Phimai (, ; , ) is a district (''

amphoe An amphoe (sometimes also ''amphur'', , )—usually translated as "district"—is the second level administrative subdivision of Thailand. Groups of ''amphoe'' or districts make up the Provinces of Thailand, provinces, and are analogous to count ...

'') in the northeastern part of Nakhon Ratchasima province, northeastern

Thailand Thailand, officially the Kingdom of Thailand and historically known as Siam (the official name until 1939), is a country in Southeast Asia on the Mainland Southeast Asia, Indochinese Peninsula. With a population of almost 66 million, it spa ...

Geography

Phimai is a lowland, making it a suitable location for settlement and agriculture. The area is fed by the Chakkarat, Khem, and

Mun river The Mun River (, , ; , ), sometimes spelled ''Moon River'', is a tributary of the Mekong River. It carries approximately of water per year. Geography The river begins in the Khao Yai National Park area of the Sankamphaeng Range, near Nakhon R ...

s. There is also a source of salt, which is an important resource.

History

Phimai is an area where evidence has been found of being the main residence of humans since the prehistoric period, approximately 1,700–3,000 years ago. These traces are still found to have continued until at least 1,500 years ago. The base of the building is made of bricks under Prasat Hin Phimai, therefore, it is assumed that it was probably originally the location of a Buddhist monastery. Phimai was an ancient Khmer city named ''Vimai'' or ''Vimayapura''. A stone pillar dating to the reign of King

Suryavarman I Suryavarman I (; posthumously ''Nirvanapada'') was king of the Khmer Empire from 1006 to 1050. Suryavarman usurped King Udayadityavarman I, defeating his armies in approximately 1002. After a protracted war with Udayadityavarman's would-be succe ...

was found, naming the city ''Bhirapura'' meaning 'strong city'. The rulers of Phimai during the Khmer era were all descendants of the

Mahidharapura Mahidharapura Dynasty ( Khmer: រាជវង្សមហិធរៈបុរៈ; Thai: ''ราชวงศ์มหิธรปุระ;'' Roman: ''House of Mahidharapura'', ''Mahidra-pura'') was a Khom dynasty. Some sources call it the M ...

dynasty. Phimai was the important city ever since, both during

Ayutthaya Ayutthaya, Ayudhya, or Ayuthia may refer to: * Ayutthaya Kingdom, a Thai kingdom that existed from 1350 to 1767 ** Ayutthaya Historical Park, the ruins of the old capital city of the Ayutthaya Kingdom * Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya province (locall ...

and Rattanakosin times. Mueang Phimai district was established in 1900. Khun Khachit Sarakam () was the first governor. Queen Mother Sriphatcharindra (

Saovabha Saovabha Phongsri (; Royal Thai General System of Transcription, RTGS: Saowapha PhongsiPronunciation) was an agnatic half-sister, royal wife and queen consort of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) of Thailand, and mother of both King Vajiravudh (Rama ...

) visited

Prasat Phimai The Phimai Historical Park () is a historical park in Thailand, covering the ancient town of Phimai and the ruins of Prasat Phimai , ; , ) the largest ancient Khmer-Hindu temple in Thailand. It is located in the town of Phimai, Nakhon Ratchas ...

and Sai Ngam (ficus forest) in 1911. The government officers and people renovated the city for the royal visit, and named six roads to commemorate the event. In 1940 the government renamed the district by eliminating the word ''mueang''.

Administration

The district is divided into 12 sub-districts (''

tambon ''Tambon'' (, ) is a local governmental unit in Thailand. Below district (''amphoe'') and province ('' changwat''), they form the third administrative subdivision level. there were 7,255 tambons, not including the 180 ''khwaeng'' of Bangkok, whi ...

s''), which are further subdivided into 208 villages (''

muban Muban (; , ) is the lowest Administrative divisions of Thailand, administrative sub-division of Thailand. Usually translated as 'village' and sometimes as 'hamlet (place), hamlet', they are a subdivision of a tambon (subdistrict). , there were 74 ...

s''). There are two sub-district municipalities (thesaban tambons): ''Phimai'' covering parts of ''tambon'' Nai Mueang, and ''Rang Ka Yai'' the whole of ''tambon'' Rang Ka Yai. There are a further 12 tambon administrative organizations (TAO).

References

Phimai Phimai () 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 ...

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