Prasat Phu Fai
| Native Name | ปราสาทภูฝ้าย, ប្រាសាទភូហ្វៃ |
|---|---|
| Alternative name | Phnom Krabas, Phanom Phu Fai |
| BA# | T33077 |
| CISARK# | 936 |
| IK# | 397 |
| K Inscription | K.379 |
| Inscr. Location | Unknown |
| Size | Medium |
| Condition | Ruin |
| Type | Temple |
| Location | |
| Commune | Phu Fai |
| District | Khun Han |
| Province | Sisaket |
| Country | Thailand |
| Coordinates | 14.64319, 104.49254 |
| History | |
| Founded | 9th - 10th Century |
| Art Style | Kulen, Koh Ker |
| Material | Brick, Laterite, Sandstone |
| Religion | Hindu |
| Year/s Restored | Ongoing |
Prasat Phu Fai (ปราสาทภูฝ้าย - Pronounced: Pra-saht Poo Fai)
This low, forested hill known as Phu Fai is located some 25kms north of the present-day Cambodian border. The unusually flat summit of this isolated hillock features an extensive collection of ancient vestiges including ruined brick towers and a small reservoir. Prasat Phu Fai itself, located towards the northern end of the hill, comprises a series of brick and laterite structures dispersed among dense forest and appears to represent 2 or possibly 3 ancient brick sanctuaries.
Some 400m south is the small active Buddhist shrine known as Wat Prasat Phu Fai which reveals additional brick structures and a small, water-filled pond.
The most intact of the shrines appear to correspond to an east-facing brick tower sited on a laterite base surrounded by a 35m x 50m drystone enclosing wall. A sandstone doorframe, including an inscribed doorjamb, (K.379), colonette fragments in a reportedly square style and a well-preserved lintel have been removed for safekeeping. The lintel is now housed in nearby Wat Suphannarat while we're unaware of the current whereabouts of the other elements although the inscription is possibly now housed in the Phimai National Museum. An earlier project to restore the temple, and presumably reinstall the doorframe, appears to have been paused but we're also not sure if that would include the inscription or not. At present only the laterite base and lower brick courses are visible.
There is considerable debate over the period of the site with French archaeologist Jean Boisselier pointing to a 10th-century Koh Ker style. The lintel however is clearly later - possibly Baphuon period - while to confuse matters further the aforementioned, reported square colonettes would be indicative of the Kulen period. The Sanskrit inscription is tentatively dated to sometime in the late 10th to mid-11th century period which could then include the Baphuon period.
The site then appears to have been occupied over a considerable length of time with a possible 9th-century shrine having undergone renovation during the 10th and 11th centuries.
Note, that the pond and additional brick structures around the monastery are described under Wat Prasat Phu Fai while the lintel features in the Wat Suphannarat listing.
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External Links
Links to additional resources such as articles, websites, videos etc.
Sisaket Channel - tour of Phu Fai with Thai langauge narration
References