Phimai

Phimai is an old walled town on the Khorat Plateau, celebrated for its great Khmer sanctuary. Unlike many Angkorian temples, the sandstone complex was built for Mahayana Buddhist worship, though Hindu figures also appear among its carvings. Its southern entrance faces the route toward Angkor, connecting the town to the Khmer capital through a network of roads and religious foundations.

The sanctuary developed between the eleventh and thirteenth centuries. Its towers, galleries and gateways made Phimai a major centre of Khmer art on the plateau. After the decline of Angkorian power, the town remained a regional centre. Under Siamese rule it exercised authority over neighbouring settlements; tribute from towns farther east, including elephants and other forest products, passed through Phimai toward the royal court.