History

“Nakhon Ratchasima” or “Khorat” is a huge city. Its name came from the settlements of Muang Sema and Muang Khorakhapura in the seventeenth century (B.E.), almost 1,000 years ago. An historical artifact indicates that there was a construction of sandstone sanctuary in Phimai during the reign of King Chaiworamun V. It shows how the city was a significant gateway from the Mun River of the northeast to the Chao Phraya River of the central region.

During 1656 to 1688, King Narai founded the moated town with strong fortifications to counter the threat of attacks by the Khmers. A Frenchman who had previously created Lopburi’s city plan carried on the construction of this city. After the foundation, Nakhon Ratchasima was elevated to be a metropolitan center of the northeastern region, in much the same way as Chiang Mai is a regional center in the North.

During the reign of King Rama III, Prince Anuwongsa with his troops from Vientiane invaded the northeast and seized Khorat as their port. “Khun Ying Mo”, the wife of an official, found a way to slow down the troops. With a band of women, Khun Ying Mo tricked Prince Anuwongsa and his soldiers by getting them drunk and eventually the Lao invasion was repulsed. King Rama III later gave her the royal title Thao Suranari. Her monument, erected in 1934 to commemorate her heroic deed, is now situated in front of the Chumphon old gate on the west side of the city.

In 1894 Nakhon Ratchasima was first connected to Bangkok by railway in the reign of King Rama V who graciously established the railways to Isaan in order to ease his people's travel and communications to the northeast.

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