Phimai Historical Park in Buriram

Enjoyed the ancient structures

Phimai had previously been an important town at the time of the Khmer Empire. The temple Prasat Hin Phimai, located in the center of the town, was one of the major Khmer temples in ancient Thailand, connected with Angkor by an ancient Khmer Highway, and oriented to face Angkor as its cardinal direction. The site is now protected as the Phimai Historical Park.The temple marks one end of the Ancient Khmer Highway from Angkor. As the enclosed area of 1020x580m is comparable with that of Angkor Wat, it is suggested to have been an important city in the Khmer Empire. Most buildings are from the late 11th to the late 12th century, built in the Baphuon, Bayon and Khmer temple style. However, even though the Khmer at that time were Hindu, the temple was built as a Buddhist temple,[1] since the inhabitants of the Khorat area had been Buddhists as far back as the 7th century. Inscriptions name the site Vimayapura (which means city of Vimaya), which developed into the Thai name Phimai.In the aftermath of the fall of the Ayutthaya Kingdom in 1767, attempts were made to set up five separate states, with Prince Teppipit, a son of King Borommakot, attempting to establish Phimai as one, ruling over eastern provinces including Nakhon Ratchasima. As the weakest of the five, Prince Teppipit was the first to be defeated and was executed in 1768.The first inventory of the ruins was done in 1901 by the French geographer Etienne Aymonier. The site was put under Thai governmental protection by announcement in the Government Gazette, Volume 53, section 34, on September 27, 1936. Most of the restorations were done from 1964 to 1969 as a joint Thai-French project. The historical park, now managed by the Fine Arts Department, was officially opened by Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn on April 12, 1989..

Very beautiful and well-kept historical park. Larger than I expected but I really enjoyed walking through the park.

must go place when you visit phimai

Very impressive architecture. Worth the ride

One of the most stunning places Ive been to on Thailand, although Im biased because family live here. This is an extremely impressive complex in a busy rural town. You could quite easily spend a day here looking around and then going into the town.

It is worth the effort and interesting to note it is a precursor architecturally to the world famous Angkor Wat. Yes, this part of Thailand and Buriram and Surin etc. were once part of the Khmer empire.

Shame about the dual pricing structure but a lovely old temple nonetheless.

Very beautiful historical place. The center of ancient city about 1,000 years ago.

Amazing preservation of ancient architecture. Well taken care of park surroundings. Go early as afternoon is too hot. Entrance fee 100 bhat only.

An absolutely amazing piece of architecture.In general this park is a great photo opportunity.The main temple has been restored and you can walk through and see the shrine.The smaller adjacent temples are closed off.Some of the accessory buildings you can also tour.There is no museum on site, you have to go 2 blocks away, which requires a separate admission fee.Plan on about 60 minutes to tour the grounds.

Its a short drive from Korat and it is a beautiful historical site. You can walk through almost everything and see how the stone stood the test of time. Definitely worth taking a quick trip there. It also doesnt take long to see everything either.

Huge temple complex with beautiful architecture and carvings on stone. It take bit of walking around to explore it completely. Greenery all around and huge trees give much needed respite in hot sun if you have not selected the visit time in early morning.Large and clean lawns are maintained well and along with blue skies provide a contrasting backdrop for the elegant dark colour buildings and great opportunities for photo to share back home.There is a small museum explaining the architecture and history and has toilets etc.Just outside there are many facilities including a Seven Eleven and other eateries and shops selling local stuff and souvenirs.

Temple kmer, very beautiful and huge. Go visiting it

Cool historical site. Great place for photos. Try to go on a cool day.

This is a smaller version of the Angkor Wat in Cambodia. It is worth stopping at if you are in the area. I would take some water along as climbing up and down all the stairs "rocks" in the heat will make you thirsty. The stairs are not bad there are few steps but many stairs. It took us abount an hour and a half to walk it all. Take cash its 100 bht a person.

A very interesting historical complex that you can visit in a couple of hours or less if you are pressed with time. Early morning is magical...

Impressive one. The old building is located in the center of city. All of them were built from stone that is always stunning me how effort they built them without any smart tools. No public transportation I saw only private cars.

Pretty impressive that there are these ruins in the middle of this small town. Its pretty small grounds but the structure and carvings on the ruins are very impressive. Theres hardly any other tourists and it took us about an hour to go through. You need to dress modestly to get in.

Decent sized Khmer ruin with a nice visitor center. About a 20-30 minute visit

Glad we went during a time tthat we had the place almost to ourselves. Double pricing 100baht versus 20. If you have been to Ankor Wat you will appreciate the historical connection.

Ancient Khmer castle reminiscent of a small Angkor Wat. The day i went, the sky was clear very suitable for walking. An ancient civilization worth preserving.

Avery unique place where once Vajrayana Buddhist rituals were practiced some 1300 years ago under the reign of King Jayavarman VII in the 13th century. The layout of the temple is in the form of a mandala being a reflection of the heavenly realms under the guidance of Bodhisattva Vajrasattva

A really enjoyable and interesting place to visit. Stroll around and take in the ruins of this beaitiful ruined Khmer templw.

