About Prasat Khao Lon
Prasat Khao Lon is an ancient Khmer temple ruin located on Khao Lon hill in Thap Sadet Subdistrict, Ta Phraya District, Sa Kaeo Province, eastern Thailand near the Cambodian border. Built in the 11th century during the Khmer Empire in Baphuon art style, the laterite sanctuary was dedicated to Shiva. It consists of a central prang, mandapa and enclosing wall, set in forested hills near Ta Phraya National Park, notable for its remote hilltop setting and carved lintels.
Visitors guide
Visitors can expect a remote, forested hilltop archaeological site with laterite ruins of a Khmer sanctuary. The complex includes a central prang, collapsed mandapa, enclosure walls and scattered carved lintels and pediments. The site is reached by a forest trail and steps up Khao Lon hill, surrounded by dry dipterocarp forest. There are no reconstructed buildings; the atmosphere is quiet and natural, with viewpoints over the surrounding plains and opportunities for photography and historical observation.
Key highlights
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11th-century Khmer laterite sanctuary in Baphuon style dedicated to Shiva
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Hilltop location on Khao Lon with forest surroundings and views over Ta Phraya plains
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Central prang and mandapa with preserved lintels and decorative carvings
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Remote archaeological setting within the Ta Phraya National Park area
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Example of Khmer Empire architecture in eastern Thailand
History of Prasat Khao Lon
Prasat Khao Lon was constructed in the 11th century during the Khmer Empire, in the Baphuon style associated with King Udayadityavarman II. Built of laterite as a Hindu sanctuary dedicated to Shiva, it served as a religious outpost on the ancient Khmer highway network in the eastern region. The site reflects Khmer architectural and religious expansion into present-day eastern Thailand.
Culture & Context
The temple represents Khmer Hindu religious heritage in Thailand and is an example of Shaivite worship. It is valued as an archaeological and cultural heritage site illustrating the spread of Khmer art and architecture, with lintels and carvings depicting Hindu motifs preserved at the site.
Route
| By air |
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