'''Phimai''' (?????) is a small town in Nakhon Ratchasima Province, Thailand.

Get in

Local buses run approx. every 20 minutes (06:00-19:00) from the nearby provincial capital of Nakhon Ratchasima (also known as Khorat). The local bus may stop on the road leading to the Khimer ruins; if you see a Khmer temple, by all means get off.

Get around

The town itself is quite small and can be easily explored on foot. Visiting the Banyan Tree requires renting a bicycle, motorcycle, or taxi.

See

Phimai is famous for the '''Phimai Historical Park''' and its '''Khmer temples''', among the best-preserved in Thailand and similar (if much smaller) than those at Angkor Wat.

The largest banyan tree in Thailand is located approximately 2 km outside the center of town.

Do

Buy

The '''night market''' takes place every evening in the center 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.

Eat

The night market offers cheap food for more adventurous visitors (don't expect to be able to identify everything on display). Baitey's Restaurant, in its new location 1 km south of the city center, serves popular Thai and Chinese dishes, along with a few Western staples, in a scenic open-air setting. A small, unnamed restaurant behind the 7-11 is another good choice with an extensive English menu.

Drink

The most obvious choice for late-night entertainment is a restaurant next to the 7-11 and across from the night market, in the center of town. Serving beer and whiskey until 01:00-02:00, it's a popular spot for young Thais (and foreigners) to gather for celebrations and musical performances. A young man plays guitar and sings every evening and will even play a handful of popular English songs if a foreigner is present. There are also various karaoke bars scattered in and around the city.

Sleep

  • '''Old Phimai Guesthouse''' offers clean budget rooms and dorms in the center of town and is run by a friendly Thai family who are more than happy to answer any questions visitors might have. The guesthouse also has a communal front porch, kitchen, and book exchange, as well as tourist information posted in the lobby.
  • '''Phimai Hotel''' in the heart of the town offers air-conditioned rooms.
  • '''Phimai Inn''' is slightly more upscale and has a swimming pool and restaurant, but is a hike from town.
  • Get out