Phimai Historical Park is an ancient Khmer city of the Khmer Empire in Thailand situated in Phimai
District of Nakhon Ratchasima Province and is about 60 kilometers north
from Phimai, the Capital. The ancient Khmer city [ and earlier in
7 - 8 C part of Chenla Kingdom ] is surrounded by a moat adjacent to the Mun
River on the east and north boundaries. Phimai is the largest Khmer
ruins complex in Thailand and comprises an inner moated city, 565 by
1030 metres, which was built in the 11 – 12 C with further
additions in the 13 C.
The Temple City was surrounded by a laterite wall 3,350 feet by
1,900 feet with the Temple enclosed by two walls, the outer measuring
900 feet by 720 feet and the innermost wall 272 by 243 feet. The complex
includes the usual structures, naga terraces, gopuras, pavilions, a
library. The key feature is the inner court yard which houses three
towers. The central and principal tower was built in 11 – 12 C and
is made of sandstone. The outer walls are decorated with lintels and
bas-reliefs depicting scenes from the Ramayana, illustrating battles
between Ravana and Rama. The southern side has bas-reliefs of Shiva and
its interior has bas-reliefs of Buddha, Bodhisattvas and Mara. The
Temple is Budhist, not Hindu and was part of the Mahayana school which
was prevalent in the Mun Valley from the 7 C onwards.
Phimai has large and small ponds to represent the oceans. The central
sanctuary is enclosed by narrow corridor galleries. Cruciform entrances
[ or Gopuras ] are installed at cardinal points. Carvings of Hindu Gods
ornament the pediments and lintels of these entrances. Within the
sacred area the central tower [ or prang ] culminates in a lotus bulb
shaped finial and represents Mount Meru. This is built of sandstone.
The Prang is many tiered and rests on a base, which is a tall re-dented
cube like structure which itself is set on other re-dented and
ascending sandstone platforms. Below the tiers of the tower and set in
the cube re-dented base was placed the linga, or phallic emblem of the
God Shiva and later a Buddha image.
The other two towers were built in 13 C. One was made of laterite and
the other, of red sandstone. The former houses a large sculpture of
King Jayavarman [ of Angkor ] who reigned during its construction.
Phimai has similar features to those at Phnom Rung
, it has access via a long causeway with terraces, the stone
balustrades of which are shaped as serpents or Nagas. These Nagas
have multiple flaring heads which are crowned, and act as
guardians of the earths' waters and are said to represent the rainbow,
the link between the world of men and the Gods. Accordingly when one
approaches these sanctuaries [ or Temples ] via these Naga causeways
one is reminded that as a devotee he or she is leaving the earthly
plan, physically and spiritually, for higher levels of enlightenment.
Just north of Phimai Historical Park, and not to be missed, is the
Phimai National Museum which houses Khmer artifacts and works of art
from excavations, not only from Phimai, but other Khmer ruins in
southern I 'san. This complex is the most outstanding example of Khmer
Architecture in Thailand.
