Nakhon Ratchasima (Korat): Gateway to Isan

Nakhon Ratchasima, universally known as Korat, is Thailand's second-largest city and the gateway to the vast northeastern Isan plateau. Despite its size, Korat receives a tiny fraction of the tourists that visit Bangkok or Chiang Mai — which means you experience authentic Thai city life without the tourist infrastructure. The most significant attraction in the region is Phimai Historical Park (60 km northeast of Korat), one of the finest Khmer temple complexes in Southeast Asia — rivalling Angkor Wat in quality if not scale, with superb carved lintels and a towering central prang. The park is set in a peaceful town and easily visited in a day by bus from Korat. The Dan Kwian pottery village (15 km south) is a long-established centre for distinctive rust-coloured ceramic work — kilns and showrooms line the road. Back in the city, the Suranaree Monument in the town centre commemorates the national heroine who repelled a Lao invasion in 1826; it is a major pilgrimage site decorated with flower garlands and offerings. The night market on Chomsurang Road is excellent for Isan food — som tam, grilled meat, and sticky rice at genuine local prices.