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| NAKHON RATCHASIMA |
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Nakhon Ratchasima also known as Khorat, is located
250 km from Bangkok and serves as the gateway to the Northeast.
As such, the town has become and important transportation hub;
this is where the roads and train lines from Udon. Ubon and
Bangkok meet. Khorat Province is famous for its pottery and
silk, sold on shops around the town. The main focal pint of
the town is the Suranari memorial shrine. built in honor of
a courageous woman who led locals against a Lao invasion. Here,
one can also see renditions of the traditional Khorat folk song
usually performed by singers hired by those whose wishes have
been granted by Suranari's spirit.
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Just 60 km northeas of Khorat is
Phrasat HIn Phimai, an Angkor period Khmer shrine. The temple,
which predates the Angkor Wat complex in Cambodia, was originally
begun in 10th century when much of northeastern Thailand was
part on the Khmer empire. The Lintels of the main Prang are
particularly impressive and depict scenes from the Ramayana
epic and well as Hindu deities. Other examples of Khmer sculptures
ca be found in Phimai's open-air museum.
Khao Yai National Park, established in 1961, was Thailand's
first national park. With five different vegetation zones. the
park contains some of the most striking scenery in the country.
The natural environment of thickly forested hillsides, rushing
streams, and cascading waterfall provides a a haven for numerous
species of flora and fauna including elephants, bears, tigers,
leopards, and tropical birds. In recognition of its unique natural
character, Khao Yai has recently been declared a World Heritage
Park.
Resorts are popping up all along the perimeter of Khao Yai,
but within the park visitors must camp or stay in Forestry Department
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| BURI RAM |
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Buri Ram, or "City
of Happiness", is a tranquil town about 410 cm from Bangkok,
easily reached by road or by train. Buri Ram Province is little
visited at present, and its many historical sites are probably
on of Thailand's best kept secrets. The province, which was
an important district of the Khmer empire during the Angkor
period, is littered with Khmer ruins. Many of these are little
more than a pile of stones in a field, but there are three
or four very well-preserved Khmer temples.
40 Km south of Buri Ram is Prasat Phanom Rung, a majestic
Khmer temple situated atop an extinct volcano. The complex
houses an extraordinary collection of Khmer sculpture. including
intricate lintels glorifying the Hindu deity Shiva and three
Naga bridges which are the only examples of their kind of
Thailand.
Muang Tam, or "The Lower City", is located 8 km
from Phanom Rung and offers an earlier example of Khmer temple
architecture. Its main features are five brick pagodas surrounded
by laterite-sided ponds with a five-headed Naga at each corner.
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| UDON THANI |
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Udon is
one of the more prosperous provinces in the Northeast. The
bustling town is a transportation hub and a commercial and
agricultural center of northern Isan. Since the opening of
the Thai-Lao friendship bridge at Nong Khai, the city has
had a 15% increase in visitors. 56 km from Udon is the province's
most notable attraction.
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| Ban
Chiang village. According to archaeological discoveries at this
site, the area has been inhabited for 5,000 years. The dig,
which predate any other such discoveries anywhere in the world,
as well as much older pottery. All are on display on site at
the Ban Chiang National Museum established by the Smithsonian
Institute - certainly the best museum in Thailand. |
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