Wat Ku Phra Kona (วัดกู่พระโกนา)

Thai. Name of a Buddhist temple located in the Amphur Suwannaphum in Roi Et Province and situated in a forest that includes rubber trees and which is abound with numerous macaques. It comprises of three brick religious towers with spires called prang, that are built on a single sandstone base, face east and lie on a north-to-south axis. They are surrounded by a boundary wall in laterite, with gopura-style entrance pavilions in all four directions and all made from sandstone. It is believed that this historical monument dates back to the 11th century AD, though the central prang was renovated in 1874, adding new plasterwork while the roof was reshaped into tiers, considerably changing its appearance. Lintels above the southern prang's false door depict Hindu deities and kala faces, while one fallen lintel depicts Shiva on his bull Nandi. Fallen causeway stones have led to the speculation that the temple once had a Spean Neak or saphaan naak, i.e. a naga-bridge, from the front entrance of the pavilion to a lake some 300 meters away which today, alas, no longer exists. See also MAP and WATCH VIDEO. 回