This weekend been another beautiful sunny day in Thailand we decided to visit the Mueang Sing (Thai: เมืองสิงห์) is a historical park in Sai Yok District, Kanchanaburi Province, Thailand. It protects the remains of two Angkor Kingdom temples dating to the 13th and 14th centuries.
We drove from Bangkok city which is about a two hour drive to the Historical Park but you can take a train to Kanchanaburi Station then from Kanchanaburi station to Tha Kilen Railway Station and it's about a 30 minute walk from that station or 15 minutes ride on a Tuk Tuk.
Muang Sing Historical Park was declared a historical park in 1987. Built in the Bayon-style, the temples date to the Khmer kingdom in the reign of King Jayavarman VII which was in between the 13th and 14th centuries.
Muang Sing, meaning “Lion City”, is completely surrounded by a laterite wall and besides being a temple dedicated to the Hindu God Shiva, Muang Sing served as a military stronghold, to defend the Khmer empire from attacks from the West.
It was just amazing to be within these walls with so much history surrounding us and how they even built these huge monuments in those days is beyond me and most of the walls still remain standing is amazing.
A interesting fact about Muang Sing , for centuries these temples lay hidden in thick jungle overgrowth and were only uncovered about 50 years ago and only in 1974 the Thai Fine Arts Department started renovation of Muang Sing and in 1987 was made into a national historical park.
I found here exploring the grounds of Prasat Muang Sing was quiet and relaxing , unlike the crowds at Ayutthaya’s temples or Bangkok’s temples, there was only a handful of Thai tourists and foreigners much more fun and enjoyable.
The ruins of the second temple grounds were a little more flat only a bit of the walls remained it had been more destroyed over the time but still had it's beauty.
This was a beautiful stone castle in it's time and severed as the main quarters for the Monks.
Over the years there has been a few Banyna Trees that have grown within the grounds of these temples which has given the temples more character.
Around the outside of the temple grounds are also some other ruins that were once four room shophouses where also the Banyna Trees have taken over.
Banyna Trees have quite a habit of poping up in the most ackward spots but they certainly make a place look ancient.
There are nice boutique hotels and resorts around the area, where you can spend weekend or a night surrounded by the jungle and the River Kwai near by if you wanted to do some water rafting.
There are lots more to see in the nearby are if you did want to spent the weekend i hear the waterfalls are amazing maybe next time i will take up a Bungalo on the River Kwai.
Contact Details
Address : Tambon Sing, Amphoe Sai Yok, Kanchanaburi
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