Phanom Rung Historical Park is one of the most diverse national parks and certainly one of the most important and most visited Khmer sites in Thailand. Based on Phanom Rung Hill, an extinct volcano that forms a gentle arc across the horizon, the park houses the largest number of Khmer monuments in Thailand.
The whole site has been brought back to its full glory after nearly two decades of restoration and the result is extremely impressive.
This is a vast site boasting temples, towers, Buddha images – all with a distinct Khmer architectural influence. The site also includes a Hindu Saivite (Shiva) monastery and sculptures of Vishnu. A 400-meter walkway leads up to the site’s main sanctuary and passes a number of different ruins. Many of these ruins contain images depicting Hindu Gods, Brahma and scenes from the Ramayana. Set against a scenic countryside backdrop, the site has massive impact.
There’s a power about the place that is at once mystical and eerie - it is very a feel of stepping back in time and stepping into another world. It is difficult to cover every aspect of this site in a short description. However, suffice to say that this site is comparable to Angkor Wat in Cambodia. Very close to the park is Muang Tam – a site of significant value in its own right. It features a main building with five towers positioned around it alongside a series of ponds.
Details: Admission to the park costs 40 Baht and it is open daily from 06:00 a.m. to 06:00 p.m.
Tel: +66 4463 1746
How to get there: There is a bus from Buriram city to Ban Ta-Ko and from there you can get a Songtaew to Phanom Rung.
