Prasat Phanom Wan

Built as a dedication to god Shiva and god Vishnu according to details showed in the inscription on the doorframe of the principle tower.

Sandstone

Located in a square diagram facing east. The group of principle Prasats are consisted of the principle prasat, Antrala, and Mondop; they are on the same base.

The diagram of the principle prasat is square with corners. There are porches and gates in all four directions. The porch in the east is connected to Antrala which is the insulator or porch, which forms a passage to the Mondop at the front. The Mondop has a rectangular diagram. There are gates in all four directions just like the principle prasat. The roof is in a curved-shape. All of them are surrounded with the curved outer wall that have gopuras in all four directions. Each corner of the curved outer wall appears a small square-shaped arch with an entrance and a gate that connects to both sides of the gopuras.

In the south of the principle prasat in the curved outer wall area, there is a smaller prasat called Prang Noi. It is a diagram with additional corners. The base was made of laterite. The part of building was made of sandstone. There is only one entrance and one exit in the east. The doors on the other sides are false doors. Nowadays the top has already collapsed. The building of the prasat has not been decorated yet, only the castle-shaped outline can be seen. From the aforementioned characteristics, it is assumed that this Prang Noi is likely to be in the 16^th century B.E. onwards. Inside the Prang Noi also enshrined the Buddha's sandstone footprint.

It is an example of a stone prasat (castle) in Khmer culture built during the Baphuon Arts. Variations such as diagrams, architectural elements, the use of red and gray sandstone will be a model for Prasat Phimai, which is the largest Khmer cultural castle in Thailand.

The evidence of people's habitation has been found at the original location of Prasat Phanom Wan. The evidence from archaeological excavations shows that the area was used as a burial place for people in the prehistoric period. Until later, during the 15^th century B.E., religious sites in Khmer culture were built. They are brick buildings spread throughout a curved outer wall. Lintels were also found during this period.

Later, around the 16^th century B.E. - early 17^th century B.E., the area had been restored by building a Prasat and groups of other buildings with sandstone overlapping the original position. However, the construction has not been completed since the decoration of the Prasat is still not completed and some sandstone have not been smoothed.

1. Prasat Hin Phimai, Nakhon Ratchasima

2. Prasat Phanom Rung, Buriram

The diagram of the Principla Prasat group such as Prasat Phanom Wan is the one of the Khmer prasats in Baphuon Arts since the reign of Suryavarman I. This may be a prototype used to build other prasats such as Phimai and Prasat