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Phnom Kulen
Date : 9th century
Religion : Hindu
Reign : Jasovarman II
Style : Phnom Kulen
Phnom Kulen is widely regarded as the birthplace of the ancient Khmer Empire. Situated 48km from Siem Reap this hilltop site has the country's largest reclining Buddha and it was here, in 802 A.D., that King Jayavarman II proclaimed independence from ‘Chvea’ (probably a reference to the Chams) and was annointed as the first of Cambodia's God-Kings.
Khmer Rouge activity in this area previously rendered Phnom Kulen inaccessible but it is now safe to visit. Road conditions are still poor especially in the rainy season but this is, ironically, also the best season to see the falls in their full glory. Cutting through the area is the River of 1000 Lingas. Just 5cm under the water's surface are 1000 small carvings etched into the sandstone riverbed, while further downstream larger blocks of stone are carved with Apsaras, Vishnu representations and other figures.
Roluos Group
Roluos is the site and ancient center of Khmer civilization known as Hariharilaya. Nearly 50 years after Jayavarman II established his first capital on Mount Kulen in 802, inaugurating the Angkor Period, the king moved the capital to Hariharalaya. This may have been for either defensive or agricultural reasons. Jayavarman II died at Roluos in about 850 but it is likely his successors remained there until Yasovarman I moved the capital to Yasodharapura (Angkor) in around 905. Bakheng was the first temple built at Angkor and was Yasovarman’s state temple. The Roluos group dates from the late 9th century and is the earliest site of the 600-year Angkorian Period that is open to visitors. The three temples in this important group have similar architectural characteristics, decoration and construction methods. They are well worth visiting to guage the advances in classical Khmer art and to put later Khmer monuments in their proper context.
Prasat Bakong
Date : Late 9th century (881)
Religion : Hindu (Shivaism)
Reign : Indravaman I
Style : Preah ko
The Bakong is the main temple of the Roluos group, which lays 13km east of Siem Reap. It pre-dates temples like Angkor Wat and the Bayon and was built around 881 and is highly significant. Prior to the era of Angkor Thom, the capital of the empire was at Roluos and the architecture of the Bakong provides a yardstick by which to measure the staggering developments in temple design and decoration during the Angkorian period. Parts of a laterite highway have been found linking it to a Khmer city near Phimai in present day Thailand, some 225km away.
Prasat Preah Ko
Date : Late 9th century (879)
Religion : Hindu (Shivaism)
Reign : Indravarman I
Style : Preah Ko
Dedicated in 880, Preah Ko was the first temple built by Indravarman I in the ancient Khmer capital of Hariharalaya (present-day Roluos). The front three towers are dedicated to Indramarman's predecessors, the central shrine being named after Jayavarman II, the founder of the Khmer Empire. Technically, the dedications are to the tutelary divinities of these kings; for example, in the case of Jayavarman II, to Shiva in the form of Parameshvara. The three rear towers are dedicated to their principal queens, again in divine form.
Prasat Ak Yum
Date : Late 8th/early 11th century
Religion : Hindu
Reign : Unknown
The earliest site at Angkor, located near West Baray. It is of course historically important but sadly there are only a few stones remaining at the site.
Phnom Bakheng
Date : Late9th/Early 10th century.
Religion : Hindu
Reign : Yasovarman I
Style : Bakheng
Phnom Bakheng is located 1,300m north of Angkor Wat and 400m south of Angkor Thom. Enter and leave Phnom Bakheng by climbing a long, steep path with steps on the east side of the monument (height 67m). This was the first significant temple at Angkor and was built after Yasovarman I moved the state capital from Roluos to Yasodharapura. The temple has become a victim of its own success as its west-facing aspect makes it a logical place to end a day's tour (it overlooks the West Barray). Consequently it has become very crowded at sunset.
Prasat Lolei
Date : Late 9th century (893)
Religion : Hindu
Reign : Yasovarman I
Style : Preahko/Bakheng
Lolei was built by Indravarman's son, Yasovarman I (889-915) on an island in the middle of a now dried-up Baray. Originally intended as a 6-tower (3x2) plan like Phrah Ko, only four towers were built. The eastern towers are pictured above.
Prasat Bei
Date : 10th century.
Religion : Hindu
Reign : Yasovarman I
Style : Bakheng.
On the same track as the preceding monument but 175m further on, and so 300m west of the road, these three brick towers are aligned north south and open to the east. They stand on a common laterite platform of 24m by 9.6m. The northern tower is incomplete and, like the southern, its height is truncated just above the doors.
