Phimai Thailand

About 60 kilometers from the town of Korat you will find Phimai, a smaller town enveloped in history and tradition. Your first stop should be the Phimai National Museum which is considered to be the center of cultural heritage in northeastern Thailand. Artifacts from throughout the region as well as a small collection of art are on display at the museum. Be sure to see the large collection of lintels outside of the museum building.

On the edge of town stands the Phimai Historical Park which protects one of the most important Khmer temples in Thailand. Phimai appears to have been an important city in the Khmer empire. Some of the best-preserved ruins in the Isan are in the park, making Phimai a very popular destination for those who have an interest in archeology or history. The buildings that have survived are from the late 11th to the late 12th century, built in the Baphuon, Bayon and Angkor Wat style. Interestingly, even though the Khmer at that time were Hindu, the temple was built as a Buddhist temple.