Phanom Rung Castle, following the footsteps of the Nakee drama

Phanom Rung Historical Park or Phanom Rung Stone Castle is located in Chaloem Phra Kiat District, Buriram Province. It is an ancient site located on Phanom Rung Mountain, an extinct volcano, approximately 200 meters above the ground. The word Phanom Rung comes from the Khmer word Vanamrung, which means a large mountain. It was built in the style of ancient Khmer art, which is one of the most beautiful. Phanom Rung Stone Castle is one of the most famous Khmer stone castles in Thailand and is considered an important symbol of Buriram Province. Phanom Rung Castle is well-known among locals, as there is a local tale called "Inthraprastha", which tells of a couple who wandered around until they found shelter in a beautiful and deserted stone castle in the middle of the forest. However, for outsiders from other countries, The first known document mentioning Phanom Rung Castle was the memoirs of Frenchman Etienne Aymonier in 1885, published as an article in 1902. The walkway to the castle on both sides is decorated with pillars with tops resembling lotus buds called Nang Riang pillars, with 35 pillars on each side, leading to the Naga Bridge, which is a cross-shaped raised platform. The railings of the bridge are the body of a five-headed Naga. According to beliefs, the Naga Bridge is a path connecting the human world with the gods. What is interesting is that in the middle of the bridge, there is a carved image of an eight-petal lotus, which may represent the gods of the eight directions in Hinduism. This castle was built as a temple for Shiva, who resides on top of Mount Kailash. Therefore, the fact that this castle was built on the top of Phanom Rung Mountain reflects the belief in the Shaivism sect of Hinduism very well. The various buildings of Phanom Rung Castle were not built all at once. Religious buildings were built to be the center of the community’s religious beliefs. First built around the 15th Buddhist century, these two brick castles are now in a state of ruin, with only the bases and door frames remaining. The main castle is located in the center of the inner castle courtyard. On the pediment and lintel of the main castle, there are carved images depicting Hindu stories, such as Shiva Nataraja (dancing), the lintel of Narayana reclining on the ocean, incarnations of Narayana such as Phra Ram (in the Ramakien) or Krishna, ritual images, and images of the daily life of sages. In particular, the lintel of Narayana reclining on the ocean was stolen around 1960 and was returned in 1988. What is special about this place is the phenomenon of the sun rising, shining through all 15 doors on 2-4 April and 8-10 September every year. The sun rises, shining through all 15 doorways. Villagers will walk up to see the magnificent combination of nature and the constructions of their ancestors. In addition, on March 5-7 and October 5-7 of every year, the sun sets and shines through the 15 door frames. As for traveling to Phanom Rung Historical Park, you can use a private car to go up to the park office and walk up to the castle. #NortheasternTeam #SecretCoordinates #historicculture