Prasat Hin Phimai

Close to Nakhon Ratchasima is the small town of Phimai. A bit of driving around will bring you to the Phimai Historical Park, in which you can find Prasat Hin Phimai.

Proudly proclaimed as the largest ancient structure in Thailand, the temple is a smaller sibling to Angkor Wat. It was built about nine hundred years ago and was once connected to Angkor Wat by a highway, and the structure points towards Angkor. Although the Khmer kingdom was Hindu at the time, the temple was build in the Buddhist style. And that is my attempt at providing some history; if you want any more, look it up.

My perception of the place is probably coloured by the fact that we visited at 0830 on a cool morning with bright blue skies; but I found it to be very charming. No gaudy signs, well maintained grounds, and an entrance fee of 100 baht for foreigners (free for Thais) which I thought entirely reasonable. Some photos:

Well worth a visit, but go early; by 0930 it was becoming less tranquil:

Olympus E-M1 with 12-40mm and 40-150mm

Comments 🔗

2014-12-14 | Grant says

It is indeed a special place and you’ve caught it very well. Nice to see you took your dog ‘Nipples’ along for the ride and that he’s allowed in the Beamer now… Don’t s’pose you happened to put the drone up?

2014-12-14 | Spike says

Up the dog? No, it’s illegal. Sore point actually. Took the drone on the trip and was an hour after leaving the temple that I remembered I had it with me…. Never used it on the trip and it would have been ideal at this temple. I am a dick.

2014-12-14 | Grant says

But just a small one… Good excuse for another excursion, it’s not that far away and it’s nearish neighbour Phanom Rung may be even more impressive from a drone, especially the down hill part. Just don’t fling it up at Khao Phra Wihan lest it be shot down by the Cambodians…

2014-12-14 | Keith says

I am a bit surprised that Phimai is the largest. It may just be the area around the temple but the Prasat Hin Phanom Rung for me was a lot more impressive than Phimai. If you have the time and your own wheels I would be interested in your thoughts on how the 2 compare.

2014-12-15 | Grant says

So was I Keith, unless the Phimai Junior Chamber of Commerce included the whole town when they made their claim! Phimai is a very pleasant spot, the temple ruins are compact and well restored and kept in tidy order. Nice little town too but not much else to keep you there except maybe lunch, but a definite must-see. I felt that the close juxtaposition of temple and town gave the ruins an integrated domestic sort of aspect, the whole place feels pretty comfortable. Phanom Rung is way different. It’s built on top of an extinct volcano at an elevation of 1300-odd feet and on a clear day you can see Cambodia. It’s huge and impressive, a magnificent structure in a magnificent setting. I was so bowled over I nearly bought a souvenir. It seems to have more complete rooms and structures left than Phimai, perhaps it was too far away for easy recycling, but seems to lack any detailed interpretation of what actually went on there. Nearly 800 metres from back to front, it’s helpful if you can get dropped off at one end and picked up at the other. Compulsory viewing but do see Phimai first to keep things in scale and perspective.

2014-12-15 | Spike says

Been there, done that, didn’t get the T-shirt: 2010_07_prasat-hin-phanom-rung I think Grant’s summary says it all.

2014-12-15 | Chang Noi says

In the matter of Prasit Hin Phanom Rung (weird name) and Phimai I agree with Spike who agrees with Grant on the this. But having covered those 2 you will be happy (or not) to know that the Isaan is littered with remains of the Greater Khmer Kingdom. Although I must say indeed Phanom Rung, Phimai and Phra Wihan are the most impressive.

2014-12-16 | Grant says

Does anyone know the current situation regarding access to Phra Wihan? I was going to have a look some years ago but the border squabbles and the shooting started so it seemed wise to let it lie for a bit. Be nice to get an up-date. Ivo, you’re nearly a local, any gen on this one?

2014-12-16 | Chang Noi says

No actually I do not know if it is open or closed. It has been open not long time ago …at least from the Cambodian side. I will ask some real locals.

2014-12-17 | Andrew says

These seem awfully clean - none of the decay of Angkor - kind of like the Chinese tidy up crew before the Olympics went through - also seem to be missing the constant begging and legless orchestras etc….but then again they are small compared to that and as such probably much easier to sweep up at the end of the day….

2014-12-17 | Grant says

Good point Andrew and it’s all to do with the differences between the two countries. The Thai Royal Fine Arts Dept has enjoyed hugely influential patronage and a substantial budget to ensure that sites under its control are as well presented as possible and make a good impression whereas Cambodia has had no such advantage. Worth remembering though that in Thailand this has mostly occurred well within the last 50+ years and that in the 1950’s most of the now developed Thai historical sites could match anything in Cambodia decay for decay and jungle for jungle as contemporary photos well illustrate. How great it would have been to have seen them then. Note to Uncle Spike - any chance of you photoshopping a bit of jungle into a couple of selected shots, just for us…?