Nakhon Ratchasima province

Nakhon Ratchasima (, ; , , often called Khorat (, ; , ) (alternate spelling Korat) is one of Thailand's seventy-six provinces (changwat) and lies in lower northeastern Thailand also called Isan. At it is the country's second largest province by area, has a population of approximately 2.6 million, and generates about 250 billion baht in GDP, the highest in Isan. Neighbouring provinces are (clockwise, from north) Chaiyaphum, Khon Kaen, Buriram, Sa Kaeo, Prachinburi, Nakhon Nayok, Saraburi, and Lopburi.

The capital of the province is the city of Nakhon Ratchasima in Mueang Nakhon Ratchasima district, also called Khorat.

Geography

left|370px|thumb|[[Khao Yai National Park]]

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 or 15.4 percent of provincial area.

| Thap Lan National Park   || ||       (96,852)

| Khao Yai National Park || ||  (1,887,335)

History

left|250px|thumb|[[Phimai historical park]]

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.

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).

thumb|400px|Map of thirty-two districts

Mueang Nakhon Ratchasima
Khon Buri
Soeng Sang
Khong
Ban Lueam
Chakkarat
Chok Chai
Dan Khun Thot
Non Thai
Non Sung
Kham Sakaesaeng
Bua Yai
Prathai
Pak Thong Chai
Phimai
Huai Thalaeng
Chum Phuang
Sung Noen
Kham Thale So
Sikhio
Pak Chong
Nong Bun Mak
Kaeng Sanam Nang
Non Daeng
Wang Nam Khiao
Thepharak
Mueang Yang
Phra Thong Kham
Lam Thamenchai
Bua Lai
Sida
Chaloem Phra Kiat

{|class="wikitable sortable"

|+Districts General Information

! rowspan="2" class="unsortable" style="width:5%;"|Class !! rowspan="2" class="unsortable" style="width:20%;"|Name !! rowspan="2" style="width:10%;"|Area<br />(km<sup>2</sup>) !! rowspan=2 width=3%"|Distance to<br />Provincial Hall<br />(km) !! rowspan="2" class="unsortable" style="width:10%;"|Established !! rowspan="2" class="unsortable" style="width:7%;"|Sub-districts<br />(Units) !! rowspan="2" class="unsortable" style="width:7%;"|Villages<br />(Units) !! colspan="3" style="width:30%;"| Population

! Male !! Female !! Total

|- style="text-align:center;"

| Special

|<div style="float:left;">Mueang Nakhon Ratchasima </div>|| 755.596 || 0 || 1895 || 25 || 243 || 212,627 || 221,211 || 433,838

|- style="text-align:center;"

| 1 ||<div style="float:left;">Dan Khun Thot</div> || 1,428.14 || 84 || 1908 || 16 || 220 || 62,571 || 63,347 || 125,918

|- style="text-align:center;"

| 1 ||<div style="float:left;">Bua Yai</div> || 305.028 ||101 || 1886 || 10 || 121 || 41,855 || 42,278 || 84,133

|- style="text-align:center;"

| 1 ||<div style="float:left;">Pak Thong Chai</div> || 1,374.32 || 34 || 1910 || 16 || 213 || 56,716 || 58,950 || 115,666

|- style="text-align:center;"

| 1 ||<div style="float:left;">Phimai</div> || 896.871 || 60 || 1900 || 12 || 208 || 64,421 || 66,024 || 130,445

|- style="text-align:center;"

| 1 ||<div style="float:left;">Sikhio</div> || 1,247.07 || 45 || 1955 || 12 || 169 || 60,898 || 61,163 || 122,061

|- style="text-align:center;"

| 1 ||<div style="float:left;">Pak Chong</div> || 1,825.17 || 85 || 1955 || 12 || 217 || 91,146 || 91,685 || 182,831

|- style="text-align:center;"

| 2 ||<div style="float:left;">Khon Buri</div> || 1,816.85 || 58 || 1939 || 12 || 152 || 46,086 || 47,167 || 93,253

|- style="text-align:center;"

| 2 ||<div style="float:left;">Chakkarat</div> || 501.672 || 40 || 1953 || 8 || 108 || 34,441 || 34,643 || 69,084

|- style="text-align:center;"

| 2 ||<div style="float:left;">Chok Chai</div> || 503.917 || 30 || 1905 || 10 || 126 || 37,297 || 39,223 || 76,520

|- style="text-align:center;"

| 2 ||<div style="float:left;">Non Sung</div> || 676.981 || 37 || 1897 || 16 || 195 || 62,639 || 65,374 || 128,013

|- style="text-align:center;"

| 2 ||<div style="float:left;">Prathai</div> || 600.648 || 97 || 1961 || 13 || 148 || 38,622 || 38,761 || 77,282

|- style="text-align:center;"

| 2 ||<div style="float:left;">Sung Noen</div> || 782.853 || 36 || 1901 || 11 || 125 || 38,429 || 40,181 || 78,610

|- style="text-align:center;"

| 2 ||<div style="float:left;">Huai Thalaeng</div> || 495.175 || 65 || 1961 || 10 || 120 || 37,443 || 37,131 || 74,574

|- style="text-align:center;"

