Exploring the Historical Sites in Khorat Plateau

Apr 20, 2025

H
Back to Study Trips

Exploring the Historical Sites in Khorat Plateau

Although the Khorat Plateau is one of the least fertile regions in Thailand, it is rich in culture and historical landmarks dating back to the era of the Khmer Empire. This expansive plateau dominates the country’s Northeast, a region known to Thais as Isan. Rising roughly 200 metres above sea level, the Khorat Plateau covers nearly one-third of Thailand’s land area and is home to around one-third of its population.

In the 9th century, the Khorat Plateau came under Cambodian suzerainty, which lasted until the end of the 13th century. It was during this period that the region’s splendid Khmer temples were built. The magnificent stone temples at Phnom Rung and Phimai, which one stood on the road linking the plateau with the Khmer capital of Angkor, have been evocatively restored in recent years.

Under the leadership of Professor Emeritus Dr Momrajawongse Suriyavudh Sukhasvasti, The Siam Society welcomes you to join us from Friday, 12 to Sunday, 14 September 2025, to explore archaeological sites and Khmer-style temples in Nakhon Ratchasima, Surin, Buriram, and Si Sa Ket provinces.

When

Friday, 12 to Sunday, 14 September 2025

Leader

with Professor Emeritus Dr Momrajawongse Suriyavudh Sukhasvasti

Booking

See information below

Or contact Khun Thun

studytrips@thesiamsociety.org

 

The tentative programme will be as follows:

