Prasat Ta Khwai, Khmer temple ruins in Bakdai, Thailand.
Prasat Ta Khwai is a Khmer temple ruin in Bakdai made of sandstone with a tall cruciform ground plan and entrances on each side. The structure displays the characteristic architecture of the Khmer period with thick walls and multiple levels that underscore the religious importance of the place.
This sanctuary was built between the 11th and 12th centuries as a temple during the Angkor period and housed a stone with religious significance inside. This era marked the greatest expansion and cultural flourishing of the Khmer kingdom in the region.
The temple structure shows Khmer building practices oriented toward Hindu religious beliefs from medieval Southeast Asia. As you walk through, you notice the open layout without decorated surfaces, which reveals how the Khmer organized their sacred spaces.
The site is reached via an 8-kilometer concrete path from a military checkpoint, after which stairs lead up to the temple. It is wise to wear sturdy footwear and allow enough time for the round trip walk.
The temple surfaces display original uncarved sandstone blocks that never received the planned decorative carvings. This offers a rare view of the raw building methods and planning processes used by Khmer craftsmen.
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