Street scenes, Nakhon Ratchasima, Northeast Thailand

Taken on: 7th March, 2008. Copyright: All Rights Reserved - See travelfishery's page of Flickr

Read more about Nakhon Ratchasima

One of the biggest cities in the Kingdom, Nakhon Ratchasima, better known as Khorat, serves as the gateway to the Isan region. Attracting relatively little traveller attention, many view this city as an unfortunate stopover as they make their way further north or east.

On first glance this city does seem impenetrable -- virtually no English is spoken and tourists remain an anomaly -- but with a little patience and guidance, Khorat sneaks up on you as a destination in its own right. While its attractions may not merit a week's stay, you may just find yourself lingering that long as you eat your way through town and soak up the local culture.

Khorat is an amazing mix of old and new -- of tradition and innovation. In stark contrast to Bangkok's booming metropolis, Khorat is today much of what it was 50 years ago.

This slower paced city provides a glimpse into the architecture of authentic Thai life -- something lost elsewhere in the country as ... Read our complete Nakhon Ratchasima travel guide

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