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North
Eastern Thailand is a large elevated plateau, an ancient land
where prehistoric man and dinosaurs once strode, and where timeless
Khmer ruins and revered temples stand testament to the region's
great history. The road into the Northeast winds through Pak Chong
to Nakhon Ratchasima, also known as Korat, passing the major golf
courses listed in this Directory, only two to three hours from
Bangkok. Small hotels offer accommodation near the courses, while
Korat and its luxury hotels is an excellent base for discovering the
beauty of the region.
Nearby Khao Yai National Park is Thailand's oldest and best known
park, offering opportunities to study bird and animal life, or
evening safaris to see the elephants. The park has been well mapped,
with numerous hiking trails and vantage points well marked. The
Northeast was also once part of the ancient Khmer empire, and ruins
of temples and shrines (called prasat or castle) abound through the
area. The most famous and best preserved is probably Phimai, now a
historical park just outside Korat. Its sandstone walls guard the
restored sanctuary, with its stunning prang and carved lintels.
A second superb example of Khmer sanctuary - and probably more
dramatic because of the longs steps leading up to it - is at Phanom
Rung in Buri Ram, perched on top of an extinct volcano. Both
sanctuaries pre-date Angkor Wat, and the Tourism Authority of
Thailand periodically produces outstanding light and sound shows to
highlight their history. The Northeast is famous for its cottage
silk industry, particularly that of mudmee or ikat, the tie-dyed
designs using natural colours. In Pak Thongchai, just south of Korat,
you can see the silk made and designed in small factories.
The road east runs along the Cambodian border through Surin to Ubon
Ratchathani, located on the Moon River, where the famous Candle
Festival pays ingenious tribute to the beginning of Buddhist lent,
thanks to superbly carved beeswax vistas that are paraded around
town. Surin attracts visitors every year to see its famed
international Elephant round-up each November. Villagers here have a
long tradition of working with elephants, and tourists should take
time to visit Ban Ta Klang to see how these great beasts live, and
are trained, within the village.
North from Korat is Khon Kaen, the administrative centre of the
region, and centre of a great silk industry. Just north of Khon Kaen,
in Phu Wiang National Park, the remains of dinaosaurs have been
uncovered, now on display at this fascinating site. Prehistoric
remains were also unearthed at Ban Chiang in Udon Thani proving that
ancient civilisation existed in this area more than 6,000 years ago.
The dig and its famous pottery are on display in an open museum. The
road ends at Nong Khai on the Mekong River, facing Laos, which can
now be accessed via the Friendship Bridge. Along the banks of this
mighty waterway, ancient temples pay tribute to peoples living here
for hundreds of years. The most famous is That Phanom in Nakhon
Phanom, the Northeast's most revered sanctuary, where structures
built on structures have obscured its ancestry.
Before leaving the Northeast, don't forget to sample its spicy
cuisine, made famous by sticky rice and som tarn, a fiery raw papaya
salad; and listen to the lively sounds of northeastern folk music. |
Golf courses in North-
Eastern Region of Thailand
1.
Forest Hill Country Club
2.
Friendship Meadows Country Club
3.
Mission Hills Golf Club Khao Yai
4.
Rooks Khorat Country Club Golf & Resort
5.
Royal Hills Golf Course
6.
The Country Club Khao Yai
7.
The Khao Cha-Ngok Golf & Country Club
8.
Voyage Panorama Resort & Golf Club
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Golf courses in Bangkok &
Central Region
Golf course in Eastern Region
Golf courses
in
Western
Region
Golf course in
Northern Region
Golf courses in Southern Region
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