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Khmer munificence Every weekend students from Phimai Wittaya School volunteer as guides taking visitors around Prasat Hin Phimai, one of the most important Khmer sandstone sanctuaries in Thailand which is located in Nakhon Ratchasima. And they provide the service free of charge. ''I am a volunteer guide here almost every weekend,'' said Yuwathida Nuphimai, a 13-year old-student at the entrance of the historical park. She and her Mattayom 1 (Grade 7) colleagues were trained by professional guides seconded to their school by the Tourism Authority of Thailand to help disseminate accurate information about the sanctuary to visiting tourists. Her school has a Volunteer Youth Club of which she and more than 100 other students are members. They spend their free time taking tourists around the stone sanctuary. ''First year students begin as Thai-language guides, while senior students can communicate in English,'' she said. Next year she hopes to join the ranks of the seniors. ''From time to time we are contacted by foreigners but otherwise we mostly communicate in Thai, unless in special cases when the interested party directly contacts the club,'' she said. ''Prasat Hin Phimai is one of the biggest sanctuaries housing Khmer art and religious artifacts in Thailand,'' began Yuwathida whose nickname is Yo. ''Located in the centre of Phimai District, it is believed to have been built by king Suriyavarman I during 1002-1050 AD, even before Angkor Wat in Cambodia or the Phnom Rung mountain sanctuary in Buri Ram. It was renovated by the last Khmer god-king Javayarman VII around the 13th century (between 1181-1218 AD), the builder of Angkor Thom. Phimai Historical Park has a trail linking it to the World Heritage site of Angkor in Cambodia. Unlike the latter which was built as the final resting place for King Javayarman VII, most of the sandstone structures found in Thailand were built for religion rites that have their roots in Hinduism. ''However, Prasat Hin Phimai is different,'' said the young student. The king renovated the place to turn it into a sanctuary for Mahayana Buddhists. ''Proof are the lintels on the outside doors and windows of the 28-metre-high principal white stone tower and other columns that depict episodes from the epic Ramayana. ''By contrast, lintels inside the main tower portray incidents that can be only identified with Buddhism. In addition, the entrance to the main building faces south. Two reasons have been cited for that. According to Nai Rob Roo, a Thai guidebook, it was symbolic of the Khmer Empire to the south, while the second view holds it is the direction in which the spirit travels after death. The King Javayarman VII was a firm believer in the precepts of Mahayana Buddhism and eventually converted to the faith. That sent his Hindu followers into fits of rage. They are said to have gone on rampage mutilating statues of the king. That perhaps explains why the arms were missing from the king's statue found in Prang Phrommathat. The Phimai Historical Park is a vast rectangular enclave that sits by the Mun River. Its walls alone measure 565x1,030 metres. The government has asked Unesco to declare it a World Heritage site. Nearby is a well-organised museum displaying items drawn not just from Prasat Hin Phimai, but antiques from all over Nakhon Ratchasima. ''Before heading home check out Sai-Ngam,'' reminded Yuwathida. We did. The place is famous for its sprawling 300-year-old banyan tree by the Mun. It looked imposing, even eerie if it can be said so, but the locals like to come here for picnic. MoreINFO The distance from Bangkok to Phimai district is about 319 kilometres. Whether you go to Nakhon Ratchasima by bus or by train, you have to take the Nakhon Ratchasima-Chumphuang bus and get off at Phimai, about 60 kilometres from the town. The ride lasts an hour. By Bus: Air-conditioned coaches leave Morchit Bus Terminal on Kamphaeng Phet Road at regular intervals at all hours. By Train: From Bangkok's Hua Lamphong railway station take either Bangkok-Ubon Ratchathani or Bangkok-Surin train. Get off at Nakhon Ratchasima station and connect to the local bus. By Car: From Bangkok take Highway No.1 (Phahon Yothin Road) and turn right to Highway No 2 (Mittraphap Road at Saraburi. Turn right to Highway No. 206 at Talad Kae intersection and drive for about 10 kilometres. Phimai Historical Park opens every day during 7.30am-6 pm. Admission fee is 40 baht for foreigners, 10 baht for Thais and free for students in uniform, monks and novices. Further information, call the park office at 044-471-568 |