Welcome to Nakhon Ratchasima Province, Thailand

Nakhon Ratchasima Province is generally known as Korat.

The Provincial Symbol is The monument of Thao Suranaree, located in central of the City.The provincial slogan features Thao Suranaree, a heroine of the province; fine-quality silk; a local noodle dish; Prasart Hin Pimai, the largest stone palace in the country; Dan Gwien soil, a kind of soil unique for its color and form.

Provincial Background

The settlement of people in the area which is now Nakhon Ratchasima Province started with a pre-historic community at Baan Prasart which was about 3,000 to 2,500 years old. The construction of Pi Mai stone palace in the 16th Buddhist Century as a religious center was also evidence of the civility in the area.

In the Ayudhya era, Nakhon Ratchasima was the only city in the Northeastern part which was named in the Three-Seal Law.

King Narai the Great was the one who moved Nakhon Ratchasima from Soong Nern District to where it is now. In the Thonburi era, Nakhon Ratchasima was the representative of the central government in the Northeastern part of the country.

In the reign of King Rama IV, the Bowring Treaty was signed between Thailand and England. This treaty allowed private traders to do business freely and Nakhon Ratchasima became known for its animal hides, horns, and ivory. The King even once thought of establishing Nakhon Ratchasima as the second capital of the country, but he changed his mind because of water shortages and a lack of transportation.

The construction of railroads during the reign of King Rama V made people in Nakhon Ratchasima feel connected to people in other parts of the country. Nakhon Ratchasima became a province of Thailand in the reign of King Rama VII in 1933.

Location and Area

Nakhon Ratchasima is the largest province in the Northeastern part of Thailand, covering an area of 20,494 square kilometers, or 12-13 percent of the total area of the Northeast. It borders with Chaiyaphum and Khon Kaen Provinces to the North, Buri Ram Province to the east, Nakhon Nayok Province, Prachin Buri Province, and Sa Kaeo Province to the south, and Saraburi and Lop Buri Provinces to the west. It is about 256 kilometers from Bangkok by car.

Topography

There are high mountains on the South western and Southern parts of the province which account for about 21-50% of the total area. Major mountain ranges include the Dong Paya Yen and Sun Kumpang ranges which are sources of major rivers such as Lum Ta Kong, Mool and Lum Praplerng.

There are wave-liked plains on the Southwestern, northern and middle parts of the province, accounting for about 48-50% of the total area of the province. The plains are suitable for growing crops such as tapioca and jutes.

There is a vast plain on the north which accounts for about 30% of the total area of the province. Most of the area in this plain is used for growing rice. There are also settlements on the hilly parts of the plain.

Climate

Seasons: Rainy season -- from May to Mid-October, cold season -- from December to January, and hot season -- from February to May. Average temperature: 26.7 degrees celsius, with the highest average temperature of 32.8 degrees celsius and the lowest average temperature of 21.9 degrees celsius. The highest average temperature in the hot and cold seasons are 36.5 and 16.8 degrees celsius, respectively. Average rainfall: The rain in this area is a result of 3-4 depressions which come from the northeastern side of the province each year. There is not much rain from the southwestern monsoons because the monsoons are obstructed by the mountain ranges and this makes certain districts, including Dan Kun Tod, See Kien, Pak Chong, Puk Thong Chai and Wang Num Kheow, dry rain-shadow areas. Average rainfall is 1,010.5 millimetres, and a relative humidity of 72%.

Population and Religion

2,552,894 (2008 Data), with 1,264,118 males and 1,288,776 females.

Major ethnic groups in the province are the Thai-Korat, Thai-E-sarn Groups. Minor ethnic groups are the Yuan, Chao Bon, Cambodian, Suay, Mon, Chinese and Indian. These people have their own languages, traditions, and way of life. One of the present changes is the shifting from agricultural to industrial professions of the younger generations.

source : http://www.culture.go.th/