Phanom Rung
In the Thai province of Buriram is the beautiful historic park Phan Rung. In 2005, Thai authorities applied for the inclusion of the temple on World Heritage Lists.
The temple stands at an altitude of 402 meters on top of an ancient volcano. Hence the name of the temple, which in translation sounds like "an extinct volcano". Phan Rung was built in the 10-13th century and dedicated to the god Shiva. The temple itself became for believers the likeness of Mount Kailas - the center of the universe and the habitat of Shiva and his wife Parvati.
In 1971, the reconstruction of the temple began, and after 17 years, Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn opened it for the public. In the same year, one of the main attractions was returned to the temple - a jumper decorating the entrance to the central sanctuary. She was stolen in the 1960s, and in 1967 he bought a jumper from the Chicago Institute of the Arts, where he was put on public display. After the reconstruction of the temple, they called for the return of the attraction to the temple. Only after long negotiations and donations from the Elizabeth F. Foundation. Cheney Museum agreed to give the exhibit. On December 7, 1988, it was installed in its original place, completing the completion of the restoration of the temple by Phan Rung.
Before entering the temple there is a cruciform platform, to its right is the pavilion "White House of Elephants". It is believed that in this pavilion the royal family changed rituals for rituals. Next comes the track 160 meters long, which is decorated with 70 sand pillars, with peaks in the form of lotus buds. The track leads to bridges with ( five-headed snakes ). The bridge symbolizes the abyss between heaven and earth, and the heads of snakes are directed to 4 sides of the world. Behind the last bridge is the main sanctuary, the entrances to which are decorated with various jumper. On the eastern gate, the dancing Shiva is painted, and on the jumper is a sleeping Cherry. According to legend, he is dreaming of a new universe at this moment. The jumper of other entrances is less significant, they depict the plot of the king’s accession to the throne and the head of the lion Kirtimukha, symbolizing that the gods see everything even when they sleep.