Prasat Phnom Krom
Date : Late 9th/early 10th century
Religion : Hindu
Reign : Yasovarman I
Style : Bakeng
Prasat Phnom Krom is approximately 12km southwest of Siem Reap, near the northern end of the Tonle Sap Lake. It is located on a hill 137m high. Climb the steep stairs and curved path through a modern temple complex at the top of the hill. The walk affords a fine view of the lake and surrounding area. It was built near the end of the 9th century and the beginning of the 10th century and dedicated to the Hindu Trinity: Shiva, Visnu and Brahma. It is fashioned in the Prasat Bakheng architectural style.
Prasat Phnom Bok
Date : Late 9th/early 10th century
Religion : Hindu( Shivaism)
Reign : Yasovarman I
Style : Bakheng
Outstanding features:
The gigantic Linga (phallus), over 2m high, is in bad repair but the grandeur is still there on the thicket-covered Yoni. The carvings of the female deities on the sanctuary walls, wearing panung with wrinkles like pleated skirts, mark a style not found in other periods. Archaeologists named this style of art the Bakheng style. As the temple is on the mountain top the scenery stretches out for many miles around you.
Tep Pranam
Date : 9th century.
Religion : Buddhist
Reign : Yasovarman I
Style : Mixed
Tep Pranam is located near Angkor Thom. The building has been extensively damaged and only the base and a huge image of the Buddha remain.
Outstanding features:
- A statue of Simha's inclining head at the entrance to the Tep Pranam temple.
- The huge Buddha image is believed to have been built during Jayavarman VII's reign using left-over stones from the construction.
Thma Bay Kaek
Date : 10th century
Religion : Shivaism
Reign : Yasovarman I
Style : Bakheng.
These are the remains situated between the south moat of Angkor Thom and Baksei Chamkrong, to the north of this last monument and 125m west of the road. An excavation of the site discovered, under the paving of the sanctuary chamber, an intact sacred deposit composed of a quincunx of five gold leaves. The larger central leaf was engraved with the outline of a standing bull: the traditional mount of Shiva.
Baksei Chamkrong
Date : Early/Mid 10th century
Religion : Hindu
Reign : Harshavarman I
Style : Bakheng
Baksei Chamkrong is located just north of Phnom Bakheng, a short distance between Angkor Wat and the South Gate of Angkor Thom. The name of this temple comes from a legend in which the king was trying to flee Angkor while it was under siege. Suddenly a huge bird swooped down and sheltered the king under its wings. It consists of a single-tower design on a square, four-tiered platform that rises to a height of 12m.
Prasat Kravan
Date : Early 10th century
Religion : Hindu
Reign : Harshavarman I
Style : Bakheng
This small tower has three sanctuaries with unique brick bas-reliefs. Carvings on the southern wall represent Visnu with his right foot resting on a lotus flower held by his wife Laksmi, the Goddess of Beauty born from the Churning of the Ocean of Milk. The western wall sees Vishnu riding a crocodile and on the northern wall Vishnu is riding his traditional mode of transport, the Garuda: the eagle of the supernatural sun.
This is an underrated little temple that is very beautiful in early-morning light when the rose-coloured brickwork comes alive.
Prasat Koh Ker
Date : 10th century
Religion : Hindu
Reign : Jayavarman IV
Koh Ker is located 130km north-east of Siem Reap. It is the site of the capital of Jayavarman IV. The main ruins at Koh Ker consist of a 7-tier pyramid that looks quite out of place in the Cambodian jungle. The temple is currently accessed via a vertiginous wooden ladder and narrow, sloping steps. The climb is worth the effort because of the views from the summit.
The surrounding land was irrigated by a Baray similar to those at Angkor but smaller in size. Koh Ker was built in the 10th century and dedicated to Shiva. It receives very few visitors on account of its remoteness and the awful condition of the local roads. Consider contacting a tour guide that specializes in this area or hiring a sturdy dirt-bike. There is a small, friendly restaurant awaiting hardy visitors who brave this trip.
Prasat Pre Rup
Date : Mid 10th century
Religion : Hindu
Reign : RajendravarmanII
Style : Pre Rup
The temple is almost identical in style to the East Mebon although it was built several yeas later, following the return to Angkor from from Koh Ker. Khmers believe this temple to have funerary associations. The name Pre Rup recalls one of the rituals of cremation in which the silhouette of the body of the deceased, outlined with is/her own ashes, is successively moved through different orientations. Some archaeologiests believe that the large vat, located at the base of the eastern stairway to the central area, was used at cremations.