Amazing, and so much more than what I expected. I live an hour away so should have made the trip earlier, but will be back! Really well preserved, and it covers a quite big area. Lots of big trees gives shadow, so a nice place to stroll around for an hour or so. Sit down and reflect on the history! Double pricing but still well worth the money.

Khmer era style buildings from the 10th and 11th centuries. Some parts well preserved. This is a great place to walk around, quiet and peaceful with only a few visitors, nice green areas also to just sit and relax. There is a great bar nearby called ไอดา about 5 minutes walk away.When we were there they also had a night show with great lighting.Reduced to 3 stars because of the dual pricing policy, iterwise I would have given 4

When you are there you are enjoying with every moment stepping around, but when you are away other side of the planet and looking in phone gallery pictures you realise - I miss, I wish stay longer, I wish to touch every wall and stone and circle around those ancient building - just simple be there and sitting down somewhere and enjoy the moment in silent.

100 baht entry fee. I didnt see anything indicating Thais pay less so cant comment on that issue. I dont think 100 baht is unreasonable either way. Its a minor temple in the Khmer, Angkor style from that period. Not as impressive as those in Cambodia but definitely worth a visit.

The park and ruins are great, with tall trees and ponds. But much of them are undergoing maintainance at the moment.

An amazing experience walking along these ancient ruins, the Angkor Kingdom actually influence much of Indochina regions. The culture, architecture and lifestyle.... Good to have a quick short visit if you are passing through. Will not take a long time, about an hour max.

A must visit attraction while in Korat. Beautiful restoration and very low key without the tourist hustle. A 50 baht, 1 hr bus ride will get you there from Korat or a 600 baht grab. Either way, it’s worth it. We went early in the morning and got there around 8am. The light is beautiful at that hour and we were there before the heat and other visitors. Be sure to allow time and wear good shoes so you can walk through town to the Banyan Tree (as others have mentioned.It’s about 1/2 walk and you can pass by the east gate and lotus pond. Have lunch at one of the stalls near the banyan tree before heading out. The perfect day in the area!!!

It was a gorgeous place. I love visiting historic locations and to be able to to touch and experience something from the 11th century is awesome. It wasnt crowded which made it even better. Price for a foreigner is 100 baht (20baht if youre a local).

Great historical place, well designed, surprisingly cool when standing inside the palace even on a hot day maybe due to ancient design.

Greatful historical place. The largest stone castle in Thailand. It is anciently sanctuary and was built by believe, spirit and religion. Peace, restful and relaxing inside the place. Every details are stunning. So wonder how it built and feeling back to the age. Pleasantly and marvellously surprised!!Officers are welcoming and helpful.Love Thailand.

Amazing place and a must visit if in the area. I didnt even know about the place. Should be advertised and talked about more.Is like Angkor Wat.....not quite on the scale though, but bigger than I thought it was going to be.The usual here though farang price 5 times more than my Wife.....LMAO 5 times. Still only 100 baht though and they need the money for the upkeep.

Exceptional. The place is supposed to be one inspiration for Angkor temple and is great representing the khmer style. The site best visited just before sunset. Situated in a calm and very friendly village.

Great weekend trip destination if you dont mind the long drive. Recommend you spend the night in Korat before coming. Grounds are well kept but some of the construction/renovation work were not neat and ruins the original historic elements..come before they ruin it completely.

Another must-visit historical site at Phimai district Nakhon Ratchasima province, which was built about a hundred year before the Angkor Wat at Siem Reap Cambodia was constructed. The park is well taken care of and in proper maintenance.

excellent overnight stay. visited park at 8am.quite extraordinary seeing dimensions of building material and learning that elephants, horses, donkeys and boats were used to transport from nearby mountains, which I couldnt see, so must have been some distance away. remarkable feat of construction 11/12th century, but dont say if bhuddist time or other, 543 years difference.Certainly worth a visit, and its massive. not recommended if dodgy knees. Worth noting abscence of grouting, so blocks are symetrically carved.

Well worth a visit.Avoid the day time heat. there arent cover.The parking lot has a capacity of about 30 with a good portion reserved.. Come early morning or late afternoon seems the best.if you are a serious photographer you may spend an entire day here!

Beautiful place to come to and explore! Very well looked after and a eye-catching site to see! The inner section of the monument is well preserved and you can walk right through it. The outside is decorated with large shady very old trees how gives this place a beautiful green look ! If you travel by yourself juse your GOOGLE MAPS! It will get you there !There is good accommodation around for a stay overnight !Enjoy

Very interesting historical site, with excellent information and places to relax and enjoy the views of the old temple and buildings.Phimai Town is adjacent with many shops, bars and food places to relax and enjoy excellent Thai food and hospitality.

Just located right in the town centre. I thought it will be a small park to stroll around but I am wrong. It’s like in Angkor Wat but a smaller version of it. Enter at 8:30 in the morning when the gate open and there is no one else. Took me around 2 hours to walk and photographed around. Not as small as I thought. Very beautiful monument. Don’t forget about the tourist centre where it provides the basic knowledge about the site.

