Khmer Temples

The group stayed in Nakhon Ratchasima (Khorat) and traveled southeast toward the Cambodian border to visit Phnom Rung and Muang Tam. Phimai is slightly northeast of Khorat.

See a map.

The three temples

	Phnom Rung was built in the early 10th to late 12th century. It is dedicated to Shiva, with all Hindu imagery. Built on a hill overlooking flat plains, Phnom Rung was the most imposing and impressive temple to visit.
	Muang Tam was built in the 11th century and is also dedicated to Shiva. Located close to Phnom Rung in the lower flat land, Muang Tam was also very beautiful, especially because of the "L" shaped ponds inside the outer wall.
	Phimai was built in the late 11th to late 12th century. It is primarily Mahayana Buddhist, although there are some Hindu carvings. (The Buddhist aspect of the temple is unusual, because all the other temples built at the same time were still dedicated to Shiva or Vishnu temple.) Phimai is considered an "important" temple because 1. an imperial highway linked it to Angkor, the Khmer capitol, 2. it is one of the largest of all the Khmer temples, and 3. the tower of the central sanctuary influenced the construction of the central sanctuary at Angkor Wat.

Click on the pictures below to find out about the different parts of a temple.

Walkway to the temple at Phnom Rung

layout of the grounds

building materials

Bridge to the temple at Phimai

central sanctuary

outer walls

lions and snakes

Doorway at Phnom Rung

lintels

frame and pilasters

inside