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Thailand - Korat 1 (Nakhon Ratchasima)


Photo Gallery of Korat or Khorat (Nakhon Ratchasima) in Thailand.

The statue " Thao Suranaree " (or Thao Suranari) stands around the center of the city.
(The picture: Scenery around the statue.)

Korat is the gateway to Issan (Northeast area of Thailand) and the biggest city in the northeast. It's located about 250 km northeast of Bangkok and is dotted with ruins such as Phimai in Khmer or Ayuttaya period. Recently, it has industrialized and there are a lot of Japanese resident officers.

A lot of ancient remains were found and you'll see them at "Khao Chan Ngam Cave" and "Ban Prasat Archaeological Site".

In the center of the city, the statue of Thao Suranaree (Ya Mo) stands which people are proud of, worship, and is a landmark of the city.




[Korat] Thao Suranaree (Ya Mo)

Talking about Korat, this statue comes first. The statue " Thao Suranaree " (or Thao Suranari) stands around the center of the city.
(The picture: Scenery around the statue.)

The statue " Thao Suranaree " (or Thao Suranari) stands around the center of the city.
(The picture: Scenery around the statue.)
  • Thao Suranaree (Khun Ying Mo or Ya Mo or Yammo)
    It was in 1827 under the reign of Rama III.

    While major officials were away to Bangkok on business, the Prince Anouvong or Thao Suranarihort Prince Anu of Vientiane (Laos), rebelled against Siam (Thailand) and attacked Korat attempting to head off the growing Siamese control against his country.

    Then, Mo, a wife of the Deputy Governor of Khorat, used her wit and arranged her women to use their feminine charm in encouraging the troops to get drunk, and Thai troops fought off the Lao soldiers. King Rama III praised her bravery and honored her as Thao Suranaree.

The statue was built in 1934, and Thao Suranaree is now revered by all people in Thailand, especially people in the northeast. They think themselves as her grandchildren and call her "Ya Mo" ("Ya" means "Grandmother) in Thai with love and respect as a guardian deity of the city.

Every year from the end of March to the beginning of April, Thao Suranari Fair is held in her honor.
(Thao Suranaree is called " Jeanne d'Arc in Thailand ". I guess likening her to Jeanne d'Arc is only in Japan, though...)

By the way, it looks that the Prince Anouvong is a hero in Laos as the only king who challenged Siam (Thailand) to a frontal fight.
Ya Mo 1
(The statue of Thao Suranaree. People are praying.)
Ya Mo 2
(Close-up of the statue of Thao Suranaree.)
Ya Mo 3
(People are sitting and praying in front of the statue.)
Ya Mo 4
(This might be another statue of "Thao Suranaree".
It is under the big statue with gold leaves on.)
Ya Mo 1
(The statue of Thao Suranaree.
People are praying.)
Ya Mo 2
(Close-up of the statue of Thao Suranaree.)
Ya Mo 3
(People are sitting and praying in front of the statue.)
Ya Mo 4
(This might be another statue of "Thao Suranaree".
It is under the big statue with gold leaves on.)
Ya Mo 5
(There is a gate behind the statue.
Some believe that if you go through this gate, you can come back here and live. Really ? :D )
Ya Mo 6
(Scenery of the street in front of the statue. Various things are sold.)
Ya Mo 7
(This is also the scenery of the street. Rolls of Thai silk are sold. I bought 2 rolls for my family. :D )
Ya Mo 8
(Another gate near the statue. Nothing special to say, though. :D )
Ya Mo 5
(There is a gate behind the statue.
Some believe that if you go through this gate, you can come back here and live. Really ? :D )
Ya Mo 6
(Scenery of the street in front of the statue.
Various things are sold.)
Ya Mo 7
(This is also the scenery of the street. Rolls of Thai silk are sold. I bought 2 rolls for my family. :D )
Ya Mo 8
(Another gate near the statue.
Nothing special to say, though. :D )

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[Korat] Khao Chan Ngam Cave

Khao Chan Ngam Cave is about 50 km away from Korat city.
It has a Rock Art (so called pictograph) about 3,000 years ago, founded in 1938.
Khao Chan Ngam Cave is about 50 km away from Korat city.
It has a Rock Art (so called pictograph) about 3,000 years ago, founded in 1938.

