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- prasat hin phimai
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- prasat hin phimai
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- inside one of the buildings
**NOTE (you can click on the above photos to blow them up to full size)**
One of the most culturally alluring sites I’ve visited in Thailand. And some beautiful photo opportunities.
Prasat Hin Phimai Historical Park is an 11th Century Khmer/Thai prasat located about midway between Bangkok and Khon Kaen, with access via Hwy 2. The prasat is located just north of Nakhon Ratchasima (Korat) and you turn east on Highway 206 off of Highway 2. Highway 2 is a major interstate whereas Highway 206 is much smaller but still a comfortable drive.
I visited this park (as seen in the photos) in May 2007 and was impressed by how intact the buildings are. Look at the detail on the photo showing the inside of one of the buildings – and this place is a thousand years old! It has been partially restored, of course.
The lawn is well-kept and landscaped and there are public restrooms as well as vendors there to sell you snacks and a wide array of very affordable souvenirs (i got a souvenir plate with my photo on it for only 100 baht – about $3 American). The park is open daily from 7am to 6pm. While this structure is impressive, the Prasat Phanom Rung is even larger and more impressive (look for a separate blog entry about Phanom Rung).
Although we may use the term “temple” or “village” in English to describe these structures, the prasats were in fact not a true temple, village, or even royal residence as some mistakenly believe based on the decorative statues that adorn the prasats. The prasats were designed as a retreat for those travelling across the Khmer lands to the temple of Angkor (in present-day Cambodia). The Isaan region of Thailand was once part of the vast 11th century Khmer empire.
