Prasat Nang Ram

Prasat Nang Ram is a Khmer ruin in the Prathai district of Nakhon Ratchasima (Korat), in the northeast. It was an arogayasala — one of the small “hospital chapels” the Khmer king Jayavarman VII founded across his empire in the late 12th and early 13th centuries. What remains is two clusters of laterite buildings within a laterite wall, a pond, and some finely carved sandstone lintels. Entry is free, and you’ll usually have the place to yourself.

What you’ll see

The site follows the standard arogayasala plan: a main tower (prang) facing east, a smaller “library” building, and a boundary wall enclosing them, with a stepped pond just outside to the northeast. The interest is in the detail — the carved lintels over the doorways, and the sense of a working religious-medical station on the old Khmer road network, rather than a grand temple. It’s weathered and quiet, the kind of ruin you explore slowly rather than tick off.

Insider Tip: Look closely at the lintels above the doorframes — they’re the best-preserved carving on the site, and the reason it’s worth stopping if you’re already touring the region’s Khmer remains.

Getting there

Prasat Nang Ram is in rural Prathai, in the northeast of Nakhon Ratchasima province — well over 100 km from Khao Yai, despite what some listings claim, so don’t plan it as a Khao Yai add-on. There’s little public transport; you’ll want your own car or a hired driver. Entry is free and there are minimal facilities.

Watch out: This is an off-the-trail ruin, not a staffed park — bring water, sun protection and insect repellent, and wear shoes that cope with uneven, loose stone. For a bigger Khmer site nearby, aim for Phimai.

The ruin sits in Nakhon Ratchasima province’s northeast. View on Google Maps.