Like the picture, the place is up in the mountain.
(I visited here on the way to Korat. :) )
Khao Chan Ngam 1
(After walking up in the mountain, there is Buddha statues.)
Khao Chan Ngam 2
(There is a rock art above the Buddha statue.)
Khao Chan Ngam 3
(The picture is a little blur but this is a close-up.
Human beings and animals, and the person left has an arrow and bow.
From an explanation board here, 32 of men, women and kids are painted.)
Khao Chan Ngam 1
(After walking up in the mountain, there is Buddha statues.)
Khao Chan Ngam 2
(There is a rock art above the Buddha statue.)
Khao Chan Ngam 3
(The picture is a little blur but this is a close-up.
Human beings and animals, and the person left has an arrow and bow.
From an explanation board here, 32 of men, women and kids are painted.)
Khao Chan Ngam 4
(Looks like something else is up there, but I didn't check it. :D )
Khao Chan Ngam 5
(Looks like something else is up there, but I didn't check it. :D )
Khao Chan Ngam 6
(Notice board around the entrance.
It says like, Take off your cap, don't smoke here and so on.)
Khao Chan Ngam 7
(Rama V ? On the way to the rock art place.)
Khao Chan Ngam 4
(Looks like something else is up there, but I didn't check it. :D )
Khao Chan Ngam 5
(Looks like something else is up there, but I didn't check it. :D )
Khao Chan Ngam 6
(Notice board around the entrance.
It says like, Take off your cap, don't smoke here and so on.)
Khao Chan Ngam 7
(Rama V ?
On the way to the rock art place.)
<Rock Painting at Khao Chan-Ngam Cave>
(From an explanation board )

The rock painting here are one of the most important archaeological evidence of northeastern Thailand.They were found in 1938.
Its painted on the vast rock cliff, 3-4metres above the ground.

From the study, the paintings were painted red in order to depict the lifestyles and activities of mankind in late pre-historic periods, living around 3,000 to 4,000 years ago.

There are 32 figures, 28 males, 2 females and a child. The animals are chickens or bird, an animal like hedgehogs, tigers, lions and dogs. There is one painting illustrating bows and arrows.

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[Korat] Ban Prasat Archaeological Site

Ban Prasat Archaeological Site is located at Amphoe Nong Sung in Korat (Nakhon Ratchasima) in Thailand, about 45km north of the town of Korat city.
Ban Prasat Archaeological Site is located at Amphoe Nong Sung in Korat (Nakhon Ratchasima) in Thailand, about 45km north of the town of Korat city.

A lot of ancient relics in the Iron Age or the Bronze Age were discovered here such as human bones and various kinds of artifacts.

 The site is considered to be an agricultural-ceramic society in prehistoric times about 3,000 years ago with its own typical civilization, different from Ban Chiang in Udon thani.

 You can go and enjoy a museum and three excavation pits to see the discoveries.
 It looks like you can homestay in this area.
(The picture above: pictures of the excavation activity in the museum.)

By the way, Ban Prasat has received two international awards:
1) PATA Gold Award 1994 for PATA Heritage and Culture.
 (PATA: Pacific Asia Travel Association) 
2) ASENTA Award 1996 for Excellence in Tourism.
 (ASENTA: ASEAN Tourism Association)

