Phanom Rung was built in sandstone and laterite over a period of 200 years between the 13th and early 13th century. It stands majestically at the top of Rainbow Hill, an inactive volcano over-looking the Thai-Cambodian border.
The name Phanom Rung means "Large Hill". It was built on a grand scale-the approach is a long a 160m avenue of pink sandstone pillars. A monumental staircase on five levels is reached via a 5-headed naga bridge. Some of the nagas are particularly finely carved and well preserved and this " bridge" is one of Thailand's Khmer treasures.
The style indicates a date of 12th century and their detail is superb: crowned heads studded with jewels, carefully carved scales and backbones, and magnificent rearing bodies. The naga bridge represented a symbolic division between the worlds of mortals and gods.
Inscriptions found at Phanom Rung indicate that this area was controlled by a king who ruled autonomously from Angkor- King Narendraditya.