Nakorn Ratchasima Temples

Amphoe Muang

Chang Phuak Shrine

Chang Phuak Shrine is a small shrine on the northern part of the city moat, at the corner of Manat and Phon Saen Roads. It houses a Takhian Hin tree stump that was the site where the people of Phu Khiao tied elephants for inspectors to look at before presenting them to King Rama I for his transport.

City Pillar

City Pillar is at the corner of Chom Phon and Prachak roads. This Chinese-style shrine houses the city pillar that is worshipped by Thais and Chinese. Built in the reign of King Narai the Great during 1656-1688, both the shrine and city pillar were made of wood. The inner eastern wall is covered with fired clay tiles with raised designs of the battle of Thao Suranari and the way of life of Thais in ancient times.

Prasat Phanom Wan

Prasat Phanom Wan is in Ban Makha, Tambon Pho, around 15 kilometres from the city on the Nakhon Ratchasima-Khon Kaen Road. A sign on the right shows the way on a road 5 kilometres more. This is an interesting Khmer sanctuary. It is believed that it was built in the 10th century. Later during the 13th-14th centuries, a stone building was built over it. From inscriptions found at the site, it is known that the sanctuary was used in the Hindu religion and later became a Buddhist site. Although most of it is in ruins, there is a clear form present, like the square main pagoda facing east and a tiered pagoda in front, as well as a path linking the two structures.

To the southwest is a building of red sandstone called ’Prang Noi’. Inside is a large stone Buddha image. A roofed sandstone walkway and a laterite wall go around the sanctuary. A Gopura (a sanctuary doorway or porch) in the form of a tall tower is situated in all 4 directions. Around 230 metres east of the sanctuary are traces of a moat and an earth hill that was the site of another Khmer building called ’Noen Oraphim’.

Wat Pa Salawan

Wat Pa Salawan is in the city behind the train station. The temple houses the ashes of the most revered Buddhist monks, Achan Sao and Achan Man, as well as those of Achan Sing, the ex-abbot of the temple who built it.

Wat Sala Loi

Wat Sala Loi is to the northeast of the city, 500 metres from Rop Mueang Road. Thao Suranari and her husband built the temple in 1827. The highlight is the convocation hall that was awarded the prize as the best avant-garde religious building from the Siam Architects Society in 1973. The hall is in an applied Thai style in the shape of a junk riding the waves. Local Dan Kwian clay tiles were used to decorate the building to tell the life of Lord Buddha. The door is made of metal with raised designs of the Buddhist tale. The hall houses a large standing white Buddha image. In front of the door is a plaster sculpture of Thao Suranari sitting praying in the middle of a pond. Beside the building is a small pagoda that formerly housed the ashes of Thao Suranari. A glass wall in the shape of heart-shaped temple boundary markers surrounds the hall.

Wat Sala Thong

Wat Sala Thong is in Tambon Hua Thale, about 1 kilometre southeast of the city. This is temple of the Dhamayuti sect. The area around the temple was originally a dense forest where a large sitting stone Buddha image in the Pa Lelai posture was located out in the open. A convocation hall was later built to cover it. The temple has a large pagoda that was built over a smaller one containing the holy relics of Lord Buddha that were taken from Myanmar’s Chiang Tung.

Amphoe Bua Yai

Prang Ku

Prang Ku is in Wat Ban Ku School, Tambon Don Tanin. Take Highway No. 2 for about 74 kilometres, then turn left at the highway police kiosk to Ban Non Ta Then for around 6 kilometres and turn right to Wat Ban Ku School. At the site is a small Khmer pagoda with a square base, built of layers of laterite from bottom to top. However, much of it is in ruins, only part of the low base remains. Inside the pagoda are 4-5 fired clay Buddha images.

