Buriram Overview........Buriram is one of the north-eastern provinces (changwat) of Thailand, located at the southern end of the Khorat Plateau. The province contains several extinct volcanoes with the Sankamphaeng Range mountainous area forming its southern limit. Almost a thousand years ago the present- day Buriram area was evidently subdued to Khmer Empire as many ruins from that time are still visible. The biggest of them on an extinct volcano is protected in the Phnom Rung historical park. According to the inscription found, her ruler recognized the hegemony of the Khmer Empire's king. Before the foundation of Bangkok, little was known about this area. From the early Bangkok Period, in the early nineteenth century, the town originally called Muang Pae but was renamed 'Buriram' ultimately coming under Thai rule. After the administrative reform in the late nineteenth century, Buriram was incorporated into Siam, later Thailand, as a province.
The Tour in Detail........
Wat Saman Rattanaram (Chachoengsao Province)........ Located near Bangpakong Kaeo District Dam Project, Wat Saman Rattanaram is the site of a temple built by followers of the Dhammayuttika Buddhism order about 100 years ago. But today the Hindu Ganesh image that dominates the site is recent, constructed in 2010, while other images are under construction.
Its peaceful location near the Bangkapong River in itself makes it popular with visitors especially at weekends.
It has almost a theme-park atmosphere to it.
Its recent construction has meant that it has yet to be established as an international travel destination and subsequently little information is available except in the local language Thai.
Buriram United FC........Buriram United, formerly Buriram P.E.A. Football Club, is a professional Thai football club based in Buriram province. The club has played at the top level of Thai football for the majority of their existence and is currently competing in the Thai Premier League. The club was founded in 1970 and their current home stadium is New i-mobile Stadium which has a capacity of 24,000. Buriram United won their first Thai Premier League title in 2008 and the Khǒr Royal Cup in 1998, as PEA FC (Provincial Electricity Authority Football Club). The club was previously based in Ayutthaya before moving east to Buriram for the 2010 season. In season 2011, Buriram PEA were the triple champions winning the (2011 Thai Premier League, 2011 Thai FA Cup, and 2011 Thai League Cup) in Thailand.
Prasat Phnom Rung........Prasat Phnom Rung is an ancient temple ruin dating from the Age of Angkor. It is situated in the southern part of the Khorat Plateau in the southern half of Buriram Province near the Thai border with Cambodia. It is sited on an extinct volcano known as ‘Khao Phnom Rung’ which has been dormant for 900,000 years. When the sanctuary was build on the top of Khao Phnom Rung, slight alterations were made to the crater, and it was turned into a huge reservoir with sufficient water supply for consumption.
Phnom Rung was the original name of the mountain itself and the sanctuary has been on the top since at least 989 A.D.
The name of the mountain derives from a Khmer word ‘Vnam Rung’ which means large mountain.
The sanctuary is dedicated to the Pasupata sect of Sivaite Hinduism, which believed in the God Shiva.
The location of the sanctuary on Khao Phnom Rung replicates the God Shiva’s residence believed to be situated on mount Kailasa.
The complex of buildings at Prasat Phnom Rung can be divided into four distinctive periods within the Age of Angkor. The oldest are two brick towers of Koh Kare style built around the 10th century A.D. The second period is attested by Prasat Noi which was built around 11th century A.D. in Baphuon style. The third period was when most of the structures within the complex were built including the main tower, built in Angkor Wat style around 12th century A.D. In the last period two laterite libraries or Bannalai were built in the Bayon style built between 12th and 13th centuries. Entry Fee 100 baht (or 150 baht including entry to Prasat Muang Tam).
Prasat Muang Tam........Prasat Muang Tam is a Hindu religious monument dedicated to the god Shiva situated 8 kilometres from Prasat Phnom Rung. Unlike the latter it was built on a plane below Khao Phnom Rung. In fact Meang Tam means ‘low city’. It consists of a roughly square outer wall with gates in the centre of each side. This encloses a courtyard with ponds. In the centre, enclosed by a gallery and archways, is a group of towers in Hindu style. It was constructed to hold religious ceremonies for the local community. Prasat Muang Tam dates from the 11th century constructed in early Baphuon style. The temple seems to have been in use until the 13th century when it began to decline and was eventually abandoned. There is no evidence of further settlement until 100 years ago and no attention was paid to it until restoration and reconstruction commenced in 1997. It was eventually opened to the public on 10 November that year by HRH Princess Sirindhorn to celibrate the 50th anniversary of the King’s coronation. Entry Fee 100 baht (or 150 baht including entry to Prasat Phnom Rung).
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