Nakhon Ratchasima Province

Nakhon Ratchasima
นครราชสีมา
Province
Nakhon Ratchasima Province

Statue of Lady Mo in Khorat city centre

Seal
Nickname(s): Khorat

Map of Thailand highlighting Nakhon Ratchasima Province
Country Thailand
Capital Nakhon Ratchasima City
Government
 • Governor Wichian Chanthranothai (since October 2015)
Area
 • Total 20,494 km2 (7,913 sq mi)
Area rank Ranked 1st
Population (2014)
 • Total 2,620,517[1]
 • Rank Ranked 2nd
 • Density rank Ranked 34th
Time zone ICT (UTC+7)
ISO 3166 code TH-30
Website www.nakhonratchasima.go.th

Nakhon Ratchasima (Thai: นครราชสีมา), often called Korat (Thai: โคราช; rtgs: Khorat), is one of the Isan provinces (changwat) of Thailand's northeast corner. It is the country's largest province by area, with a population of about 2.7 million who produce about 250 billion baht in GDP, the highest in Isan.[2] Neighbouring provinces are (clockwise, from north) Chaiyaphum, Khon Kaen, Buriram, Sa Kaeo, Prachinburi, Nakhon Nayok, Saraburi, and Lopburi.

The capital of the province is the city of Nakhon Ratchasima in Mueang Nakhon Ratchasima District, also called Korat or Khorat.

Geography

Khao Yai National Park

The province is at the west end of the Khorat Plateau, separated from the Chao Phraya river valley by the Phetchabun and Dong Phaya Yen mountain ranges. Two national parks are in the province: Khao Yai in the west and Thap Lan in the south. Both parks are in the forested mountains of the Sankamphaeng Range, the southern prolongation of the Dong Phaya Yen mountains

Nakhon Ratchasima is a large province on the northeastern plateau and acts as a gateway to other provinces in the northeast. It is 259 kilometres (161 mi) from Bangkok and has an area of around 20,494 square kilometres (7,913 sq mi). The province is rich in Khmer culture and has a long history.

History

Phimai historical park
Main gate of Khorat

The area around Khorat was already an important centre in the times of the Khmer empire in the 11th century, as can be seen by the temple ruins in Phimai historical park. Nakhon Ratchasima Province is one of the provinces where there is still a sizable northern Khmer population.[3]

A new walled-city with a surrounding moat, designated as Nakhon Ratchasima, was built in the 17th century by order of the King Narai, as the easternmost "command post", guarding the kingdom's border. It continued this duty during the Bangkok Period, although it was briefly seized during Chao Anuwong of Vientiane's 1826 revolt against King Rama III of Siam.

Nakhon Ratchasima has long been the most important political and economic centre in the northeastern region. In the late-19th century, the railroad reached Khorat and it became the junction of two main rail lines in the northeastern, Isan, region. In 1933 it was the stronghold of the royalist troops in the Boworadej Revolt, as they fought against the new ostensibly democratic government in Bangkok. In the 1950s, the Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base was built in Nakhon Ratchasima; from 1961 until 26 February 1976, this facility was also used as a base by the United States Air Force.

Symbols

Thao Suranari Monument

The provincial seal depicts the revered heroine of Khorat, Thao Suranari (Thai: ท้าวสุรนารี).

A monument to Thao Suranari (real name: Khun Ying Mo; 1771–1852) stands in front of the old Pratu Chumpon gate. Also called "The Great Heroine of Khorat", Kun Ying Mo was the wife of the Siamese-appointed deputy governor of Khorat during the reign of King Rama III. In 1826, Khun Ying Mo managed to repel the Laotian army led by Prince Anouvong of Vientiane who tried to reinstate control over the Khorat plateau. King Rama III conferred the title of Thao Suranari on Khun Ying Mo, as well as additional ones honouring her bravery.

The provincial tree is the sa-thorn (Millettia leucantha Kurz)

The provincial motto is "Land of brave women, fine silk material, Khorat rice noodles, Phimai Historical Park, and Dan Kwian ceramics".

Administrative divisions

Downtown Nakhon Ratchasima City
Main gate of Khorat

The province is divided into 32 districts (amphoe). The districts are further subdivided into 263 sub-districts (tambon) and 3,743 villages (muban).

