This is the picturesque moment the setting sun glowed through the doorway of an ancient Buddhist temple in Thailand.

The rare spectacle mesmerised tourists, who flocked to the Phimai Historical Park in Nakhon Ratchasima province to take photos on November 13.

During a 15-minute window that starts at around 5 pm local time, the sun's orange rays stream through the narrow corridor of the historic Khmer temple.

Visitors took advantage of the short time frame to snap pictures of the ephemeral scene, with the sun's beams bathing a Buddha statue inside in gold and lending the sight a mystical air.

The sunsets are said to only be visible through the doorway for roughly five days twice a year.

One of the periods coincides with the Phimai Festival held on the second week of November, while the other happens six months later.

The Phimai Festival is one of the province's major attractions. Marked by lights and sounds shows, storytelling through dances, and traditional boat races, the event frequently draws large groups of tourists every year.