| 2 ||<div style="float:left;">Chum Phuang</div> || 540.567 || 98 || 1959 || 9 || 130 || 40,918 || 41,038 || 82,161

|- style="text-align:center;"

| 3 ||<div style="float:left;">Soeng Sang</div> || 1,200.24 || 88 || 1976 || 6 || 84 || 33,733 || 33,302 || 67,032

|- style="text-align:center;"

| 3 ||<div style="float:left;">Khong</div> || 454.737 || 79 || 1938 || 10 || 155 || 40,052 || 41,076 || 81,128

|- style="text-align:center;"

| 3 ||<div style="float:left;">Non Thai</div> || 541.994 || 28 || 1900 || 10 || 131 || 36,126 || 37,592 || 73,718

|- style="text-align:center;"

| 3 ||<div style="float:left;">Kham Sakaesaeng</div> || 297.769 || 50 || 1968 || 7 || 72 || 21,423 || 21,753 || 43,176

|- style="text-align:center;"

| 3 ||<div style="float:left;">Kaeng Sanam Nang</div> || 107.258 || 130 || 1986 || 5 || 56 || 18,782 || 19,054 || 37,836

|- style="text-align:center;"

| 3 ||<div style="float:left;">Wang Nam Khiao</div> || 1,130.00 || 70 || 1992 || 5 || 83 || 20,416 || 20,503 || 40,910

|- style="text-align:center;"

| 4 ||<div style="float:left;">Ban Lueam</div> || 218.875|| 85 || 1976 || 4 || 39 || 10,620 || 10,732 || 21,351

|- style="text-align:center;"

| 4 ||<div style="float:left;">Nong Bunmak</div> || 590.448 || 52 || 1983 || 9 || 104 || 29,424 || 29,316 || 58,740

|- style="text-align:center;"

| 4 ||<div style="float:left;">Thepharak</div> || 357.465 || 90 || 1995 || 4 || 58 || 12,002 || 11,451 || 23,453

|- style="text-align:center;"

| 4 ||<div style="float:left;">Phra Thong Kham</div> || 359.522 || 45 || 1996 || 5 || 74 || 21,260 || 21,680 || 42,940

|- style="text-align:center;"

| 4 ||<div style="float:left;">Sida</div> || 162.825 || 85 || 1997 ||5 || 50 || 12,087 || 12,133 || 24,220

|- style="text-align:center;"

| 4 ||<div style="float:left;">Bua Lai</div> || 106.893 || 103 || 1997 || 4 || 45 || 12,374 || 12,450 || 24,824

|- style="text-align:center;"

| 4 ||<div style="float:left;">Non Daeng</div>|| 193.407 || 30 || 1989 || 5 || 65 || 12,597 || 12,984 || 25,581

|- style="text-align:center;"

| 4 ||<div style="float:left;">Kham Thale So</div> || 203.605 || 22 || 1966 || 5 || 46 || 14,091 || 14,021 || 28,112

|- style="text-align:center;"

| 4 ||<div style="float:left;">Mueang Yang</div> || 255.522 || 110 || 1995 || 4 || 44 || 14,321 || 14,038 || 28,359

|- style="text-align:center;"

| 4 ||<div style="float:left;">Lam Thamenchai</div> || 308.457 || 120 || 1996 || 4 || 59 || 16,114 || 15,953 || 32,067

|- style="text-align:center;"

| 4 ||<div style="float:left;">Chaloem Phra Kiat</div> || 254.093 || 18 || 1996 || 5 || 61 || 16,966 || 17,411 || 34,377

Local government

thumb|200px|The Great Hall of Wat Luang Phor Toh in Sikhio district

As of 26 November 2019 there are: one Nakhon Ratchasima Provincial Administration Organisation (') 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

right|200px|thumb|One of the halls inside Terminal 21 Shopping Mall

right|250px|thumb|CentralPlaza at sunset

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.

Education

right|thumb|250px|Main gate of Khorat

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

{| class="wikitable floatright" style="width:400px;"

| style="text-align:center; width:100px; background:black; color:white;"| Health

| style="text-align:center; width:100px; background:black; color:white;"| Education

| style="text-align:center; width:100px; background:black; color:white;"| Employment

| style="text-align:center; width:100px; background:black; color:white;"| Income

| 95px

| 100px

| style="text-align:center; background:black; color:white;"| 33

| style="text-align:center; background:black; color:white;"| 58

| style="text-align:center; background:black; color:white;"| 10

| style="text-align:center; background:black; color:white;"| 55

| style="text-align:center; background:black; color:white;"| Housing

| style="text-align:center; background:black; color:white;"| Family

| style="text-align:center; background:black; color:white;"| Transport

| style="text-align:center; background:black; color:white;"| Participation

| style="height:100px;"| 100px

| center|85px

| 100px

| 90px

| style="text-align:center; background:black; color:white;"| 29

| style="text-align:center; background:black; color:white;"| 26

| style="text-align:center; background:black; color:white;"| 58

| style="text-align:center; background:black; color:white;"| 30

| colspan="4"; style="background:black; color:white;"| Province Krabi, with an HAI 2022 value of 0.6471 is "average", occupies place 30 in the ranking.

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. 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.