Thao Suranari

          Thao Suranari also called Lady Mo or Ya Mo (Grandma Mo). She was the wife of the deputy governor of Nakhon Ratchasima. She is very important for the people in Korat. Because she is the leader who saved the city from the Vientiane King Anuvong's attack on Korat in 1826. Ya Mo and the people of Korat were captured by Lao troops, and while being transported back to Laos, Ya Mo allegedly told the army commander that the captive Thais would willingly be servants and slaves to the Lao conquerors.By this she supposedly meant that the Thais would entice soldiers with food, drinks and sex.       

      What she really meant was when soldiers were sleeping or relaxing then the Thais would kill them. That’s why the people of Korat believe that Ya Mo.

        A statue of Thao Suranari stands in the centre of Korat city, and it is a popular object of devotion, while a festival in her honors is held in the city at the end of March and the beginning of April each year.

Korat (Nakhon Ratchasima)

          Nakhon Ratchasima Province, also called Korat, is the largest province and the 2^ndmost populous in Thailand. Korat is one of the North-Eastern Provinces of Thailand. Neighboring provinces are Khon Kaen, Chaiyaphum, Buriram, Lopburi, Saraburi, Nakhon Nayok, Prachinburi and Sa kaew.

Geography

         

          City of Korat itself is in Korat’s highlands. Lamtakong is an important reservoir of Korat.
          The city is has four gates, one for each cardinal direction. They are Choompon gate (West), Ponsaen gate (North or called Pratoo-Nam), Ponlan gate (East) and Chainarong gate (South or called Pratoo-Phee). Inside the city has 4 ponds. They are Keaw pond, Maew pond, Bua pond and Kwan pond.

       

          Around the city there are plains that have rice fields, orchards, vegetable gardens and other agriculture. In the south of the city is the military zone, Suranaree Camp (Army) and Fleet 1 (Air Force).

         Korat is the center of both road transport and rail transport for North-East Thailand. The main road is Mittrapab Road.