Prasat Sikhoraphum, Surin Province, Thailand https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Prasat_Sikhoraphum_-_Sikhoraphum_edit1.jpg JJ Harrison
Prasat Sikhoraphum is an ancient Khmer ruins in Thailand. It is located in the town of Sikhoraphum, in the eponymous district in Surin Province, in Northeastern Thailand. The name Sikhoraphum comes from the Sanskrit word shikhara, meaning tower sanctuary. It is located between the towns of Surin and Sisaket.
Prasat Sikhoraphum was built by the great Khmer ruler Suryavarman II, famed for constructing Angkor Wat. In design, it is similar to Prasat Kravan. It comprises five brick stupas, or prasats, which were built of sandstone and laterite. As in the usual Khmer design, each prasat has an actual door and three false doors. On the lintels of the doorways are intricate bas-relief carvings. The one showing Dances of Shiva is among the most beautiful Khmer lintel design to be found in Thailand or Cambodia.
Tree within the archaeological park of Prasat Sikhoraphum https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Prasat_Sikhoraphum-001.jpg Ddalbiez
Getting there
Prasat Sikhoraphum is off the tourist trail, and few tourists come here, though it is such an exquisite ruins. There is an entrance fee of 50 baht which is collected if the attendant is around. The archaeological park is open daily from 8:00 am in the morning until 5:00 pm in the evening. To get here, take a train to Surin town, then hire a tuk tuk to take you to Sikhoraphum. You may have to ask around, as many people do not know this place. It will be useful to print out and show photos of it when asking directions.
One of the towers of Prasat Sikhoraphum with false door https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Prasat_Sikhoraphum_Detail_2_-_Sikhoraphum.jpg JJ Harrison
An apsara, or Khmer nymph, embellished on the wall of Prasat Sikhoraphum https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Prasat_Sikhoraphum-005.jpg Ddalbiez
A multi-headed naga, or Khmer serpent, at Prasat Sikhoraphum https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Prasat_Sikhoraphum-007.jpg Ddalbiez
The intricate lintel design of Prasat Sikhoraphum depicting Hindu deities Brahma (left) and Ganesha (centre) https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Prasat_Sikhoraphum-006.jpg Ddalbiez
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Disclaimer
Please use the information on this page as guidance only. The author endeavours to update the information on this page from time to time, but regrets any inaccuracies if there be any.
Hello and thanks for reading this page. My name is Timothy and my hobby is in describing places so that I can share the information with the general public. My website has become the go to site for a lot of people including students, teachers, journalists, etc. whenever they seek information on places, particularly those in Malaysia and Singapore. I have been doing this since 5 January 2003, for over twenty years already. You can read about me at Discover Timothy. By now I have compiled information on thousands of places, mostly in Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore, and I continue to add more almost every day. My goal is to describe every street in every town in Malaysia and Singapore.