Amphoe Chok Chai

Prasat Phakho

Prasat Phakho is an ancient Khmer sanctuary at Tambon Krathok, 29 kilometres from the city on Highway No. 224. Continue on to Highway No. 2021 for 3 kilometres and you will see the site on the right. This Hindu religious place is made of white sandstone and originally had 3 buildings, but only 2 remain today. A horseshoe-shaped moat surrounds the site. The entrance is in the east. A lintel influenced by the Baphuon culture of ancient Khmer was found here, dating from around the 11th century. It is now in Phimai National Museum.

Amphoe Dan Khun Thot

Wat Ban Rai

Wat Ban Rai is in Tambon Kut Phiman, about 60 kilometres from the city. Take Mittraphap Road to the 237-km marker, turn right past Kham Thale So and Nong Suang to Dan Khun Thot. From Dan Khun Thot Hospital use Highway No. 2217 and drive for 11 kilometres. Wat Ban Rai is a famous temple of the province as it is the residence of the revered monk Luang Pho Khun Parisuttho. There are many worshippers who come to see him daily.

Amphoe Pak Chong

Wat Thep Phithak Punnaram

Wat Thep Phithak Punnaram is at Khao Si Siat A in Tambon Klang Dong. Take Highway No. 2 (Nakhon Ratchasima-Saraburi) at the 150-km marker and go on an asphalt road for 3 kilometres. The temple houses a huge sitting Buddha image, called ’Luang Pho Yai’ by locals. It is 27 metres wide and 45 metres high. It is made of steel-reinforced concrete and sits majestically on a mountaintop 112 metres up. The stairway up divides into 2 sides that are curved like the edge of a bo leaf (a symbol of Buddhism). There are altogether 1,250 steps, signifying the number of monks that gathered without prior appointment on Makha Bucha Day.

Amphoe Pak Thong Chai

Wat Na Phra That

xWat Na Phra That is at Moo 1, Tambon Takhu. From the city, take Highway No. 314 for around 30 kilometres (past Pak Thong Chai intersection). Then take a right turn onto Highway No. 2238 to Ban Takhu 4 kilometres away. The temple is on the left. This old temple was probably built during the reign of King Rama III. In the compound are some interesting structures including a pagoda, a convocation hall and a scripture hall in the middle of a pond that is well preserved. The temple has a number of local arts. The old convocation hall has wall murals from the early Rattanakosin period that is almost complete on the outer front wall and all 4 sides of the inner walls. The murals tell the story of the Buddhist tale and show people paying homage to Lord Buddha’s footprint. Furthermore, there are images of the daily life of locals in the past like farming and fishing. In front of the old convocation hall is a rectangular pool where the scripture hall is located. The hall is a low structure, like other northeastern halls, and it has exquisite lacquered designs on the door. Between the hall and the old convocation hall is a Laotian pagoda built by migrants from Vientiane.

Amphoe Prathai

Prasat Nang Ram

Prasat Nang Ram is in Ban Nang Ram. Take Highway No. 2 for about 62 kilometres to Ban Wat intersection, then turn right to Highway No. 207 for about 22 kilometres to Ban Ya Kha (or about 11 kilometres before reaching Prathai town), and then turn left for 4 kilometres to the sanctuary. The site was called Arokhayasan (a hospital) by the ancient Khmers. It was built in the 13th century in the reign of King Chaiworaman VII and comprises 2 groups of buildings situated close together. The more complete pagodas face the east and are surrounded by a laterite wall. To the northeast outside the wall is a pool and another group of historical buildings where many beautiful lintels are found.

Amphoe Sida

Prang Sida

Prang Sida is in Phra Prang Sida, Tambon Sida. From the city, take Highway No. 2 for about 84 kilometres to Sida intersection and turn right onto Highway No. 202 (to Amphoe Prathai) for about 1.5 kilometres, then take a left to the temple for about 2 kilometres. Prang Sida is similar to Prang Ku at Tambon Don Tanin, but this pagoda is closed on all 4 sides. It was a religious site of the Brahman religion with an ancient Khmer style of architecture. It is made entirely of laterite. Sculpted plaster designs face the east and an outer wall surrounds the site. It dates from around the 12th-13th centuries.