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Architecture
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Since
prehistoric times various peoples have settled in the northeast
of Thailand. Over the years the area has played host to a wide range
of regional architectural styles and influences. However, the style
most distinctive to the region is undoubtedly that of the Khmers,
which inhabited the entire northeastern region and beyond from the
7th through to the 13th centuries.
Religious
Architecture
Khmer
(9th to 13th Century)
 Although
early Khmer style sculpture and other arts can be dated back as
far as the 7th century, architecturally, the 'northeastern school'
did not really begin to make an obvious contribution until some
two hundred years later.
The
Khmers built the very first stone wat complexes in the Northeast
known as 'prasats'. These complexes were built to symbolize kingship
and the universe, and were truly awesome in their sheer scale and
beauty. A common feature was the magnificent staircases or bridges
lined with stone serpents, known as 'nagas' that lead to a central
sanctuary. The sanctuary was decorated with carved stone reliefs
depicting Hindu myths and topped by a stone tower known as a 'prang'.
The inner chamber of the typical prang would often house Buddha
images. Over the entrances to the wat were stone lintels and pediments
depicting both Hindu and Buddhist deities.
Two
of the most celebrated Khmer architectural sites in the region are
Prasat Hin Phimai and Prasat Hin Khao Phnom Rung.
For more
information on religious architecture in other regions see:
Traditional Architecture
Northeastern
Houses
There are no distinctive types of traditional dwellings that are
peculiar to this region.
For more
information on traditional architecture in other regions see:
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