Nang Rong Travel Guide

 
by Willettsworld
 
  •   Things to Do
    by Willettsworld
  •   Things to Do
    by Willettsworld
  •   Nang Rong
    by Willettsworld
  •   Nang Rong
    by Willettsworld
  •   Nang Rong
    by Willettsworld
 

Explore Nang Rong

Things to Do  

Baray Muang Tam Reservoir

Baray Muang Tam Reservoir, Nang Rong

 Willettsworld Says:  There is a large reservoir located just to the north of Prasat Muang Tam. It measures 510m by 1090m and is 3m deep. It represents the ocean surrounding Mount Meru, home of the Hindu gods. 

Muang Tam Tourist Information Centre

Muang Tam Tourist Information Centre, Nang Rong

 Willettsworld Says:  Just over the road from the entrance to Prasat Muang Tam is this information centre which also doubles up as a small museum with some wonderfully carved lintels found at the site plus a model of how Muang Tam would have looked like in its heyday. 

Prasat Muang Tam - Libraries

Prasat Muang Tam - Libraries, Nang Rong

 Willettsworld Says:  The libraries used to store sacred texts and religious manuscripts. They may have also contained sacred images. 

Prasat Muang Tam - Group of Towers

Prasat Muang Tam - Group of Towers, Nang Rong

 Willettsworld Says:  There were five towers constructed on laterite bases forming two rows. The main tower was the largest and in the middle of the four minor towers. It represented Mount Meru, the centre of the universe. Unfortunately it collapsed due to the great weight of the structure. It... 

Prasat Muang Tam - Courtyard and ponds

Prasat Muang Tam - Courtyard and ponds, Nang Rong

 Willettsworld Says:  The courtyard is situated between the outer wall and the gallery. There are four large L-shaped ponds which follow the shape of the outer wall. Each pond has a 5-headed serpent (naga) which forms a rail around the ponds. 

Prasat Muang Tam - Gallery and archways

Prasat Muang Tam - Gallery and archways, Nang Rong

 Willettsworld Says:  The gallery is a long narrow corridor shaped building that surrounds the main towers and library. In the middle of each gallery wall is a door which is cross-shaped. 

Prasat Muang Tam - Outer wall and archways

Prasat Muang Tam - Outer wall and archways, Nang Rong

 Willettsworld Says:  The outer wall and archways are made of rectangular laterite blocks topped with finials. Doors were situated in the middle of each outer wall and were made from carved sandstone. There are eight lotus petals engraved on the floors of the doorways which represent the plan of... 

Prasat Muang Tam

Prasat Muang Tam, Nang Rong

 Willettsworld Says:  Situated around 7km to the south of Phnom Rung, the Angkorian site of Muang Tam is a very worthwhile spot to visit and explore - especially given its proximity to the far grander Phnom Rung.Built under the command of the Khmer Jayavarman V in the late 10th and early 11th... 

Phnom Rung - Outer Gallery

Phnom Rung - Outer Gallery, Nang Rong

 Willettsworld Says:  Before reaching the principal tower, there was the outer gallery but its remains are lines of columns. It is assumed that it was a wooden gallery with a tile roof. 

Phnom Rung - Prang Noi/Minor Sanctuary

Phnom Rung - Prang Noi/Minor Sanctuary, Nang Rong

 Willettsworld Says:  To the southwest of the principal tower is a minor sanctuary or Prang Noi. Inside there is a sandstone altar for holding a sacred image. Its pediment in the east depicts Krishna lifting a mountain among floral motifs. 

Phnom Rung - The Two Bannalais

Phnom Rung - The Two Bannalais, Nang Rong

 Willettsworld Says:  Two Bannalais lie to the southeast and northeast of the principal tower. The buildings are rectangular and have only one entrance. They were built in the last period, around the 13th century, and used as a library for holy scriptures. 

Phnom Rung - Principal Tower

Phnom Rung - Principal Tower, Nang Rong

 Willettsworld Says:  The principal tower was constructed from pink sandstone and has a square plan. Double porches were built in the north, south and west. To the east is a rectangular room called the Mandapa (or antechamber) which is connected to the tower by an annex. It is believed that the... 

Phnom Rung - Two Brick Sanctuaries

Phnom Rung - Two Brick Sanctuaries, Nang Rong

 Willettsworld Says:  To the northeast of the principal tower are the remains of two brick sanctuaries which were built around the 10th century, making them the oldest structures at Phnom Rung. 

Phnom Rung - Arched Gateway & Inner Galleries

Phnom Rung - Arched Gateway & Inner Galleries, Nang Rong

 Willettsworld Says:  The inner galleries were built as the wall around the principal tower. The galleries are long, narrow rectangular rooms divided into cells. The inner galleries have arched gateways on all four sides. The outer walls of the galleries were carved as false windows. The pediment... 

Phnom Rung - Second Naga Bridge

Phnom Rung - Second Naga Bridge, Nang Rong

 Willettsworld Says:  The second naga bridge has the same cruciform plan as the first one but is smaller. The central area of the bridge was carved with eight petalled lotus motifs. 

Restaurants  

Kasut Guesthouse: Good restaurant

Kasut Guesthouse: Good restaurant, Nang Rong

 Willettsworld Says:  This place is just around the corner from the road that goes to the bus station and is located along the main highway 24. It has a garden area at the front with seats and tables plus a large screen TV where you can sit out and have a beer but apply lots of mozzie repellent... 

BBQ Restaurant: Don't know the name

BBQ Restaurant: Don't know the name, Nang Rong

 Willettsworld Says:  I think this place is called Porridge and it's along the main highway 24. It's a Thai BBQ place where you order a set meal of different types of meats and livers that come with glass noodles, greens and cabbage for 120 baht. You then cook everything on a BBQ on your table... 

Transportation  

transport

transport, Nang Rong

 utah74 Says:  Nang rong pourrait etre une bonne base de depart pour les temples khmers des environsPas de problemes si vous avez une voiture de location ou une moto hotel du parc est moderne confortable et le personnel souriant meme si le restaurant ne fonctionne pas a midi ce qui est... 

Getting to Phnom Rung from Nang Rong

Getting to Phnom Rung from Nang Rong, Nang Rong

 Willettsworld Says:  I had wanted to hire a bike from the guesthouse I stayed at called the Honey Inn (see my accommodation tip) but another couple got it before me. So I ended up walking to the bus station with an Israeli couple I met over breakfast and we started negotiating with a taxi driver... 

Local Customs  

Phnom Rung Festival
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I was fortunate to visit Phnom Rung on the 3rd April which is one of the four times of the year when the sun shines through all 15 sanctuary doorways. It was also the time of a festival to celebrate the restoration of the site and there were stalls selling local food and drink plus local arts and crafts. There is also traditional dance and fireworks along with a spectacular light and sound show in the evening.

Written Dec 20, 2009

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Map of Nang Rong