🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026
The Thao Suranari Monument, which locals affectionately call Ya Mo (Grandma Mo), sits right in the middle of town where several roads converge. It's cast in dark-patina bronze, standing about 185 cm tall, and was built in 1934 to honor Ya Mo's heroism during the Chao Anuwong war. Behind the monument is Chumphon Gate, the only one of the four original city gates still standing. The two of them together have become the image people picture when they think of Korat.
Why people in Korat are so attached to Ya Mo
Ya Mo isn't just a statue in the middle of town. For people here she's a sacred figure they hold close. Every morning you'll see people come to pay respects and make vows, and some repay those vows with Pleng Korat (a local call-and-response folk song) — there are troupes for hire around the plaza, and it's a normal sight. From late March into early April each year, the city holds the festival marking Thao Suranari's victory, a big annual celebration that runs for more than ten days, with processions, market stalls, and entertainment all over town.
Chumphon Gate behind the monument comes with a story people like to act on: walk through this gate and you'll get to come back and visit Korat again. So it's become a small ritual for visitors — take a walk through before you leave, and snap a photo with the old brick archway, which is still in great shape.
Want more out of Nakhon Ratchasima? Book tours & activities
Booking online ahead on Klook or GetYourGuide is usually cheaper than the gate and skips the queue. Pick only the experiences you actually want — prices and availability are shown live on each site.
How to get there and where to park
- Driving yourself — the Ya Mo plaza is in the center of town on Ratchadamnoen Road. Just type "Thao Suranari Monument" into Google Maps. Parking right around the plaza is tough on weekdays, so it's better to park at Terminal 21 Korat or Central Korat and walk or take a ride from there.
- Songthaew / city bus — several routes pass the Ya Mo plaza, fare around 10–15 THB. Just ask the driver whether they go past the monument.
- Coming from Bangkok — intercity buses drop you at Korat bus terminal (Bor Kor Sor), then it's a short ride into town; or take the train to Nakhon Ratchasima station, which isn't far from the plaza.
- Taxi / Grab — Grab is available in Korat, handy if you'd rather not hunt for parking.
When to go
The plaza is open for paying respects at any time, but the nicest moments are early morning when people come to pray, and the late afternoon once the heat eases and locals come out to stroll. If you want to catch the walking street, come on a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday. Midday sun is brutal, so bring an umbrella or a hat.
What to see around the plaza
Chumphon Gate
The old city gate archway behind the monument — the city's signature photo spot. Walk through it and the story goes you'll return to Korat again.
Old city moat
The area around the plaza is Korat's old town, ringed by the original moat and earthen ramparts — an easy walk to take in the historic part of town.
Temples around the old town
A short walk from the plaza are several old temples, such as Wat Phra Narai Maharat, which people like to visit alongside Ya Mo.
Cafes around the plaza
There are both big-brand and small independent coffee shops around the plaza to duck out of the sun, before or after paying your respects.
Eating around the plaza — Pad Mee Korat and local bites
When you're in Ya Mo's city, you have to try Pad Mee Korat — chewy rice vermicelli stir-fried in a well-rounded sauce, the city's signature dish, easy to find around the plaza. These are the stalls and dishes locals genuinely go for, ordered with what we'd try first up top.
Manro Pad Mee Korat (the old original, opposite Wat Sa Kaeo)
A Pad Mee Korat legend that's been going for over 40 years — soft noodles with a bold, traditional flavor. It's on Sappasit Road across from Wat Sa Kaeo, walkable from the Ya Mo plaza, and there's usually a queue of people buying takeaway.
Pa Aom Khua Mee Korat
Pad Mee made the traditional way, with several spice levels to choose from — people who like it bold love this place. It's in town and open from late morning into the afternoon. Call ahead at 089-945-7979.
Kinda Pad Mee Korat
Another in-town Pad Mee spot locals mention — traditional flavor, an easy place to sit down, good for lunch before heading over to pay respects at Ya Mo.
Mee Krob Korat
Another of the city's signature bites — crispy fried noodles glazed in a sweet-and-sour sauce. You'll find it at souvenir shops and local eateries around the old town.
Som tam & grilled chicken near the plaza
It's Korat — there has to be som tam. The papaya-salad stalls around the old town give you plenty to choose from, eaten with grilled chicken and sticky rice for a filling meal under a hundred baht.
Khanom Jeen Pradok
Korat-style khanom jeen (fresh rice noodles) from the Ban Pradok area, known for its fresh noodles, topped with a curry sauce or nam prik and served with a plateful of side vegetables.
Coffee around the Ya Mo plaza
Around the plaza there's both Café Amazon and small independent coffee shops to stop for a break out of the sun — sip an iced coffee and watch people coming to pay respects to Ya Mo.
Local sweets — khanom jaak / rice crackers
Along the walking street and at souvenir shops you'll find local sweets to take with you, both old-school Thai desserts and Korat-style snacks — a good way to finish a meal.
Straight talk
A lot of the famous Pad Mee stalls only stay open until the afternoon or sell out before closing. If you want to hit a specific stall you've pinned, go around midday to be safe. Don't wait until evening — it may be sold out or already closed.
Doen Doen Korat walking street, around the Ya Mo plaza
On weekends the area around the Ya Mo plaza turns into a walking street called Doen Doen Korat, held every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from around 3 pm to 10 pm. There are more than two hundred stalls — local food, street food, OTOP products — plus several performance stages. You can eat and shop your way along in an old-town atmosphere, and it's the liveliest the Ya Mo plaza gets all week.
- Popular bites — Pad Mee, som tam, grilled chicken, fried snacks, sweets, all findable for anywhere from tens to a hundred-odd baht.
- Souvenirs — Mee Krob, Chinese sausage, pork floss, and Korat local products you can take home in one go.
- Performances — there are music and folk-performance stages to sit and watch while you eat.
A half-day at the Ya Mo plaza — how to plan it
Pay respects to Ya Mo + walk the old town
On the hunt for Pad Mee Korat
Doen Doen walking street
Places to stay near the plaza
If you want to pay respects to Ya Mo in the morning and walk the walking street in the evening without driving, staying in the old-town area around the plaza is the most convenient. There's everything from big mall-side hotels to in-town guesthouses.
Plan a full day in Korat — the old town, the food, and where to stay
See the Korat travel guide →