Nakhon Ratchasima Things to Do
To our great surprise, Nakhon Ratchasima turned out a very good family destination. The Khorat Zoo is a definite must-see if you are travelling with your little ones in tow and so is the attached water park. The Mall also has a couple of usual kids’ activities on offer to keep the little monsters entertained while you are having your dose of caffeine in one of the cafes in the shopping centre. Well, if you do not have kids... then just watch a football game or check the ruins of the ancient temples, that’s it.
Khorat Zoo
This is a beautiful modern zoo located 20 km south of town on the way to Pak Thong Chai. A large variety of animals can be seen and the outdoor enclosures are nicely designed to resemble their natural habitat. Among the others the biggest attractions are lions, tigers, elephants, giraffes, bears, rhinos and seals. It takes around 3 hours for a complete visit, but you can cut it shorter renting a bicycle (THB20/1 hour) or a golf cart (THB300/1hour) at the entrance.
Several shows take place throughout the day; they’re not included into the entrance fee but are extremely cheap (THB20). Food stations close to the enclosures will give you the chance to buy food and feed some of the animals.
Tickets are THB150 for adults and THB70 for kids and already include free access to the water park (see next). Both the zoo and the water park are open every day from 8am to 5: pm.
To get there you can rent a motorbike in town for THB250 or take the songthaew number 4129 for THB20.
Khorat Zoo Lagoon and Water Park
This water park is not particularly exciting for adults, but it’s a nice and safe place for kids and since the visit is included into the Zoo entrance ticket there’s no reason not to spend a few relaxing hours cooling down in the water.
The main attraction is the Lagoon, an artificial river running around the park with a soft current suitable for all ages. The slides are nothing too extreme but enough to entertain your kids while you’re enjoying some time working on your tan. If you forget your swimsuit or towel you can rent everything there for few THB.
Shopping at The Mall
If you forgot to buy souvenirs to bring back home before leaving Bangkok or you want another shopping afternoon, The Mall is the place for you. It is the biggest shopping centre in the Isaan region with more than 400 shops where you can find everything you need.
Many food venues are also present including all the major western chains (McDonalds, KFC, Subway). There’s a cinema complex showing western movies with English subtitles, too.
The Mall is located on Mittraphap Rd (the main road crossing town from West to East) roughly 3 km west of Ya Mo. To get there, take the songthaew number 6, the most common and frequent in town.
Prasat Phanom Wan
A lot less famous than Prasat Him Phimai, this is a small but still interesting archaeological site located few km out of Khorat. Built in the 11th century, it was a Hindu temple converted later into a Buddhist one and was meant to be a stop for travellers on their way from Angkhor Wat in Cambodia to Phimai.
Nowadays almost all the buildings are nothing more than ruins but the two main pagodas are still intact. Phanom Wan is a tranquil spot to visit especially during the week when you’ll be more than likely the only visitor there. If you rent a motorbike, it is an easy 20 km drive along highway 2 or you can hire a tuk-tuk for THB400 round-trip.
Watch a game at Khorat Sport Stadium
If you’re a sport fan and you’re missing a football day, a visit to the local stadium will help you to get by until you go back home. The construction of the stadium was completed in 2007 to celebrate the 80th birthday of the King Bhumibol Aduljadet. It is the home pitch of the Nakhon Ratchasima Football Club which plays in Thai League 1 and attracts more than 20000 super excited fans every Sunday. The atmosphere is vibrant and loud, but without the excesses of a European football game. The stadium is located 3 km south of town.
