At the city’s western gate is the Thao Suranari Monument built in memory of Khunying Mo, a woman who successfully defended the city against Laotian invaders in 1826 while her husband, Khorat’s deputy governor, was in Bangkok. Fondly called ‘Ya Mo’ (Grandmother Mo), she was given the title of Thao Suranari (Brave Lady). Built in 1934, the monument shows her standing with one hand on her hip and the other holding a sword pointed down. Locals adorned the base of the tall pedestal, on which she stands, with garlands and offerings daily.

Located in the small town of Phimai on the banks of the Mun River, the Prasat Hin Phimai is one of Thailand’s most extensively restored Khmer temple complexes. Though no certain date can be pinpointed for the temple’s construction, the central sanctuary was completed during the early 11th century. The sanctuary lies on a direct route to the former Khmer capital of Angkor. Unlike other sanctuaries though, it is oriented in a southeasternly direction to face that city. Originally a Brahman shrine, the sanctuary was converted into a Mahayana Buddhist temple at the end of the 12th century. Its lintels and pediments depict scenes from the Ramayana and other Buddhist themes. Though it does not function as a working wat, it is sometimes used as a setting for Buddhist gatherings and celebrations.

Southeast of Khorat is Dan Kwian renowned for its rust-colored pottery made from the local clay with high iron content. The Mon people traveling east from the Burmese border first inhabited the town in the mid-18th century. Nowadays, the town is a collection of small ceramics factories. Shops selling the local pottery (i.e. jewelry, vases, plant pots, and wind chimes) line both sides of the highway at the entrance point to the village.

One of the most striking and innovative, modern temples in this region is Wat Sala Loi (Temple of the Floating Pavilion) located on the banks of the Lam Takhong River. The main wiharn was constructed from local materials and designed in the form of a Chinese junk, garnering it many architectural awards. With the actual site dating back to the time of “Ya Mo’, her ashes are still buried here.

Located in None Soung District, the Ban Prasat Archeological Sites was recently recognized for its excavation discoveries, following in the footsteps of Ban Chiang in Udon Thani, which are housed in onsite museum. Unearthed findings include about 60 human skeletal remains, potteries glazed with red clay, and jewelry.

The district of Pakthongchai is renowned for its high-quality silk fabrics.

Covering an area of 2, 168 sq km, the Khao Yai (Big Mountain) National Park expands over the 4 provinces of Nakhon Ratchasima, Nakhon Nayok, Saraburi, and Prachinburi. Established as Thailand’s first national park, the geography consists of many overlapping mountains, grassy meadows, and dense forests still inhabited by numerous wildlife and containing a handful of spectacular falls.

Khorat’s Maha Weerawong National Museum, located on the grounds of Wat Suthachinda, displays a range of collection from excavated human skeletal remains, Buddha images from the Dvaravati and Ayutthaya eras, ceramics, and wood carvings.

A sandstone image of the Hindu god Vishnu that was originally found at Khmer ruins near the city is now housed in Wat Phra Narai Maharat’s wiharn.

Lum Pra Plerng Dam is a nice relaxing site with rental boats for a scenic viewing trip of the dam’s surroundings, including the Klong Ki Falls.

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