk ice cream,
animal feed plant, and several other activities. Superb tourist
facilities provided. The
farm opens on Saturdays, Sundays and Official holidays. Open on
Tuesdays and Wednesdays for a group visit of at least 30 persons.
There are 3-5 rounds of tours, each taking approximately 3 hours.
page: 1 |
2 | 3
|
Source :Tourism
Authority of Thailand
|
