Phimai (Thai: พิมาย) is a township (thesaban tambon) in Nakhon Ratchasima Province in northeast Thailand. As of 2005 the town had a population of 9,768. The town is the administrative center of the Phimai District.
In the aftermath of the fall of the Ayutthaya Kingdom in 1767, attempts were made to set up five separate states, with Prince Teppipit, a son of king Boromakot, attempting to establish Phimai as one, holding sway over eastern provinces including Nakhon Ratchasima. The weakest of the five, Prince Teppipit was the first defeated and was executed in 1768. Phimai had also been an important town at the time of the Khmer empire.
The region was integrated into the Khmer state around 1000 CE.: 99, 116 For the following 300 years, Phimai was a major regional administrative center. The temple Prasat Hin Phimai, in the center of the town, was one of the major Khmer temples in what is now Thailand, connected with Angkor by the Khmer highway, and oriented so as to face Angkor as its cardinal direction. The site is now protected as the Phimai Historical Park.
Phimai has recently been the base of operations for the excavation of Ban Non Wat.
The night market offers cheap, if sometimes unidentifiable, food.
The most obvious choice for late-night entertainment in the centre of town is the restaurant next to the 7-Eleven and across from the night market. It serves beer and whiskey until 01:00-02:00, and is popular with young Thais (and foreigners), who gather for celebrations and musical performances. There's daily live guitar and singing. There are also various karaoke bars scattered in and around the city.
The night market takes place every evening in the centre of town (16:00-21:00). The Monday market takes place each Monday on the outskirts of town, near the new bus terminal and the Phimai Inn. The 8 market takes place on the 8th, 18th and 28th of each month beyond the South Gate of Phimai, alongside the road leading to Baitey's and the Vocational School. Every day in the early morning hours and until around 8/9am, there is a morning market in Suriya Uthai Road.
Local buses run approx. every 30 minutes (05:30-22:00) from the provincial capital of Nakhon Ratchasima (also known as Korat). The 60-km trip costs 50 baht and takes 70-90 minutes. Before entering the terminal which is on the outskirts, the bus may go through the town; if you see a Khmer temple, by all means get off.
From points north, disembark at Talad Kae, and wait for the local bus as above. The fare from Nong Khai is 200 baht to Talad Kae, and then 13 baht from there to Phimai.
The town itself is quite small and can be easily explored on foot. Sai Ngam, the banyan tree, is 1.5km from the ruins and is easily reached by bicycle or can be walked in 20 minutes.