Beautiful restored Khmer temple. Founded in the 11th century. Similar in style as khao phanom rung in Buri Ram. Well worth a visit. Dont forget to visit nearby Sai Ngam for a cool walk in a banyan tree/golden fig Forrest with lots of eating opportunities.

A truly beautiful place and cheap to enter, but unfortunately not a lot to it.Before we went in, we hired umbrellas from a stall next door to protect us from the baking afternoon sun, which were a godsend. My entry fee as a Western tourist was double that of my Thai girlfriend and her Thai friend, which is apparently normal across Thailand. Thankfully, it was still very cheap.The ruins of the old stone buildings were remarkable! There were a series of archways lined across the area, many of which were very grand indeed, and all of which we walked through. Some of these arches led to old rooms - with ceilings - containing Buddhist statues, (which again were a fabulous sight to behold), and others led to partially walled rooms - without ceilings - that used to be bedrooms.At the back of the park were the two largest and most spectacular looking trees I have ever seen up close, towering above us. Nearby to these was a large and attractive pond that was covered in algae. It would have been a nice place to sit down after all the walking/climbing in the sun, if we hadnt have found ourselves thirsty and needing the toilet.If memory serves, there was a gift shop onsite that we didnt go into, near to the toilets that we did. We then left to get lunch, after wed been there for only about 30-40 minutes altogether. Like I said, there wasnt a lot to do or see there, but the money had been worth it.Please note that the park is not wheelchair friendly; be expecting to climb often steep and uneven stairs in order to get to some of the ruins.

June 2014 I was here at this remarkable place in Korat another name for Nakhon Ratchasima in what is known as Issan, or the North Eastern part of Thailand. Each individual building has its own special features or functions. For example, Prang Brahmadat was built of laterite blocks that form a square. Or Prang Hin Daeng which translates to Red Stone Tower, which is also a square but was made of red sandstone. Or the main sanctuary built of white sandstone that is almost 32 meters long. The southern lintel has a statue of Buddha meditating with seven hoods of naga Muchalinda. Adjacent to the statue is a collection of statues of evils and animals that was depicted from the Tantric Mahayana Buddhist scripture.Today Phimai is a well-known tourist attraction, especially among people interested in history and archaeology. Located in the middle of Phimai is a small gallery which forms a rectangle surrounding the courtyard which has been newly built for commercial purpose. Within the gallery there is a pre-Angkorean (Buddhistinscription that tells the story of Buddha ( Prince Siddhartha Gautama and his journey to becoming Buddha, along with other classic Buddhist stories. Along with the prangs which symbolize that the area is a sacred area. Phimai has always been an important tourist attraction for Thailand.When the tourists enter the area of Phimai from the old town on the south, they have to cross a river about one kilometre to the south and enter an ancient laterite landing stage which archaeologists believe used to be the bathing place for the heroine in local myths. The north gate is the city main gate, AKA the “Pratu Chai”, which has recently been reconstructed by the Royal Fine Art Department. Its size is enormous; it is said that the size is big enough for a royal elephant to enter. The Royal Fine Art Department has also built an inner gallery which shows ancient Buddhist inscriptions and small sculptures as well as pieces of wrecked architecture. The rest of Phimai remains the same only with a little restoration by the Royal Art Department.Having a lot in common with Angkor Wat, Phimai shows a great example of classical Khmer architecture. Ancient Khmer architects were best known for their superior use of sandstone over the traditional bricks and laterite architectures. Sandstones are used on the outer layer where they are visible. Laterite on the other hand was used for the outer wall and other hidden parts. All the structures are huge sandstone blocks. There are many lotus shaped roofs which represent Mount Meru ( A holy mountain in Hinduism ).These Khmer temples, Phimai in this case, were intended to resemble the universe. The main building resembles the peak of the mountain that centres the universe. The surrounding walls resemble the water and encircling mountains. The Khmer didn’t develop the technique of true Vault architecture during their time. This results in that large areas could not be roofed over. They didn’t have the motivation to come up with how to develop the technique of true vaulting because their religion didn’t require this. For them, large open areas are fine. They instead developed the use multiple chapels.

This is a must see ancient monument when visiting Isaan. It is a photographer’s delight, and I would recommend a visit in the early morning when the sun is in the right position to get some good photos. Also there will not be many people around.It is easy to get some memorable photos, as well as interesting angles.The grounds are very well maintained , and there is a very well presented information centre that you should visit before starting your tour. Entry cost was 100 baht for foreigners.When you have finished your visit there are interesting markets to visit nearby, with plenty of places to get great food to eat.Well worth the visit.

Totally worth the admission fee of 100 Baht. Beautiful old Khmer ruins. Not that much tourists. Great place.

The largest Buddhist Sanctuary in Thailand (according to the visitors centerand absolutely stunning. This should not be missed when visiting Thailand.I recommend arriving at opening time (8amas you will have it almost to yourself and the light is in the right spot for photos.Entrance fee for all non-thai visitors is 100 baht. There is free very detailed pamphlet explaining everything you can pick up at the Visitors Center upon entry.

Beautiful. I have been here many times and I find that it has improved a lot on landscape... Nice and clean and green. Prepare you polite outfits to visit here :-no shorts allowed. Cover your shoulders too.