Wat Salaloi

Nakhon Ratchasima (Khorat)


The city's most interesting temple was said to be founded by local heroine Thao Suranari and her husband in 1827. Half of her ashes are interred in a small stupa (the other half are at her monument) and there are also singing troupes on hire to perform for her spirit here. A small statue of the heroine sits praying in the pond in front of the temple's award-winning bòht (ordination hall).

Built in 1967, the bòht resembles a Chinese junk and holds a large gleaming-white Buddha image in 'calming the ocean' posture. It, and other buildings, are decorated with Dan Kwian (a nearby village) pottery. Elsewhere around the grounds are a variety of spirit shrines that have little to do with Buddhism.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Nakhon Ratchasima (Khorat) attractions

1. Pratu Phonlan

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An ornamental city gate built in the location of the original eastern gate.

2. Wat Boon

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One of the city's night markets takes place in front of this temple.

3. Wat Phra Narai Maharat

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This large temple is of interest primarily for three holy Khmer sandstone sculptures that were unearthed here – Vishnu (Phra Narai in Thai) is the holiest…

4. Pratu Phonsaen

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An ornamental city gate built in the location of the original northern gate.

5. San Jao Lak Meuang

0.8 MILES

Khorat's city pillar shrine is pretty ordinary, but it has a large Dan Kwian (a nearby pottery village) ceramic mural on the wall beside it. It shows…

6. Chang Phueak Shrine

0.89 MILES

The wooden pillar at the centre of this small shrine was once used for tying up sacred 'white' elephants that passed though Khorat on their way to be…

7. Pratu Chainarong

0.98 MILES

An ornamental city gate built in the location of the original southern gate.

8. Wat Phayap

1.21 MILES

When the abbot of Wat Phayap learned that blasting for a quarry in Saraburi Province was destroying a beautiful cave, he rescued pieces of it and…