Prasat Phanom Rung

Most scholars agree that Prasat Phanom Rung dated back to early 12th century AD. on the grounds that the architectural style is mainly of the Angkor Wat period with some traits of the preceding style of Baphoun. None of inscriptions found at the site strictly identify a name of the patron, but it is believed that most of the constructions were plausibly commissioned by Narendraditya of the Mahindharapura dynasty. Because Prasat Phanom Rung inscriptions repeatedly refer to him and also state that he eventually ordained as a hermit sage (rishi) at this very locale.

However, Narendhraditya’s tower was not the oldest edifice of this site. Two older brick towers were found north of the main sanctuary dated back to early 10th century AD. by the pattern on the colonettes. Also, the ‘Prang Noi’ (literally means “lesser tower”) on the southwest of the main sanctuary displays the Baphoun designs hence the dating of the building about late 11th century AD. This strongly indicates that prior to the time of Lord Narendraditya’s constructions, this area had long been a sacred site.

The site was listed and declared an ancient monument in the Government Gazette no. 52, part 75, on 8 March 1935.

Experiences from the maintenance and restoration at Prasat Phimai aided the restoration projects at Prasat Phanom Rung greatly.

In 1971, the restoration project was funded 500,000 baht. The restoration was actually began in February 1972 by which the crumbled stone blocks around the main sanctuary were removed to outer area. The excavation of the ground surface was conducted after which the lesser tower was reconstructed with an anastylosis technique. The project was on a brief hiatus since September.

The project resumed in January 1973 with a budget of 1,000,000 baht. The restoration and maintenance focused on the large pond and the lesser tower. For the latter, the stone blocks were disassembled to the base in order to reconstruct and strengthen level by level with concrete and iron rod. The restoration continued at the pavilion's base, the processional walkway connecting the pavilion to the naga bridge, the ancient drainage sewers, removing piles of stone blocks around the main sanctuary on the western, northern and southern side, and at the east mandapa. The project was on another hiatus in September.

The next restoration started in February 1975 with another 1,000,000 baht budget. The final stage of restoring the main sanctuary was completed. Along the processional walkway was added with the original and new pillars. Some parts of the naga bridge were also excavated and restored.

In 1977, the restoration and maintenance of Prasat Phanom Rung project was listed as one of the agenda in the 4th National Economic and Social Development Plan under the name, Phanom Rung Historical Park. The park was officially opened by HRH Princhess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn in 1988.

Prasat Phanom Rung is a massive monument on a hill-top and faces east. Principal buildings from the front or the east leading to the central sanctuary are as follow;

1. Greek-cross entrance gate (gopura) - only a laterite base remains, the upper parts are possibly made of wood.

2. Disrobing pavilion, north of the entrance gate

3. Processional walkway, beyond the entrance gate, flanked by pillars. The walkway is then terminated by the Naga bridge with a cross-shaped terrace

4. The Naga bridge leads to the 5 sets of upper stairway climbing up the inner sanctuary, namely the central sanctuary and other principal buildings.

5. Outside of the gallery to the east, there is a base of a building probably a wooden hall which explains why its main body was already gone as wood is not a sustainable material. A large amount of roof tiles were uncovered in the area. The layout of the floor plan is in a cross-shaped form leaving 4 ditches on the ground. This building used to connect to a colonnade, now ruined, enclosing the sandstone gallery

6. The sandstone and laterite gallery with gopuras on all four sides surrounding the main sanctuary and other minor buildings.

1. Prasat Phanom Rung is one of the largest khmer temple complex found in Thailand. With the location of the complex which positions on the Ancient Khmer Highway between Angkor and Phimai, this facilitated the significance of Prasat Phanom Rung.

2. Architectural style of Prasat Phanom Rung greatly helps the dating which is around the first half of the 12th century AD. Perfect condition of layout and structure makes the monument an excellent example of Khmer temple in this period. Moreover, the temple exhibits some vernacular style, this demonstrates ways in which craftsmen who built ancient khmer architecture found Thailand did not emulate their prototype in Cambodia in its entirety.

3. Inscriptions found at the complex suggestively indicate that Prasat Phanom Rung had a connection with the Mahidharapura dynasty whose numbers of member were crowned kings of Ancient Khmer Empire, for example, Jayavarman VI, Dharanindravarman I, Suryavarman II, and Jayavarman VII. It is believed that the town of Mahidharapura should situated around Prasat Phanom Rung.

4. The name “Phanom rung” comes from the ancient Khmer words which means vast mountain. This very same words were also found in the ancient Khmer script discovered at Prasat Phanom Rung with a slight different pronunciation i.e. “Vanum Rung.” Hence, the name of the monument originated since the old days and that the locals still keep the original name.

5. The Shivalinga serves as the main statue of the main sanctuary. It bears an inscription “Kamrateng Jagat Vanum Rung” which means the mighty god of Phanom Rung.

Prasat Phimai, as they shared similar characteristics such as the curved shape of the superstructure caused by the way in which the cornered antefixes and overhangs slightly curve inward. It is possible that the craftsmen at Prasat Phanomrung emulated the artistic style of Prasat Phimai.

ศิลปากร, กรม. ทะเบียนโบราณสถาน. กรุงเทพฯ : กรมศิลปากร, 2532.

ศิลปากร, กรม. ปราสาทพนมุร้ง. พิมพ์ครั้งที่ 5, กรุงเทพฯ : กรมศิลปากร, 2548.

สมบูรณ์ บุณยเวทย์ “บันทึกประสบการณ์ครั้งเริ่มบูรณะปราสาทหินพิมายและปราสาทหินพนมรุ้ง” ศิลปากร, (กันยายน-ตุลาคม 2541), หน้า 74 – 78.