Prasat Bat Chum
Date : Middle 10th century
Religion : Buddhist
Reign : Rajendravarman
Style : Pre Rup
This temple was a Buddhist temple, the prototype of the Pre Rup style. Bat Chum is made up of three buildings, sharing the same base facing the east. The sandstone collonades were carved with leaf and flower motifs in beautiful circles. In front of the sanctuary there are the statues in the round of Simha.
East Mebon
Date : Mid 10th century
Religion : Hindu
Reign : Rajendravarman II
Style : Pre Rup
The Mebon stands on a small island in the middle of the Eastern Baray, which was a large body of water (2km by 7km) fed by the Siem Reap River. The temple was only accessible by boat. Today the Baray, once a source of water for irrigation, is a plain of rice fields and the visitor is left to imagine the original majesty of this temple in the middle of a large lake, not to mention the work of excavating the Baray. The East Mebon is a temple with five towers arranged like the numbers on a die atop a base with three tiers. The whole is surrounded by three enclosures. The towers represent the five peaks of the mythical Mount Meru.
Banteay Srey
Date : Late10th century
Religion : Hindu,
Reign : Rajendravarman II & Jayavarman V
Style : Banteay Srey
Located 20km north of Angkor, this exquisite temple was built by Yajnavaraha, an official of Rajendravarman (944-968) and Brahmanist guru of Jayavarman V (968-1000). As if to make up for its diminutive size (the first enclosure is a mere 80' square) every square inch of Banteay Srey is covered in carvings of the very finest detail and artistry. The temple should be included on any temple itinery.
One downside to Banteay Srey is that the temple has become a mainstay of package tour itineraries and is in danger of being swamped by tourist numbers. Conditions inside the compound can become unpleasant if several busloads of tourists disgorge at once. Apart from the obvious damage such numbers will do to the temple's structure, tourism is also eroding any sense of spirituality. This is not only true of Banteay Srey and locals are beginning to worry deeply about the long-term damage that tourism may inflict on their cultural heritage.
The road to Banteay Srey passes though wonderful scenery, making the journey a pleasure in itself. Banteay Srey is fashioned from a pinkish sandstone instead of the normal grey laterite of other temples. The properties of this stone allowed the ancient masons to imbue their work with an unworldly level of sharpness and detail. Banteay Srey’s location means that almost all moto and tuk-tuk drivers charge more for this trip to cover their additional fuel and maintenance costs.
Prasat Ta Keo
Date : Late 10th/early 11th century
Religion : Hindu
Reign : Jayavarman V
Style : Khleang
Ta Keo is located to the east of Thommanon and Chau Say Tevoda and dominates a sweeping bend in the road. Visitors may enter from the the south or east. Ascend this temple with great care as its stairs are steep and narrow. Ta Keo was built circa the end of the 10th century / early 11th century by King Jayavarman V and was used as his state temple. It is dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva. Ta Keo was the first temple built entirely in sandstone and as such serves as a milestone in Khmer architecture. An unusual aspect of this temple is that it remains unfinished. The reason for its non-completion is unknown. Had it been finished, Ta Keo would undoubtedly have been one of the finest temples at Angkor. It is imposing, rising 22m above the level of the road. Frame photos of it using the roadside trees.
Phimeanakas
Date : Late 10th/Early 11th century
Religion : Hindu
Reig : Rajendravarman/ Jayavarman V
Style : Kleang
Another pyramidal temple set on a square base, Phimeanakas was a royal temple. Architecturally there is little to recommend it but its great height provides a panorama of the surrounding woodland. Climb the temple via its western (rear) staircase as the eastern stair is precipitous.
A legendary serpant-woman was reputed to dwell in the temple tower. The Angkorian rulers were obliged to ascend the tower and carnally pleasure the creature on a nightly basis, thus ensuring that the king and his realm were protected from harm.
Kleangs (North/South)
Date : Late 10th/early 11th century
Religion : Hindu
Reign : Jayavarman V
Style : Khleang
This temple, made up of 2 buildings, is situated to the rear of Sour Prat Towers. There is no clear purpose to the construction. Archaeologists believe that it may have been an armory as it is near the Palace and the Royal Grounds.
Ro.yal Pond
Date : Late 10th/Early 11th century
Religion : Sivaism
Reign : Jayavarman V
Style : Kleang
The Royal Pond is a 45m by 125m rectangle with sandstone rims and steps circling downwards. There are well-preserved carvings on the wall similar to scenes in the Leper King group. This a tranquil place in the late afternoon as the sun is setting.
