Buri Ram

Approximately 1.57 million people inhabit Buri Ram, which borders Nakhon Ratchasima, Surin, and the Sankamphaeng Range along the Thai-Cambodian frontier. Phanom Rung Historical Park — a Hindu temple complex dedicated to Shiva, built between the 10th and 13th centuries atop an extinct volcano at 402 metres — is widely regarded as the finest example of Khmer architecture in Thailand. Nearby Prasat Muang Tam, a 10th-century sanctuary surrounded by laterite ponds, adds to an exceptional concentration of ancient monuments in the province. About 18 percent of the population speak Northern Khmer in everyday life, reflecting the area's deep Cambodian cultural links. Modern Buri Ram is equally famous for Chang Arena and the Chang International Circuit, home to the country's most decorated football club and its sole international motorsport venue.