| Attraction Guide: Buriram |
| |
Ku Suan Taeng
This khmer sanctuary at Ban Don Wai can be reached by using the
Buriram-Phayakkhaphum Phisai road (Highway No. 219) for 70 kilometres,
then left onto Highway No. 202
to Prathai for about 40 kilometres where there is a left-hand road to Ku Suan
Taeng. This is another Khmer site with 3 brick pagodas on a single laterite base.
The famous Narai Banthom Sin lintel was discovered here and is now kept in the
National Museum in Bangkok. The lintel proves this site dates from the 17th Buddhist
century.
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.
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 Buriram 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 Muang Tam sanctuary. Visitors
can rent air-conditioned vans in town.
Bird Park (Suan Nok)
This is a wildlife reserve at Huai Talat reservoir. To get there, take the Buriram-Prakhon
Chai road for 12 kilometres and take a left-handed road for 2 kilometres. The
park is the home of many waterfowls that include both local species and those
that migrate from colder countries. They are prevalent during November to April
which is Thailand's dry season.
Ban Kruat is 66 kilometres south of Buriram. Historical sites in this district
are as follows:
Quarry
This is 6 kilometres from Ban Kruat into the way to Lahan Sai. The hill
is littered with rocks large and small, some with traces of rock cutting. It
is believed stones taken from here were used to construct a large number of sanctuaries
in the lower Northeast.
Ancient Kilns
These ancient kilns constitute one of the most important pottery-making
centers of the ancient Khmer Empire. The kilns date from the 14th-19th Buddhist
century. The pottery made here was supplied to cities in the empire. The Fine
Arts Department has renovated 2 kilns called Tao Sawai and Tao Nai Chian, 5 and
10 kilometres from Ban Kruat, respectively. The kilns are ideal for those interested
in archaeology.
Mueang Tam Stone Sanctuary (Prasat Mueang Tam)
This stone sanctuary can be reached by taking the road to Prakhon Chai for 8
kilometres and another 5 kilometres on a road on the right-hand side. This Khmer
site has a square layout. Its main structures are 5 brick pagodas built on the
same foundation and enclosed by two walls. The 4 doorways are perpendicular to
each other and built of sandstone with beautiful designs. The inner wall is made
of sandstone and is one long, narrow continuous corridor, called Rabiang Khot.
The outer wall is made of laterite. Lintels adorn doorways and the main pagoda,
recounting Hindu tales. Another highlight of the site is the 4 large pools between
the walls. The edges of the pools have serpent designs with the head at the pool
corner. The beauty of this Khmer site is second only to that of Phanom Rung. |
|
|
en 