Kbal Spean
Date : 11th - 13th century
Religion : Hindu/Buddhist
Reign : Suryavarman I
Kbal Spean is commonly known as the Valley of a 1000 Lingas and is set deep in the jungle 12km from Banteay Srey. A 45-minute walk takes you to the river and waterfall where innumerable stone phalluses are carved on the riverbed. These were fertility symbols designed to bless the waters. This Hindu pilgrimage site predates the Angkor Temples by some 200 years, making it the most ancient site in the region. Kbal Spean is well-maintained and the waymarked trail is easy to follow. Though the path is steep, with steps in some places, the waterfall near the top is a nice place to relax and cool down. There is abundant wildlife, particularly butterflies, to enhance the visit. Kbal Spean is at its best in the Rainy Season when the river is flowing freely. From February the river and falls dry to a trickle so tours to Kbal Spean generally cease until May/June when the rains return.
West Mebon
Date : Late 11th century
Religion : Hindu
Reign : Udayadityavarman VII
Style : Baphuon
The temple is situated on an island surrounded by the Baray. It takes about 30 minutes to get there and is good to visit at any time. The West Baray is about 7m deep and was probably built by King Udayadityavarman II to supply water to Angkor. It is a supreme feat of civil engineering. The water level is more or less the same now as in the past. The water in West Baray is still used to assist the farming and fishery industries around Siem Reap.
Prasat Baphoun
Date : Middle 11th century (1060)
Religion : Hindu
Reign : Udayadityavarman II
Style : Baphuon
Prasat Baphuon is a vast temple-mountain near the centr
e of Angkor Thom. Its poor state is currently being rectified through an extensive restoration project and the temple is not open to the public at present. It is possible to access the entrance gate and elevated walkway. Some fabulous animal carvings adorn the walkway entrance and there is a huge, reclining Buddha on the west side that was added to The Baphuon at a much later date.
Angkor Wat
Date : Early-Mid 12th century
Religion : Hindu
Reign : Suryavarman II
Style : Angkor Wat
Angkor Wat is not simply a temple, it is the symbol at the very heart of the Khmer people’s pride in their culture and heritage. Three of its five towers adorn the flag of the Kingdom and are reproduced in countless works of art and handicraft.
The name Angkor Wat, (‘Capital’ or ‘Holy City’) is derived from the sanskrit word ‘nagara’. It served as both a capital and as a religious centre during the reign of King Suryavarman II. It was Suryavarman II who built Angkor Wat and dedicated it to the God Vishnu. It is generally believed that the temples, sculptures and artwork produced during the reign of Suryavarman II represent the high watermark of Khmer culture. Though Jayavarman VII was more prolific, many of the temples built during his tenure were confused in design and execution. Suryavarman's artisans appear to have achieved perfection.
Angkor Wat is encompassed by a moat 1.5 kilometres long (from east to west) and 1.3 kilometers long (from north to south). The moat is crossed via a single causeway on the western side. Like the West Baray, the moats at Angkor Wat were probably hand-excavated.
The jewels of Angkor Wat are the jaw-dropping series of bas-reliefs around the lower levels depicting victorious moments in the military might of the kingdom and numerous figures and stories from the Hindu pantheon. The the most famous is the magnificent ‘Churning of the Ocean of Milk’ in which the God Vishnu presides over numbers of competing deities and demons as they strain to pull on each end of a naga, the multi-headed cobra and protector of the Kingdom.
The temple contains two prominent structures found in Khmer architecture: the mountain pyramid and the inked galleries. The pyramid shape reflects the Hindu home of the Gods, Mount Meru. Angkor Wat’s pyramid is elevated over 3 stages. The lotus flowers of its four exterior towers form a quincunx with the fifth, central tower. This arrangement of five items to convey good fortune, power and protection is found in many of the Angkorian temples and was almost certainly drawn from Hindu mythology and numerology. Many linga stands were arranged in a similar way.
The Great Sanctuary of Angkor Wat faces west and late afternoon sunlight striking the Sanctuary softens its color to amber-gold. This is the best time to photograph the site. Trips to see the sunrise catch Angkor Wat in silhouette. The most popular place for taking photographs of the temple, at any time of day, is the northern reflecting pool.
The city was finally sacked by the Thais in 1431 and never recovered its earlier power or glory. The capital was moved to the area around Phnom Penh, probably to facilitate maritime trade. However, Angkor Wat continued to be used as a religious site by the Khmer people and does not appear to have been totally abandonned, even after the outside world forgot about it. The handful of western adventurers who visited the site during Cambodia’s ‘Dark Ages’ reported it was still in use. European interest was eventually stirred in the 1860s by the diaries of the French explorer Henri Mouhot. It now ranks as one of the world’s premier tourist sites.
