One of the biggest and best museums in Isan, the Phimai National Museum is well worth a visit. Situated on the banks of Sa Kwan, a 12th-century Khmer reservoir, the museum consists of two spacious buildings housing a fine collection of Khmer sculptures from not just Phimai but also many other ruins from around Isan. Though the focus is on the Khmer era, there are also artefacts from Muang Sema, distinctive trumpet-mouthed and black Phimai pottery from Ban Prasat and Buddha images from various periods.
Phimai National Museum
Nakhon Ratchasima Province
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
0.37 MILES
Prasat Phimai is one of the most impressive Khmer ruins in Thailand, both in its grand scale and its intricate details. Though built as a Mahayana…
0.65 MILES
A bit east of town is Thailand's largest and oldest banyan tree, a 350-plus-year-old giant spread over an island. The extensive system of interlocking…
8.37 MILES
Three excavation pits with replica skeletons (the originals were damaged over time) and pottery left in situ from the 1991 excavations are on display in…
0.66 MILES
This south gate is the most intact and noteworthy of Phimai's three surviving 13th-century city gates (the east gate is in ruins), built by King…
0.92 MILES
This minor ruin was the temple for a health centre built in the early 13th century by Jayavarman VII. It's aligned generally to the east, typical of Khmer…
0.49 MILES
Meru Bhramathat is a toppled brick stupa dating back to the late Ayuthaya period (18th century). Its name is derived from a folk tale that refers to it as…
8.33 MILES
This small but good museum houses some of the artefacts found around Ban Prasat. It also explains what village life was like in those days and in the…
Nearby Nakhon Ratchasima Province attractions
0.15 MILES
Phimai city's northern gate, built by King Jayavarman VII in the 13th century.
0.24 MILES
There's almost nothing left of Phimai city's eastern gate, built by King Jayavarman VII in the 13th century. But, a bit of the original moat and an…
0.26 MILES
Phimai's city pillar is unusually short and stubby because it's a laterite block taken from Prasat Phimai.
0.37 MILES
Prasat Phimai is one of the most impressive Khmer ruins in Thailand, both in its grand scale and its intricate details. Though built as a Mahayana…
0.49 MILES
Meru Bhramathat is a toppled brick stupa dating back to the late Ayuthaya period (18th century). Its name is derived from a folk tale that refers to it as…
0.65 MILES
A bit east of town is Thailand's largest and oldest banyan tree, a 350-plus-year-old giant spread over an island. The extensive system of interlocking…