Districts General Information
class Name Area
(km2.) 		Distance to
Provincial Hall
(km.) 		Establish Subdistrict
(Unit) 		Village
(Unit) 		Population.
Male Female Total
Special
Mueang Nakhon Ratchasima
755.596 0 1895 25 243 212,627 221,211 433,838
1
Dan Khun Thot
 1,428.14 84 1908 16 220 62,571 63,347 125,918
1
Bua Yai
 305.028 101 1886 10 121 41,855 42,278 84,133
1
Pak Thong Chai
 1,374.32 34 1910 16 213 56,716 58,950 115,666
1
Phimai
 896.871 60 1900 12 208 64,421 66,024 130,445
1
Sikhio
 1,247.07 45 1955 12 169 60,898 61,163 122,061
1
Pak Chong
 1,825.17 85 1955 12 217 91,146 91,685 182,831
2
Khon Buri
 1,816.85 58 1939 12 152 46,086 47,167 93,253
2
Chakkarat
 501.672 40 1953 8 108 34,441 34,643 69,084
2
Chok Chai
 503.917 30 1905 10 126 37,297 39,223 76,520
2
Non Sung
 676.981 37 1897 16 195 62,639 65,374 128,013
2
Prathai
 600.648 97 1961 13 148 38,622 38,761 77,282
2
Sung Noen
 782.853 36 1901 11 125 38,429 40,181 78,610
2
Huai Thalaeng
 495.175 65 1961 10 120 37,443 37,131 74,574
2
Chum Phuang
 540.567 98 1959 9 130 40,918 41,038 82,161
3
Soeng Sang
 1,200.24 88 1976 6 84 33,733 33,302 67,032
3
Khong
 454.737 79 1938 10 155 40,052 41,076 81,128
3
Non Thai
 541.994 28 1900 10 131 36,126 37,592 73,718
3
Kham Sakaesaeng
 297.769 50 1968 7 72 21,423 21,753 43,176
3
Kaeng Sanam Nang
 107.258 130 1986 5 56 18,782 19,054 37,836
3
Wang Nam Khiao
 1,130.00 70 1992 5 83 20,416 20,503 40,910
4
Ban Lueam
 218.875 85 1976 4 39 10,620 10,732 21,351
4
Nong Bunmak
 590.448 52 1983 9 104 29,424 29,316 58,740
4
Thepharak
 357.465 90 1995 4 58 12,002 11,451 23,453
4
Phra Thong Kham
 359.522 45 1996 5 74 21,260 21,680 42,940
4
Sida
 162.825 85 1997 5 50 12,087 12,133 24,220
4
Bua Lai
 106.893 103 1997 4 45 12,374 12,450 24,824
4
Non Daeng
 193.407 30 1989 5 65 12,597 12,984 25,581
4
Kham Thale So
 203.605 22 1966 5 46 14,091 14,021 28,112
4
Mueang Yang
 255.522 110 1995 4 44 14,321 14,038 28,359
4
Lam Thamenchai
 308.457 120 1996 4 59 16,114 15,953 32,067
4
Chaloem Phra Kiat
 254.093 18 1996 5 61 16,966 17,411 34,377

Economy

Khorat's economy has traditionally been heavily dependent on agriculture. It is known as a processing centre for Isan's production of rice, tapioca, and sugar. The Isan region accounts for half of Thailand's exports of those commodities. Khorat is also one of two sites in Thailand manufacturing disk drives by Seagate Technology, employing 12,100 workers in Khorat.[2][4]

Transport

Nakhon Ratchasima Station

Air

Nakhon Ratchasima has one airport, but it has no scheduled flights. The nearest working airport is in Buriram and has flights to and from Bangkok.

Rail

The railway system in Nakhon Ratchasima is on both northeastern routes from Hua Lampong central terminal. Nakhon Ratchasima Province has eight main railway stations. In 2017, a 60-kilometre dual-track line will connect Khorat to Khon Kaen. It is the first segment of a dual track network that will connect Isan with the Laem Chabang seaport.[2]

Road

Highway 2 (Mittraphap Road) is the main route that connects nine districts in Nakhon Ratchasima including Muang district. This route also connects Nakhon Ratchasima to Saraburi and Khon Kaen Provinces. Hwy 24 links Si Khio District from Hwy 2 to Pak Thongcha, Chok Chai, and Nong Bunnak Districts and to Buriram Province. A new motorway connecting Khorat to Bangkok is under construction in 2016 and will reduce travel time on the 250 kilometre journey to just over two hours.[2]

Education

Universities

There are four universities in the area.

Schools

International schools

Facilities

Hospitals

The Mall Department Store

Communications

Korat cat

Main article: Korat
Korat Cat (si sawat)

(Thai: โคราช, มาเลศ, สีสวาด, rtgs: Khorat, malet, si sawat)

The Korat cat is a natural breed, and one of the oldest stable cat breeds. Originating in Nakhon Ratchasima Province at Phimai,[6] it is named after its province of origin. In Thailand the breed is known as si sawat, meaning "colour of the sawat seed" (bluish-gray). Korat cats are distinguished not only by the colour of their fur. Genuine Korat cats have a heart-shaped face when viewed from any angle and shorter grey hair with silver tips. The true breed's eyes are yellow with an inner green circle. They must be slender and agile. The cat's tail must be slender. Cats with crooked tails are considered inauspicious.[6]

In 1965, Korat cats were first registered in the US by the Korat Cat Fanciers Association. The cats that formed the breed were first imported from Thailand by Jean L. Johnson in 1959. In 1966 the breed was accepted by the Cat Fanciers Association (CFA). The Korat breed is now accepted by cat associations around the world.[6]

The International Maew Boran Association (TIMBA) ("maew boran" means "ancient cat") was formed in Thailand to provide a registry of and pedigrees for Thai cats, including Korats, and to provide a voice in English for Thai breeders as "...Thai breeders...do not speak English, and farang breeders do not speak Thai.".[7][6]

References

  1. ↑ "Population of the Kingdom" (PDF). Department of Provincial Affairs (DOPA) Thailand (in Thai). 2014-12-31. Retrieved 19 Mar 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Janssen, Peter (2 November 2016). "Thailand takes a long-term gamble on Isaan region". Nikkei Asian Review. Retrieved 3 November 2016.
  3. ↑ Thai People In Northeastern Thailand (Isan)
  4. ↑ Temphairojana, Pairat (2015-02-10). "Seagate to invest $470 mln in Thailand over next 5 years". Reuters. Retrieved 3 November 2016.
  5. ↑ "Welcome to WIS". Wesley International School. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Na Thalang, Jeerawat (6 November 2016). "Splitting hairs over cat breeds". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 8 November 2016.
  7. ↑ "Welcome to TIMBA". TIMBA: The International Maew Boran Association. Retrieved 10 November 2016.
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Coordinates: 14°58′20″N 102°6′0″E / 14.97222°N 102.10000°E / 14.97222; 102.10000

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