Muang Tum is a 1,000 year old Khmer temple complex in Buriram province in North East Thailand, not far from the border with Cambodia. The complex lies at the base of a mountain that is an extinct volcano. The full name of the temple is Prasat Hin Muang Tum, but is also called Muang Tam or Prasat Hin Muang Tam, with Prasat meaning palace or temple.
Muang Tum is located near the site of another better known Khmer complex, Phanom Rung that was built on top of the mountain.
Muang Tum is one of the temples built in Angkor style during a time when large parts of Thailand were controlled by the Khmer empire. It is situated on the ancient road from Angkor Thom (present day Siem Reap in Cambodia) to Phimai in Nakhon Ratchasima province, further North West.
The temple was created as a Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva. Muang Tum was built during the 10th and 11th century, about the same time its more famous neighbor was constructed, and it was abandoned after two or three centuries. Some very fine and well preserved example of Khmer architecture can be found at Muang Tum. This and the fact that the site is much quieter than its better known neighbor Phanom Rung makes it well worth a visit.
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