Phimai is an ancient Khmer city, located in Thailand near the famous Angkor Wat. It is a sheet of consideration for its inclusion in the World Heritage list of UNESCO. The name “phimai” in the Khmer language means “big city”. In ancient times it was situated on the popular road to Angkor and has been a constant point of visiting pilgrims.

The city was founded approximately in II century, after the capture by the Khmer Thai state of Dvaravati. Its area is a rectangle, surrounded by a deep moat and high walls.

One of the greatest in Thailand Khmer temples is the temple of Phimai, it was assumed that this was the name of an important religious figure. As can be seen from the architecture, the temple was built as a Buddhist temple of the Mahayana school. It should be noted that other Khmer temples are Hindu, Phimai - a rare exception.

The temple is impressive with the size: its width is 565 meters and the length of 1030 metres. It is home to the bridge of the Nagas (mythical serpents), symbolically representing the connection between heaven and earth. Central prang (stupa, shaped like an ear of corn) made of white Sandstone, while everything else is red.

Of particular importance in the city was attached to the Central gate in the fortress wall, through which passed the road to the capital of the Khmer.

In the South-East of the city is Maine Brahmadatta - the place where according to legend was buried the ashes of the Khmer king.

In the period from 1964 to 1969 in historic restoration work was carried out in cooperation with the Embassy of France, presided by the Prince Aichi Carabosse and Bernard Philippe Groslier, also engaged in the restoration of Angkor Wat in Cambodia. Thanks to the careful work of scientists managed to preserve the ancient carvings depicting stories of the Buddha's life and scenes from the Ramayana.