Prasat Ku Santarat

Prasat Ku Santarat is an 11th-12th century Khmer sanctuary located in Ku Santarat Subdistrict, Na Dun District, Maha Sarakham Province, northeastern Thailand. Built of laterite and sandstone in Baphuon style, it consists of a central prang with surrounding walls and moat. Originally a Hindu shrine later adapted for Buddhism, it is one of the best-preserved Khmer sites in Maha Sarakham and is registered as an ancient monument by the Fine Arts Department.

Visitors can expect a compact, restored Khmer temple compound set in a rural village environment surrounded by rice fields. The site features a central sandstone prang on a laterite base, remnants of an enclosing wall, gopura entrance, and traces of a moat. Information boards explain the history and architecture. The area is open and quiet, suitable for walking around the prang, viewing lintels and carvings, and photography.

Prasat Ku Santarat was constructed in the 11th-12th century during the Khmer Empire, attributed to the Baphuon architectural style. Built as a Hindu sanctuary, likely dedicated to Shiva, it reflects Khmer expansion into the Mun-Chi river basin in Isan. Later adapted for Theravada Buddhist use, it was registered as an ancient monument by the Fine Arts Department and has undergone restoration to preserve its laterite and sandstone structures.

The site represents the spread of Khmer Hindu architecture and later Buddhist adaptation in northeastern Thailand. It serves as an important archaeological and religious landmark for the local community in Na Dun, illustrating the region's historical connection to the Angkor civilization and its continued cultural heritage value.