The Phimai Historical Park (ปราสาทหินพิมาย) or Prasat Hin Phimai is perhaps the largest Khmer temple of Thailand, located in the town of Phimai in Nakhon Ratchasima province (Korat).
Built during the 11th-12th Century CE, this Khmer temple is among the best-preserved in Thailand, connected with Angkor by the Khmer highway, and it’s pretty similar and comparable with Angkor Wat. Parts of the park are older than Angkor Wat. The region was integrated into the Khmer state around 1000 CE.For the following 300 years, Phimai was a important regional administrative center. The first inventory of the ruins was done in 1901 by the French geographer Etienne Aymonier.
Linked to Angkor by a sacred road, Phimai was a regional centre of the Khmer empire. Having a lot in common with Angkor Wat, Phimai is an example of typical and classical Khmer architecture. Ancient Khmer architects were well known for their use of sandstone over the traditional bricks and laterite architectures. The three principal structural materials are bricks, sandstone, and laterite.
Prasat Hin Phimai hosts a 28-meter tall towering central prang embraced by stone corridors, beautiful carvings and broad-leaved trees. It’s highly recommended to visit its Naga bridge and starcaise, a must see. Khmer temples, as well as Phimai, were intended to resemble the universe. The main building resembles the peak of Mount Meru at the center of the universe. The surrounding walls resemble the water and encircling mountains. The rectangular complex measures over 1,000 meters long and around 600 meters wide.
Opens every day from 7 am to 6 pm.
Phone: +66 44 471 535
-Thailand News (TN)
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