Wat Prasat Phanom Wan

Although the statues in old Wat Prasat Phanom Wan, approximately 14 km (9 mi.) north-east of Nakhon Ratchasima (Highway 2, after 10 km (6 mi.) turn off to the right, then continue for a further 4 km (21/2 mi.) to the village of Ban Kho), are revered by many believers and regular acts of worship take place there, the small, excellently maintained Khmer temple appears still and almost deserted. The new monastery has partly incorporated foundations of the old one and the 11th c. shrine has been preserved. Details in the ornamentation indicate the 10th c., an older construction probably used to stand on this site. The surrounding rectangular wall, with a gallery on its inner side, had lavishly decorated gates in the middle of each of its sides. Remaining ruins of a prang stand in the courtyard and many door lintels have also been retained. The shrine is a rectangular building with a gray sandstone Prang, to which porticoes were added on all four sides. A covered passageway, illuminated by a window, leads from the eastern portico to a 10 m (33 ft) by 3 m (10 ft) hall (Mandapa) with a stepped roof. The statues of Buddha, many of which are gold-plated, date from more recent times.