Phra That Narai Cheng Weng

Phra That Narai Cheng Weng is a single Khmer-style sandstone prang, roughly 12 metres tall on a laterite base, standing in Na Weng subdistrict about 5 km northwest of Sakon Nakhon town. Built in the Baphuon style in the 11th century, it’s regarded as the northernmost Angkorian-era shrine documented in Thailand — evidence that Sakon Nakhon once sat at the edge of the Khmer empire’s reach, long before it became a Thai Buddhist site.

The tower is the most intact of the province’s Angkorian ruins. Carved sandstone lintels remain in place, including one depicting the subjugation of a kala demon, and the stonework on the base and doorways still shows centuries-old craftsmanship. What’s missing is everything that would once have surrounded it — the enclosing wall, gateway, and small library buildings typical of a Khmer sanctuary complex haven’t survived. Local legend claims the prang was built by women, in a friendly rivalry with the men who built the nearby Phra That Phu Phek — a good story, though not something historians can verify.

Watch out: Don’t mix this up with Phra That Choeng Chum, the taller and far more visited prang inside a working temple in central Sakon Nakhon. Different site, different era, about 5 km apart — worth checking the map before you set off.

Today the site still functions as an active place of merit-making within its temple grounds, though it draws far fewer visitors than the province’s better-known Buddhist landmarks — most of what comes here is Khmer history rather than a crowded pilgrimage stop.

Insider Tip: The carved lintels photograph best in the low light of early morning, before the sun is directly overhead and the shadows flatten the relief work.

Dress modestly with shoulders and knees covered, and remove shoes before entering any shrine building. The site is reachable by local transport or a short drive from Sakon Nakhon city centre — pair it with Phra That Phu Phek or Phra That Si Mongkhon for a short loop of the area’s Khmer and Isan Buddhist sites.