Nakhon Ratchasima (Korat)

Nakhon Ratchasima (Korat) is the provincial capital of Nakhon Ratchasima province in northeastern Thailand (known as the Isan area).  The population is estimated (2005) to 208,800.

Nakhon Ratchasima is located on a plain in the western part of the region, Isan. The distance to Bangkok is just over 220 km.

Nakhon Ratchasima Isan is the main city. About 60% of the population are living in the Isan Nakhon Ratchasima area. Living among them are also many refugees and immigrants from Laos and Cambodia.

Silk production is an important industry in the area.

Nakhon Ratchasima was regarded as an outpost against the Khmer from the early 1300s. Under King Narai the country’s fortifications were developed in the second half of the 1600s, including the ones in Nakhon Ratchasima.

During the Vietnam War they had the U.S. Air Force base here, and flew missions over North Vietnam and Cambodia.

After the officer coup in April 1981 they organized the General Prem opposition here.