Prasat Hin Mueang Tam (Mueang Tam Stone Santuary)

Prasat Hin Mueang Tam situated in Tambon Chorakhe Mak, it is one of the Khmer sanctuaries with the most outstanding architecture in Buri Ram. There is no clear evidence when the sanctuary was built or who created it. The architecture features the Baphuon style of Khmer art which dates between 1007-1082 and mixed with the Kleang style which dates between 965-1012. Most of the bas-reliefs depict Hindu gods, so it is assumed that the sanctuary might have been built around the 10th-12th centuries and used as a religious shrine in Hinduism. The building comprises five brick prangs built on the same laterite base. All of them were built in two rows: three prangs in the front and two at the back. The principal tower in the middle of the front row is the biggest one. At present, only the base remains. Remains of the other 4 towers are not in good condition. Each prang has only one entrance at the eastern direction, with false doors at the other 3 directions. The principal tower also has a front portico. Excavation at the site found a lintel of the portico carved into a god holding a water lily sitting on Kala’s face and surrounded by male and female figures believed to depict the wedding of the God Siva and his consort Parvati, and pediment carved into God Indra riding on his Airavata or Erawan elephant. Meanwhile, the lintel of the prang itself was carved into a god kneeling above Kala’s face. They also found fragments of stucco relief decorating the base, indicating that this main prang was once beautifully decorated with stucco. The other four smaller prang towers still have two lintels attached above the entry doorways: one at the northern tower in the front row, and the other at the southern tower of the back row. The lintels were carved into God Siva holding Uma (Parvati) on his lap and sitting on his bull Nandin, and God Varuna riding the swan, respectively. The excavation also found the prang’s top made from sandstone and carved into a lotus shape, falling in pieces around the prang’s base. In front of the prang complex, there are two wihans or viharas which were made from brick and face the two side prangs in the front rows. All buildings are surrounded by two walls. The inner square wall is formed by a long, narrow sandstone gallery. The outer wall is made from laterite. There are entrance pavilions or Gopuras in four directions at the same positions of both walls. All of the Gopuras, except for the inner one in the western direction were made from sandstone, delicately carved into various designs such as pediments, lintels, pilasters, etc. They depict the story about the Hindu religion and foliage and floral designs. Between the inner and outer walls is a large platform made from laterite. There are L-shaped moats or barays at the four corners. The moats were lined with laterite and made into steps down to the bottom. The top edge of the moats was made from sandstone, featuring a Naga body with its neck stretching at the baray’s corners. They are five-headed Nagas, all bald-headed without any ornaments. Prasat Hin Mueang Tam or Mueang Tam Sanctuary is open daily from 6.00 a.m.-6.00 p.m. Admission fee is 100 Baht. A common ticket for visiting the Phanom Rung Sanctuary and the Mueang Tam Sanctuary is available at a special price of 150 Baht. For more information, contact the Phanom Rung Historical Park Office at Tel. 0 4466 6251-2, Fax: 0 4466 6252. To get there: From Buri Ram town, travel can be made on 2 routes: -Take Highway No. 218 (Buri Ram-Nang Rong) and turn left to take Highway No. 24, the route to Surin, and drive on to reach the Tako T-junction. Then, turn right to take Highway No. 2177 and drive past Phanom Rung School on the right-hand side. See the intersection, and turn right to Rural Road Bo Ro 4013. Go ahead to reach Ban Yai Yaem Watthana and turn left at the junction to Rural Road Bo Ro 5053. Go straight ahead and see the Mueang Tam Sanctuary on the left-hand side by the road. The total distance from town is around 83 kilometres. -Take Highway No. 2445 to reach Prakhon Chai town. See the junction and turn right to Rural Road Bo Ro 3054. Drive on to see the Mueang Tam Sanctuary on the right-hand side by the road. The total distance from town is around 63 kilometres.