Ban Prasat Museum

Now, let's go and check the museum first.
You'll see the information about the excavation pits and discoveries. What's more, they show you the present life of Korat.
Houses
(It shows houses in pre-historical period. People lived in houses like above with animals such as buffalos, dogs, pigs, and birds.)
Human remains
(This was found about 5m below ground.
It had shells around the head and pottery around its shoulders.)
Inhabited area
(This area was surrounded by a moat and the shape was oval.)
Pots
(Pots with trumpet rims in red. )
Houses
(It shows houses in pre-historical period. People lived in houses like above with animals such as buffalos, dogs, pigs, and birds.)
Human remains
(This was found about 5m below ground.
It had shells around the head and pottery around its shoulders.)
Inhabited area
(This area was surrounded by a moat and the shape was oval.)
Pots
(Pots with trumpet rims in red. )
Ornaments
(Various ornaments were found.)
Pottery
(Pottery was made in pre-historical period and people used it for keeping food or water.
People in this area still make pottery.)
Rice ceremony
(People believe there is a goddess, Mae Posob, who protects rice fields and crops.
They have a ceremony for the goddess twice a year, in December and in March.)
Spirit house
(They have a festival for the spirit house once a year in May or June.
All monks in the area visit the house and pray. Special food are prepared for this festival and people play music.)
Ornaments
(Various ornaments were found.)
Pottery
(Pottery was made in pre-historical period and people used it for keeping food or water.
People in this area still make pottery.)
Rice ceremony
(People believe there is a goddess, Mae Posob, who protects rice fields and crops.
They have a ceremony for the goddess twice a year, in December and in March.)
Spirit house
(They have a festival for the spirit house once a year in May or June.
All monks in the area visit the house and pray. Special food are prepared for this festival and people play music.)
Bags
(They are a little bit old ones but looks like people in this area make this kind of bags.)
Tools for fishing
(They are tools for fishing.)
Weaving
(They are tools for weaving.)
Life of the people
(People cultivate rice, make reed mats reed bags. The big fans are made as well.)
Bags
(They are a little bit old ones but looks like people in this area make this kind of bags.)
Tools for fishing
(They are tools for fishing.)
Weaving
(They are tools for weaving.)
Life of the people
(People cultivate rice, make reed mats reed bags.
The big fans are made as well.)

Excavation Pits in Ban Prasat

Now, let go and check around each of the three excavation pits where ancient relics in the Iron Age or the Bronze Age were discovered in Ban Prasat.
The three excavation pits are shown by the o marks on the map below.

A river runs nearby and the map shows places where you can homestay and so on.
It would be better to have a cap on a sunny day because you have to stroll on a winding path for a little long time.

Excavation pits display the relics as it was found like in the picture.
Human remains, said that the oldest ones are three thousand years ago, were discovered with pottery and bronze ornaments.

Excavation pits display the relics as it was found like in the picture.

Human remains, said that the oldest ones are three thousand years ago, were discovered with pottery and bronze ornaments.

It looks like there are layers and it shows the difference of the era.
The path
(Stroll on the peaceful winding path like this.)
Excavation Pits
(The three excavation pits.
You can go in and look down the remains here.)
Excavation Pits
(The three excavation pits.
You can go in and look down the remains here.)
Homestay
(There are a lot of homestay places. The picture shows one of them.)
The path
(Stroll on the peaceful winding path like this.)
Excavation Pits
(The three excavation pits.
You can go in and look down the remains here.)
Homestay
(There are a lot of homestay places. The picture shows one of them.)
Articles
(Articles at one of the excavation pits. Human remains are shown as well.)
Inside the pit 1
(A lot of human remains in the pit down there.)
Inside the pit 2
(Close-up of the picture left.)
Articles
(Articles at one of the excavation pits. Human remains are shown as well.)
Inside the pit 1
(A lot of human remains in the pit down there.)
Inside the pit 2
(Close-up of the picture left.)
Inside the pit 3
(The layers that show the difference of era or pottery can be seen.
Some have ornaments around the arm.)
Inside the pit 3
(The layers that show the difference of era or pottery can be seen.
Some have ornaments around the arm.)
Inside the pit 3
(The layers that show the difference of era or pottery can be seen.
Some have ornaments around the arm.)
Inside the pit 3
(The layers that show the difference of era or pottery can be seen.
Some have ornaments around the arm.)
Inside the pit 3
(The layers that show the difference of era or pottery can be seen.
Some have ornaments around the arm.)
Explanation of the pit no.2
(Decorative stucco and Buddha image in Dvaravati style was found.
Dvaravati was a kingdom in 6th to 11th century.)
Explanation of the pit no.3
(Remains of females and children were found and their head pointed to the east.
Shell and bronze artifacts were found also.)
Explanation of the pit no.2
(Decorative stucco and Buddha image in Dvaravati style was found.
Dvaravati was a kingdom in 6th to 11th century.)
Explanation of the pit no.3
(Remains of females and children were found and their head pointed to the east.
Shell and bronze artifacts were found also.)

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