Nakhon Ratchasima province

Geography

The province is at the west end of the Khorat Plateau, separated from the Chao Phraya river valley by the Phetchabun and Dong Phaya Yen mountain ranges. Two national parks are in the province: Khao Yai in the west and Thap Lan in the south. Both parks are in the forested mountains of the Sankamphaeng Range, the southern prolongation of the Dong Phaya Yen mountains. The total forest area is 3,193 km² or 15.4 percent of provincial area.

Nakhon Ratchasima is a large province on the northeastern plateau and acts as a gateway to other provinces in the northeast. It is 259 km from Bangkok and has an area of around 20,494 km2. The province is rich in Khmer culture and has a long history.

National parks

There are two national parks, along with two other national parks, make up region 1 (Prachinburi) of Thailand's protected areas. (Visitors in fiscal year 2024)

History

The area around Khorat was already an important centre in the times of the Khmer empire in the 11th century, as can be seen by the temple ruins in Phimai historical park. Nakhon Ratchasima province is one of the provinces where there is still a sizable northern Khmer population.

Administrative divisions

Provincial government

The province is divided into 32 districts (amphoes). The districts are further subdivided into 263 sub-districts (tambons) and 3,743 villages (mubans).

1. Mueang Nakhon Ratchasima
2. Khon Buri
3. Soeng Sang
4. Khong
5. Ban Lueam
6. Chakkarat
7. Chok Chai
8. Dan Khun Thot
9. Non Thai
10. Non Sung
11. Kham Sakaesaeng
12. Bua Yai
13. Prathai
14. Pak Thong Chai
15. Phimai
16. Huai Thalaeng
17. Chum Phuang
18. Sung Noen
19. Kham Thale So
20. Sikhio
21. Pak Chong
22. Nong Bun Mak
23. Kaeng Sanam Nang
24. Non Daeng
25. Wang Nam Khiao
26. Thepharak
27. Mueang Yang
28. Phra Thong Kham
29. Lam Thamenchai
30. Bua Lai
31. Sida
32. Chaloem Phra Kiat

Local government

As of 26 November 2019 there are: one Nakhon Ratchasima Provincial Administration Organisation (ongkan borihan suan changwat) and 90 municipal (thesaban) areas in the province. Nakhon Ratchasima municipality has city (thesaban nakhon) status. Bua Yai, Mueang Pak, Pak Chong and Sikhio municipalities have town (thesaban mueang) status. Further 85 subdistrict municipalities (thesaban tambon).The non-municipal areas are administered by 243 Subdistrict Administrative Organisations - SAO (ongkan borihan suan tambon). Nakhon Ratchasima is also home of the Klongpai Central Prison.

Economy

Khorat's economy has traditionally been heavily dependent on agriculture. It is known as a processing centre for Isan's production of rice, tapioca, and sugar. The Isan region accounts for half of Thailand's exports of those commodities. Khorat is also one of two sites in Thailand manufacturing disk drives by Seagate Technology, employing 12,100 workers in Khorat.

Transport

; Air Nakhon Ratchasima has Nakhon Ratchasima Airport, but it has no scheduled flights. The nearest working airport is in Buriram and has flights to and from Bangkok.

; Rail The railway system in Nakhon Ratchasima is on both northeastern routes from Bangkok Railway Station. Nakhon Ratchasima province has eight main railway stations. In 2017, a 60-kilometre dual-track line will connect Korat to Khon Kaen province. It is the first segment of a dual track network that will connect Isan with the Laem Chabang seaport. Mueang District is served by two stations: Nakhon Ratchasima railway station and Thanon Chira Junction railway station.

; Road Highway 2 (Mittraphap Road) is the main route that connects nine districts in Nakhon Ratchasima including Muang district. This route also connects Nakhon Ratchasima to Saraburi and Khon Kaen provinces. Hwy 24 links Si Khio District from Hwy 2 to Pak Thongcha, Chok Chai, and Nong Bunnak Districts and to Buriram province. A new motorway connecting Khorat to Bangkok is under construction in 2016 and will reduce travel time on the 250 kilometre journey to just over two hours.

Health

Nakhon Ratchasima has hospitals in mostly the public sector, but some in the private sector. Its main hospital is Maharat Nakhon Ratchasima Hospital, which is the largest provincial hospital operated by the Ministry of Public Health and one of the main hospitals for the MOPH-Mahidol CPIRD Program.

Education

; Universities There are four universities in the area.

• Nakhon Ratchasima Rajabhat University
• Rajamangala University of Technology Isan
• Suranaree University of Technology
• Vongchavalitkul University

; Schools

• Ratchasima Wittayalai School
• Saint Mary's College Nakhon Ratchasima
• Suranaree Wittaya School
• MBAC
• Boonwatthana
• Phimai Witthaya
• Assumption School Nakhon Ratchasima
• Fort Surathamphithak School
• Phoowittaya School (lab school project)
• Plookpanya School
• Koratpittayakom school
• Wangrongnoi school
• Phatongkhamwittaya school
• Surawiwat school in Suranaree University of Technology
• Metapaht School

; International schools

• St Stephen's International School (SIS) (Khao Yai Campus)
• Adventists International Mission School (AIMS) (Nakhon Ratchasima Campus)
• Anglo Singapore International School (Korat Campus)
• Wesley International School

Human achievement index 2022

Since 2003, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Thailand has tracked progress on human development at sub-national level using the Human achievement index (HAI), a composite index covering all the eight key areas of human development. The National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB) took over this task in 2017.

Korat cat

Main article: Korat

(, )

The Korat cat is a natural breed, and one of the oldest stable cat breeds. Originating in Nakhon Ratchasima province at Phimai, it is named after its province of origin. In Thailand the breed is known as si sawat, meaning "colour of the sawat seed" (bluish-gray). Korat cats are distinguished not only by the colour of their fur. Genuine Korat cats have a heart-shaped face when viewed from any angle and shorter grey hair with silver tips. The true breed's eyes are yellow with an inner green circle. They must be slender and agile. The cat's tail must be slender. Cats with crooked tails are considered inauspicious.

In 1965, Korat cats were first registered in the US by the Korat Cat Fanciers Association. The cats that formed the breed were first imported from Thailand by Jean L. Johnson in 1959. In 1966 the breed was accepted by the Cat Fanciers' Association (CFA). The Korat breed is now accepted by cat associations around the world.

The International Maew Boran Association (TIMBA) ("maew boran" means "ancient cat") was formed in Thailand to provide a registry of and pedigrees for Thai cats, including Korats, and to provide a voice in English for Thai breeders as "...Thai breeders...do not speak English, and farang breeders do not speak Thai.".

References

References

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