Phimai Historical Park

Beautiful and underrated historical site Phimai Historical Park really surprised me. The temple complex is huge, peaceful, and full of amazing Khmer-style architecture. The carvings and layout are incredibly detailed, and you can easily imagine how impressive this place must have been hundreds of years ago. I loved how quiet and relaxing the park felt — not crowded at all, so you can take your time walking around, taking photos, and enjoying the atmosphere. It’s well maintained, the lawns are clean, and the whole area has a very calm, ancient vibe. The sunlight can get strong, so bring water and a hat if you go during the day. The entrance fee is fair - 200 baht for foreigners, and I’d say the park is absolutely worth a visit if you’re in Korat or anywhere nearby. Overall: a beautiful, historic place that’s perfect for a slow, meaningful stop. Highly recommend! 💯

Awesome and beautifull. Have been to Ayutthaya and Sukothai, but this was mindblowing to me to see. Lopburi-Art / Khmer influenced and historical to the history of Thailand and Buddhism. If you liked Ayutthaya and Sukothai than you will Love this at Phimai near Nakhon Ratchasima / Korat.

Well worth the drive to see a 1,000 years old temple, a special place.....300 Baht to enter for a farang, the ruins are quite vast so allow a reasonable amount of time to explore. Best to go in the morning or later in the afternoon as can get quite hot during the middle of the day.

Phimai historical park is the one of the most important Khmer temples (Traditional Cambodian style temple) of Thailand. Much of this has been said by others. Normally, the temple closes at 5:30 pm, until the end of January 2026 the temple will open longer (until 9 pm I believe) and will be lit by lights. Worth going.

Very clean and well maintained site. Staff inside the visitor's center were helpful and greeted us with kindness. There are plenty of shady benches to relax and enjoy the scenery. Overall though it's a small site compared with other historic sites in central Thailand. In my opinion, not worth the 200 baht entry price, which was 10 times the price my partner paid. I've traveled all over this country and have visited over 50 national parks, so I have a good feel for what you should expect for 100, 200, 300, and 400 baht entry. And I'm used to dual pricing too, but 200 is too high for this site, and 10 times the local price is just insulting. I'm sorry to say that I don't recommend this site, no matter how pretty it is.

Well worthwhile a 2 hour walk about...amazing building from rhe past...perhaps only 1/2 preservada. Relaxing beauty from the past...watch moviendo in good information centre. Thai pay less...farang 200b.

Phimai Temple in Nakhon Ratchasima province is one of the largest and most important Khmer temples in Thailand. Me and Carrot visited as part of our Isan roadtrip and we were both impressed with the scale of the complex and the beautiful carvings and sculptures. Construction started 1000 years ago, before Angkor Wat in Cambodia.

Phimai Temple (Prasat Hin Phimai) is one of the largest and most important Khmer temples in Thailand, renowned for its grand scale, exquisite carvings, and unique role as a Buddhist sanctuary built during the Khmer Empire. Located in Nakhon Ratchasima province, Phimai was constructed between the 11th and 12th centuries and served as a major religious and cultural hub at the end of the ancient highway that connected it directly to Angkor. Unlike many Khmer temples, which were dedicated to Hindu deities, Phimai was built as a Mahayana Buddhist temple, reflecting the spiritual diversity of the Khmer world. Highlights of Phimai Temple Architecture: The temple complex stretches over 1,000 by 600 meters, making it the largest Khmer site in Thailand. Its central sanctuary, built of white sandstone, is adorned with intricate lintels and pediments depicting both Hindu and Buddhist themes. Symbolism: The layout follows the Khmer cosmic plan, with the central prang representing Mount Meru, the axis of the universe. Interestingly it is one of the only Khmer temples to face south. Unique Identity: While its style resembles Angkor Wat, Phimai predates it by nearly a century and stands out for its explicitly Buddhist dedication.