Prasat Muang Tum, a small stone sanctuary which is worth to visit in Burirum province.
It is well-known by its unique baray and its decoration details dating btween the 10th to the 11th century.
The stone sanctuary was named from its location meaning ‘lower city’ where is lower than Prasat Phnom Rung.
It is situated in Prakon Chai district, Burirum province.
As no inscription has been found makes it difficult to place Muang Tam in history of the region.
Even the origin was unknown the temple can be dated by the styles of lintels.
Most lintels show the combination of Khleang and Baphuon styles.
Probably they were made between the end of the 10th century and the end of the 11th century.
The temple was dedicated to Shiva as a large lingam was found in the shrine hall.
Also a prominent lintel of the northeast tower shows Shiva and Uma riding the bull Nandi or Uma Mahesuen.
Fragments of a statue of Vishu also have been found.
This means to worship two gods in the same temple was by no means uncommon.
Muang Tam is a flat temple built to a concentric plan.
Five towers were built in the centre of the temple certainly dedicated to Shiva.
They were built in two rows, the front row of three towers and a back row of two towers rather then as a quincunx.
The most special feature of the temple is the four corner ponds surrounding the inner enclosure which form the ‘L’ shape.
Each pond has ground-hugging naga balustrades with their tails meet to the low gates leading down in the water.
As same as other Khmer stone sanctuary, there is a small baray dug up to the east but now dried up.
Further north is a much larger baray still remain full.
The lintel over the main doorway to the east shows Krishna fighting the five-headed naga Kaliya.
The scene was depicted after the great Indian epic, Mahaparata .
The story of Krishna who is one of the avatar of Vishu god .
Moreover, the kala head or kala face plays an important role in the decoration here as frequently occurs on the lintels and pediments.
There are two different styles of kala carved.
Mostly are Baphuon style but a few are in Khleang style.