Friday, 12 September 2025: Bangkok – Nakhon Ratchasima – Buriram
– Meet at The Siam Society, 131 Asoke Montri Road, Sukhumvit 21, Bangkok
07:30 Depart Bangkok for Nakhon Ratchasima province by bus
Noon: Lunch at a local restaurant
Afternoon: Visit Prasat Hin Phanom Wan, one of the most important Khmer monuments in this region. Stylistic and epigraphic evidence indicates that Phanom Wan was founded as early as the mid-9th century. It was modified and expanded several times between the late 9th century and the end of the 11th century.
– Visit Prasat Hin Phimai, which is in the small town of Phimai, on the banks of the Moon River. There is no definitive date for the construction of this temple, though the central sanctuary is likely to have been completed during the reign of Suryavarman I (1001-49). Originally a Brahmanic shrine dedicated to Siva, Prasat Hin Phimai was rededicated as a Mahayana Buddhist temple at the end of the 12th century.
– Proceed to Nang Rong district
Evening: Dinner and overnight at Socool Grand Hotel, Buriram
Saturday, 13 September 2025: Buriram – Surin
– Breakfast at the hotel
Morning: Check out of the hotel and proceed to Prasat Phanom Rung. It is famously situated on an extinct volcano, 383 metres above sea level, and is renowned for its well-preserved architecture. This temple is one of the most important Khmer sanctuaries in Thailand and one of the few to have retained its original Khmer name. The site commands extensive views over a vast and fertile plain bordered to the south by the Dangrek Mountains. On two neighbouring mountains, Khao Plai Bat and Khao Phra Angkhan, which are also extinct volcanoes, other ruined sanctuaries can also be found.
– Visit Prasat Muang Tam or “Temple of City Below”. It is not certain exactly when this monument, which appears to have been originally a royal palace, was founded, as no inscriptions have yet been found, but it was probably built after the first phase of the construction of Phanom Rung in the late 10th century or early 11th century. The general plan of the monument and much of the decoration of the lintels and colonnades, and the floral motifs on the Nagas spewing garlands at the corners of the pediments, suggest a date in the Baphuon period (c1010-c1080). However, the style of some of the Kala heads above the doors, notably on the inner lintel of the south door of the eastern gopura, seems to belong to the early Khleang period (c965-c1010). Muang Tam was extensively restored during the early 1990s. The temple is surrounded by two concentric enclosures paved with laterite. The walls of the outer enclosure, also of laterite, are 2.75 metres high and have retained much of their finely carved coping. Within the enclosure are four L-shaped ponds surrounded by five-headed nagas. In the centre of the temple complex is a row of three brick Prang with two further Prang behind them to the west. The five towers, four of which have been reconstructed, all stand in a single laterite platform. In addition to four L-shaped pools in the temple enclosure, Muang Tam also has two barays. The smaller of these, which has not yet been excavated, is situated behind a modern wall immediately opposite the entrance and is aligned with the outer gopura.
Noon: Lunch at a local restaurant
Afternoon: Proceed to visit Prasat Ban Phluang, a beautiful small temple that was built in the second half of the 11th century in the Baphuon style. It was meticulously restored in the 1970s. The temple was apparently never completed during the works of restoration, as two unfinished cornices and some of the iron chisels and mallets that were used to dress and carve the stone were excavated. One of the figures of a Dharmapala on the southwest corner of the building is also unfinished. The temple consists of the lower part of a single prang built of sandstone, standing on a high laterite platform. It is likely that the upper part of the prang was made of brick and was left unfinished. During the restoration, great quantities of bricks were unearthed around the temple. The laterite platform is surrounded by a moat, which is traversed by a causeway leading up to the entrance on the east side. The large size of the platform, in relation to the prang, suggests that the original intention was to construct other buildings on it. The lintel over the east door shows Indra on his elephant mount Airavata, having only one head instead of the more usual three-headed depiction. The east pediment above depicts Krishna lifting Mount Govardhana to protect the headsmen and their cattle from Indra’s wrath.
– Proceed to Surin Province
Evening: Dinner and overnight at Sorin Boutique Hotel, Surin
Sunday, 14 September 2025: Surin – Si Sa Ket – Bangkok
– Breakfast at the hotel
Morning: Check out of the hotel and proceed to visit Prasat Sikhoraphum. This beautiful temple, which consists of five brick prangs on a laterite platform surrounded by a moat, dates from the early 12th century; however, the superstructure of the tower was added subsequently by Lao builders. It was formerly surrounded by fine trees, but these have almost all been removed in the course of the restoration by the Department of Fine Arts. The Lintel and door jambs made of pink sandstone are finely carved with the figure of Hindu deities, Apsarasas, and Yaksas. The capitals of the pilasters are decorated with foliate and figures of Garudas. Traces of stucco have been found on the brick, which suggests that all the towers may originally have been stuccoed and painted.
– Visit Prasat Sa Kamphaeng Yai (Temple of the Great Rampart). This important Hindu Khmer temple complex, which underwent major restoration in the early 1990s, is situated next to the highly decorated modern wat with an ornate entrance gate. It consists of the lower part of five brick prangs on laterite foundations surrounded by a sandstone and laterite gallery with small Bantry windows and a gopura at each of the town’s cardinal points. The lintels, of which some are still in place and others have been left lying on the ground, portray scenes of Hindu mythology; one that is exceptionally fine represents Shiva and Uma mounted on the bull Nandi. They range in date from the late 10th century (Banteay Sri style) to the early 11th century (Khleang style). There is an inscription in Khmer dated 1043 on the left of the entrance to the east gopura. In the wihan of the Wat, there is an important Dvaravati seated image of the Buddha protected by the naga, and other sculptures that have been found on the site. Also found here was a magnificent 11th century bronze statue 1.61 metres high of a Dvarapala wearing a short pleated sampot, a belt hung with small pendants, and a triple necklace. The eyebrow, mouth, moustache and beard are deeply incised and were probably originally inlaid with gold. This statue is now in the National Museum, Bangkok.
Noon: Lunch at a local restaurant
Afternoon: Return to Bangkok
22:00 Arrive at The Siam Society
 

The Siam Society reserves the right to change the programme as necessary.

Important notes:

– The Siam Society may utilise photos taken from study trips, lectures, performances, and other activities as part of its public relations and marketing campaign. These photos, which may sometimes contain image(s) of activity participants, can also be featured on The Society’s website and other online social media channels.

– As part of our effort to address the issue of global warming, The Siam Society strongly supports the reduction of plastic waste. We kindly recommend bringing your own water flask during the trip, if possible.

Booking:

The contribution of THB 18,800 (THB 20,800 for non-member), single room surcharge of THB 1,100, will cover transportation, meals as mentioned in the programme, gratuities and other costs incurred to make this trip possible. In addition, basic travel insurance is included. Your reservation will be confirmed as soon as the payment has been made. There is a 4% surcharge for credit/debit card payment to cover bank charges. Please pay by cash or cheque payable to “The Siam Society”. Transfer can also be made to The Siam Society travel account at TMBThanachart Bank (ttb), saving account no. 053-2-18000-7, swift code: TMBKTHBK or by scanning the QR code on your right. Once the payment has been made, please e-mail the deposit or transfer docket to us.

For further information and bookings, please contact Khun Thun at 02-661-6470-3 ext 205, or studytrips@thesiamsociety.org. The Society’s office is open from 09:00 to 17:00, Tuesday to Saturday.

More upcoming study trips