Temple Layouts

	Temple Layouts
	The design of the grounds simulates "Mount Meru," the home of the gods in Hindu cosmology. Phimai is naturally surrounded by rivers on three sides, so it is like an island, but Muang Tam would have been surrounded by a man-made moat. There is always an entrance way "naga" bridge. Outer walls, something like a gate around a fort, surround the sanctuaries and other buildings.

	Phnom Rung
		The view of Phnom Rung is impressive as you approach it from the long walkway (the bottom of the picture). Then there are 3 sets of steep stairs, lined with nagas, leading up to the terrace where you can see the entrance. There is only one set of outer walls, surrounding the sanctuaries and buildings (at the top of the picture). There is only one other entrance, opposite the one we entered at the top of the staircase. The central sanctuary is at the top of the "T" in the middle of square denoting the outer wall. The temple sits naturally on the top of a hill that falls away on 3 sides to look sharply down, and the side opposite the staircase has a fairly steep slant.

	Muang Tam
		Muang Tam has 2 sets of walls, each with 4 entrances. Coming through the first one leads to the inner grounds with 4 "L" shaped ponds. The second wall leads to the sanctuary and other buildings. The central sanctuary is the one in the middle.

*Nagas surround the ponds that frame the inner wall at Muang Tam*

	Phimai
		Phimai has 2 sets of walls and 4 entrances like Muang Tam, but the buildings inside the inner wall are arranged more like Phnom Rung, with the central sanctuary at the top of the "T" again. The grounds inside the first wall are very large compared to Muang Tam. The naga bridge is at the bottom of the picture.

	*Inner grounds at Phimai*