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ArchitecturePrasat Wat Phra Phai Luang
Wat Phra Phai Luang features the ancient Khmer towers as its main sanctuary along with many buildings both contemporary with the main sanctuary and later buildings from the early to the late Sukhothai period. The complex is surrounded by a ditch called Hauy Mae Chone.The main sanctuary comprises three laterite towers decorated with stucco on the exterior. They all stands on the same plain rectangular base on the north-south axis. The indented-form towers face toward the east collectively.Nowadays, only the north tower remains intact among the ruins of the central and south tower. The ruins of the central tower was left only its base and cella. The north tower is still in a very good condition with its four-tiered roof topped with a lotus bud or galasa (holy water pot). It is clearly seen even at the present that the central tower used to be the largest among the three as was common in the ancient khmer temple’s architectural canon. Stucco motifs at the north tower are the original decoration whereas those of at the other two towers were a copy by the Fine Arts Department. Some good examples are the narrative scenes of the Buddha’s life at the pediments, for instance, the south pediment displays Prince Siddhartha cut off his hair scene, the Temptation of the Buddha by the Mara scene at the north pediment which should lead to the Buddha’s Triumph over the Mara and the Enlightenment scenes at the west pediment.
ArchitectureDon Khum Ngoen
Fallen to a state of dilapidated and ruined, thus causes the irregularity of a formal structure of Khmer temple at this monument. For instance, sandstone slabs for construction are significantly thinner than normal, also there are some traces indicating a number of sandstone slaps were used to building enclosure rather than the sanctuary.The complex is composed of the decrepit sandstone tower with only its foundation remains which makes it impossible to understand the original form of the tower. At the east front of the main tower there is a sandstone slabs-lined square pool with stairs. A rectangular building located northeast of the main temple with the sandstone wall was the building which housed Mahendravarman’s inscription on the bull statue’s pedestal. Its surrounding area shows parts of sandstone barriers, most importantly a conduit for a libation or somasutra on the western side which probably ran from the cella or the pool.
ArchitectureThe Main Sanctuary of Prasat Phimai
The main sanctuary was built of white sandstone and oriented toward the south. Its plan consists of an indented-plan tower with entrances on the northern, eastern and western sides leading to the cella or garbhagrha. The antarala is on the southern side connecting the rectangular mandapa of which its entrances are on the southern, (initially, this area should house a statue hence the blocked pathway), eastern and western sides. On the ridge of the roofs of porticos, antarala and mandapa are adorned with finials (brali).Each tier of the stepped roofs is a miniature-form of the sanctuary. The roofs are also adorned with the overhangs and cornered antefixes. On the very top is a kalasa or a water pot symbol, it is believed that there is a metal nine-tiered trident over the kalasa which is now lost. The garbhagrha housesa a Bayon sculpture of Buddha sheltered by naga, therefore this buddha statue was not the original statue of the older main sanctuary. There is also a somasutra or a drainage channel leading northeastward.
ArchitecturePrasat Phimai
Prasat Phimai locates in the center of the town and is oriented toward the south. Main buildings of temple complex from the entrance to the main sanctuary are as followed;1. a cruciform naga terrace, from the southwest of the terrace is a rectangular building commonly referred to as a disrobing pavilion2. the cruciform naga terrace leads to the entrance gopuras and enclosure wall, with imposing cruciform gate (gopura) on four sides.3. following the southern entrance gopura is a causeway which connects the southern entrance gopura of the outer enclosure and the southern entrance of the gallery. Originally the causeway had a tiled-wooden beam roof.4. an area between the outer enclosure and gallery there are two libraries to the west as well as four ponds at the four corners closed to the enclosure wall.5. the inner gallery surrounds the central and most holy area of the temple. Four cruciform gopura serve as an entrance on each side of the gallery. 6. at the centre of the complex, the white sandstone main sanctuary was erected and oriented to the south. There are also lesser buildings scattered around in the same area such as Prang Brahmadat to the southeast, Ho Brahma (Brahmin Hall) and Prang Hin Daeng (Red Stone Tower) are on the southwest, and to the east found a base of some building possibly a pavilion.
ArchitecturePrang Khaek
Prang Khaek comprises three brick towers in a north-east axis and face toward the east. The central tower is the highest and heaviest of the three. An excavation by Saritphong Khungsong discovered a single large rectangular foundation (Phaiti base) supporting all three towers.All three towers share similar architectural structure and style which are a base with projections, an entrance on the eastern side whereas other three sides display a blind door, and a multi-tiered superstructure. Stucco motifs which once were adorned the buildings are mostly now lost. The vihara, a rectangular brick building, which is adjacent to the eastern side of the central tower has a pointed arch doorway. The supposed water supply tank locates to the south of the vihara.
ArchitecturePrasat Muang Singh
Prasat Muang Singh has been fully restored. Laterite was the chief construction material, plastered and decorated with stucco which is now mostly gone. The tower was oriented toward the east.The group of buildings were supported by a high base by which the main sanctuary is at the centre. Roofs of the main sanctuary were now lost. Library is located to the northeast of the main sanctuary. They were all surrounded by a gallery which had gopura/entrances on all four sides topped with prasat-like superstructure. On the eastfront of the base was affixed to the laterite court which should be sheltered by wooden beams and tiled roof, now lost. To the east, there is a trace of gopura which was once connected to the enclosure to the north and south with a cruciform terrace situated in front of the gopura.
ArchitecturePrasat Muang Tam’s central sanctuary
The central sanctuary of Prasat Muang Tam consists of five towers (prangs), three at the front row and two at the back row which were arranged diagonally to the towers at the front row. All five towers facing east were collectively built on a large laterite base. The front middle tower functions as the principal sanctuary, now collapsed. A foundation is all that remains of the tower which is plainly larger than the other towers. Four towers are all the same size with a laterite base whereas a sanctum (ruen that) and multi-tiered roof were made with bricks and mortar. The doors to the cella are on the east. The inner sanctums would usually house the statues which currently only plinths remain which makes identifying the cult statues impossible.
ArchitecturePrasat Phanom Rung
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 gate3. Processional walkway, beyond the entrance gate, flanked by pillars. The walkway is then terminated by the Naga bridge with a cross-shaped terrace4. 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 gallery6. The sandstone and laterite gallery with gopuras on all four sides surrounding the main sanctuary and other minor buildings. 7. The main sandstone sanctuary surrounded by the gallery faces east. Apart from the main sanctuary other minor buildings in the compound are two brick towers to the north, the lesser tower to the southwest and two rectangular plan libraries to the northeast and southeast.
