Phimai Historical Park in 2014, Phimai District, Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand.
Nakhon Ratchasima, Phimai Historical Park, Phimai District, Korat.
I visited this wonderful Sanctuary on the 21st June 2014. It was getting late in the day having just been to Wat Pa Lak Roi at Non Thai. The sun was fast disappearing and so the light was going fast. Within the Park is the Phimai Sanctuary, the largest and one of the most important Khmer historical sites in Thailand.
The word Phimai appears in an inscription on a stone slab at the front doorway of the building as well as in many other structures. The Phimai Sanctuary is rectangular in shape and is 565 metres wide and 1,030 metres long. It consists of ornately carved sandstone and laterite structures. The most special characteristic of the sanctuary is that it is the only one that faces south while the others usually face east. This is probably because it was built to face the route that the Khmer's travelled from the capital of the empire, to the south of Phimai.
From stone inscriptions and the architectural style, the Phimai Sanctuary was most likely built at the end of the 11th century during the reign of King Suriyaworaman I. The architectural style is that of the Baphuon style that prospered at the time.
However, some characteristics are similar to that of Angkor Wat, which became popular at a later period. Some additions were made to the site in the early 18th Buddhist century during the reign of King Chaiworaman VII when Phimai had close relations with the Khmer Empire. The sanctuary was always a religious site of the Mahayana sect of Buddhism because King Suriyaworaman I and King Chaiworaman VII were followers of the sect.
The Naga Bridge is the first part you pass when visiting the site. The bridge and lion figures stand in front of the Gopura ( porch ) south of the main pagoda. The intention may have been to build a link between earth and heaven according to both Hindu and Buddhist beliefs concerning the universe. The Gopura was adapted as the wall around the sanctuary and the four entering porches. There is a large corridor connecting the outer and inner areas of the main sanctuary. Above each porch is a lintel of various designs.
The Main Prang or pagoda is on an open area in a curved walkway. It is the centre of the site and is made entirely of white sandstone and is different from the porches and walls that are made primarily of red sandstone. This is because white sandstone is more durable than red sandstone. The pagoda is 28 metres high, has a square base, a portico and stairways and doors in all 4 directions.The pagoda consists of a base, outer walls, columns, and porches with beautiful designs. Of vital importance are the lintels that mostly recount the tale of Ramayana from Hinduism and tales of the Mahayana sect of Buddhism.
The lintels above the 4 doorways of the main pagodas inner chamber, the most important room of the pagoda, are all about Buddhism reflecting the Buddhist influence that eventually surpassed that of Hinduism. The carvings are of the Baphoun style and the Angkor Wat style leading to the belief that the main pagoda was built at the end of the 12th century.
Because of its location deep in the northeastern part of Thailand, commonly called Issan, which was once a territory of the Khmer ( modern day Cambodia ), Phimai’s architecture and cultural decorations are heavily influenced by that very same Khmer culture. Art and architecture shown on the temple itself shows great evidence of the ancient Khmer civilization. Similar in its look and design to Angkor Wat, it also has the same function for worshiping the gods in the Hindu religion.
When the tourists enter the area of Phimai from the old town on the south, they have to cross a river about one kilometre to the south and enter an ancient laterite landing stage which archaeologists believe used to be the bathing place for the heroine in local myths. The north gate is the city main gate, which has recently been reconstructed by the Royal Fine Art Department. Its size is enormous; it is said that the size is big enough for a royal elephant to enter. The Royal Fine Art Department has also built an inner gallery which shows ancient Buddhist inscriptions and small sculptures as well as pieces of wrecked architecture. The rest of Phimai remains the same only with a little restoration by the Royal Art Department.
Phimai Historical Park in 2014, Phimai District, Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand.
Nakhon Ratchasima, Phimai Historical Park, Phimai District, Korat.
I visited this wonderful Sanctuary on the 21st June 2014. It was getting late in the day having just been to Wat Pa Lak Roi at Non Thai. The sun was fast disappearing and so the light was going fast. Within the Park is the Phimai Sanctuary, the largest and one of the most important Khmer historical sites in Thailand.
The word Phimai appears in an inscription on a stone slab at the front doorway of the building as well as in many other structures. The Phimai Sanctuary is rectangular in shape and is 565 metres wide and 1,030 metres long. It consists of ornately carved sandstone and laterite structures. The most special characteristic of the sanctuary is that it is the only one that faces south while the others usually face east. This is probably because it was built to face the route that the Khmer's travelled from the capital of the empire, to the south of Phimai.
From stone inscriptions and the architectural style, the Phimai Sanctuary was most likely built at the end of the 11th century during the reign of King Suriyaworaman I. The architectural style is that of the Baphuon style that prospered at the time.
However, some characteristics are similar to that of Angkor Wat, which became popular at a later period. Some additions were made to the site in the early 18th Buddhist century during the reign of King Chaiworaman VII when Phimai had close relations with the Khmer Empire. The sanctuary was always a religious site of the Mahayana sect of Buddhism because King Suriyaworaman I and King Chaiworaman VII were followers of the sect.
The Naga Bridge is the first part you pass when visiting the site. The bridge and lion figures stand in front of the Gopura ( porch ) south of the main pagoda. The intention may have been to build a link between earth and heaven according to both Hindu and Buddhist beliefs concerning the universe. The Gopura was adapted as the wall around the sanctuary and the four entering porches. There is a large corridor connecting the outer and inner areas of the main sanctuary. Above each porch is a lintel of various designs.
The Main Prang or pagoda is on an open area in a curved walkway. It is the centre of the site and is made entirely of white sandstone and is different from the porches and walls that are made primarily of red sandstone. This is because white sandstone is more durable than red sandstone. The pagoda is 28 metres high, has a square base, a portico and stairways and doors in all 4 directions.The pagoda consists of a base, outer walls, columns, and porches with beautiful designs. Of vital importance are the lintels that mostly recount the tale of Ramayana from Hinduism and tales of the Mahayana sect of Buddhism.
The lintels above the 4 doorways of the main pagodas inner chamber, the most important room of the pagoda, are all about Buddhism reflecting the Buddhist influence that eventually surpassed that of Hinduism. The carvings are of the Baphoun style and the Angkor Wat style leading to the belief that the main pagoda was built at the end of the 12th century.
Because of its location deep in the northeastern part of Thailand, commonly called Issan, which was once a territory of the Khmer ( modern day Cambodia ), Phimai’s architecture and cultural decorations are heavily influenced by that very same Khmer culture. Art and architecture shown on the temple itself shows great evidence of the ancient Khmer civilization. Similar in its look and design to Angkor Wat, it also has the same function for worshiping the gods in the Hindu religion.
When the tourists enter the area of Phimai from the old town on the south, they have to cross a river about one kilometre to the south and enter an ancient laterite landing stage which archaeologists believe used to be the bathing place for the heroine in local myths. The north gate is the city main gate, which has recently been reconstructed by the Royal Fine Art Department. Its size is enormous; it is said that the size is big enough for a royal elephant to enter. The Royal Fine Art Department has also built an inner gallery which shows ancient Buddhist inscriptions and small sculptures as well as pieces of wrecked architecture. The rest of Phimai remains the same only with a little restoration by the Royal Art Department.