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Amphoe Chaloem Phra Kiat
Phanom Rung Historical Park
 This
is a grand and majestic Khmer site over a thousand years old. Built
on an extinct volcano, it is originally a Hindu religious site and
later became a Buddhist one. During the 15th-18th Buddhist century,
several additions were made.
The first thing visitors see when they arrive at the site is the
grand stairway from the foot of the hill up to the top. Most of
the buildings of the sanctuary are made of laterite and sandstone,
all with elaborate designs. The buildings are lined all the way
to the main pagoda. This layout is according to Hindu belief of
the layout of the heaven of the god Shiva.
The main pagoda is a large one with a square base and facing east.
The designs on the pagoda, columns, doorway, and lintels are exquisite,
most telling a story of gods in Hinduism. From these designs and
the architecture, it is surmised that the pagoda, the stairway and
the Naga bridge were built during the 17th Buddhist century. Each
building has descriptive designs telling people the purpose for
its construction, its usefulness and the beliefs of ancient people.
Phanom Rung is open daily from 06.00-18.00 hrs.
Getting to Phanom Rung by car is easy. The sanctuary is 64 kilometres
to the south of Buri Ram town. There are 2 ways to get there. Visitors
can proceed from Nang Rong to Prakhon Chai (Highway No. 24) and
upon reaching Ban Tako, there is a 12-kilometer road to Phanom Rung.
Alternatively, if visitors proceed from Prakhon Chai, there is a
road from there to the sanctuary with a distance of 21 kilometres.
This route passes a branch road into Mueang Tam sanctuary. Visitors
can rent air-conditioned vans in town.
Visitors traveling by bus from Nakhon Ratchasima can take the Nakhon
Ratchasima-Surin bus and get off at Ban Tako (124 kilometres from
Nakhon Ratchasima). From Ban Tako, a motorcycle service is available
to take visitors to the site (fare according to agreement). There
is 1 accommodation near the site.
Wat Khao Angkhan
 This
is on an extinct volcano 20 kilometres from Phanom Rung. If travelling
from Ban Ta Pek (between Ban Tako and Phanom Rung), use the road
to Lahan Sai for 5 kilometres and onto a branch road to the temple
for 10 kilometres. Wat Khao Angkhan represents an interesting mixture
of architecture from various periods. Inside the main building are
wall murals and stories of Buddhism told in English. Furthermore,
many Dvaravati sandstone temple boundary markers have been discovered
here.
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