| Himavanta | |
|---|---|
| Created by | Phra Yali Thai |
| In-universe information | |
| Type | Legendary Forest |
| Location | Mount Meru (fictional) |
| Locations | Anodard Pond, Mount Krailas |
| Characters | Kinnaree, Kinorn, Phaya Krut, Phaya Naga, Ramad, Gabillapaksa, Wanekamphu, Kodchasri, Sukrontee, Macha-Mangorn |
Himavanta (Thai: หิมพานต์; RTGS: Himmaphan; Khmer: ហេមពាន្ត; UNGEGN: Hempéandâ; Burmese: ဟိမဝန္တာ; MLCTS: hi.ma.wanta) is a legendary forest, also called Himmanpan Mountain, which is said to be located in the Himalayas. Himavanta appears in a piece of Thai literature called Traibhumikatha (Thai: ไตรภูมิกถา) which explains that Himavanta is a forest where many diverse mythical creatures such as Phaya Naga (Thai: พญานาค), Phaya Krut (Thai: พญาครุฑ), and Kinnaree (Thai: กินรี), spirits or even gods and goddess reside.
The mythical Nariphon tree (Thai: นารีผล) that often mentioned in Thai folklore is also said to grow here. The story of Himavanta and the explanation of the three existing planes were written by the philosopher-king of Si Satchanalai (Thai: ศรีสัชนาลัย), Phaya Lithai (Thai: พญาลิไท). Since the Himavanta forest relates to Buddhist cosmology, it profoundly influences beliefs, cultures and artworks in the Buddhist and Hindu religions, among others.