Beng Melea
Date : Early 11th century
Religion : Hindu
Reign : Suryavarman II
Style : Angkor Wat
For many visitors, Beng Mealea even beats Ta Promh for ambience and it receives far fewer tourists on account of its remote location. Its layout and style closely mirror that of Angkor Wat, but here it is the rich, green jungle and the lichen-covered stones that dominate. Beng Melea is a tangle of trees, towers and vines and has several moody subterranean passageways to explore.
Ivy has snaked its way over the bodies of apasara dancers and richly carved lintels lie strewn in the undergrowth. Fallen block work near the collapsed central tower forces the visitor to scramble over much of the site. For any would-be Indiana Joneses, Beng Mealea is a must.
Chau Say Tevoda
Date : Late 11th/Early 12th century
Religion : Hindu
Reign : Suryavarman II
Style : Angkor Wat
Chau Say Tevoda is located east of the Victory Gate of Angkor Thom, across the road from Thommanon. Enter and leave Chau Say Tevoda from the north. It was built by king Suryavarman II and is a Hindu temple which adheres to the Angkor Wat style. Although the precise dates of Chau Say Tevoda and Thommanon are unknown, they belong to the finest period of classic Khmer art and both are stylistically beautiful. Between them they represent two separate incarnations of the same architectural theme. Sadly, Chau Say Tevoda is in a poorer state than Thommanon.
Thommanon
Date : Late 11th early 12th century
Religion : Hindu
Reign : Suryavarman II
Style : Angkor
Thommanon is an architectural gem and was built at the end of Suryavarman II's reign, circa the mid-12th century. This was the high-point of classical Khmer architecture and the ancient artisans produced a flawless temple, beautiful in every line and proportion. Thomannon is virtually symmetrical to nearby Chau Say Tevoda, another of Suryavarman's temples. Although the placement of Thommanon and Chau Say Tevoda neatly frame the eastern causeway of Angkor Thom, this was probably due to serendipity rather than intent. In Suryavarman's time the center of the capital was closer to Angkor Wat. Thommanon also pre-dates Chau Say Tevoda by several decades. Its designers took advantage of the natural qualities of sandstone and as a result its carvings are among the best. It has a magnificent jungle backdrop and looks best at sunset.
Banteay Samre
Date : Mid 12th century
Religion : Hindu
Reign : Suryavarman II
Style : Angkor Wat
Banteay Samre is one of the most complete temples at Angkor and was restored using the archaeological method known as anastylosis. This method entails complete deconstruction of the building, numbering of its component parts and then painstaking reconstruction. The name Samre refers to an ethnic group of mountain people who inhabited the region near the feet of the Phnom Kulen hills. They were probably related to the Khmers. No inscription has been found for this temple but its style places it in the central period of classical architecture close to the time of the building of Angkor Wat.
A unique feature of Banteay Samre is the interior moat which was originally filled with water and must have given the impression that the central section of the temple was floating. Other buildings around the moat are raised on mouldings and are decorated with figures framed by lotus buds.
There is a well-preserved linga-stand in the central tower. Time-delay photographs of the stand bring out the incredible pastel shades in the interior stonework. Even today the tower is redolent with a sense of ritual.
Srah Srang
Date : Mid 10th-Late 12th century
Religion : Mahayana Buddhist
Reign : Jayavarman VII
Style : Bayon
A large basin (the Royal Bath), 700m by 300m, on the axis of Banteay Kdei, bordered by stone steps. Originally excavated during the mid 10th century, it has an elegant terrace and a small island near its centre on which there are some sandstone remains. Used for ceremonies and royal baths, the local children now cavort and dive there in the hot season.
Preah Pithu
Date : Early 12th century
Religion : Hindu
Reign : Suryavarman II
Style : Angkor Wat.
A group of 5 sanctuaries in the Angkor Thom group. Though the buildings were partly destroyed, many carvings are in good condition.
Outstanding features:
-The rounded pillar carvings of the first sanctuary.
-A Naga linking with the Gopura on the sanctuary's walls.
-Round pillars carved with designs supporting the Naga Bridge.
-Hindu carvings and Buddhist imagery sitting side by side.
-A giant, carved Shiva Linga in the north-eastern sanctuary.
Elephant Terrace
Date : Late 12th century.
Religion : Mahayana Buddhism
Reign : Jayavarman VII
Style : Bayon
The Elephant Terrace, situated in the heart of the Angkor Thom, faces the former Royal Grounds and originally upheld the Royal Palace. It is about 350m long and 3m high with a stone floor and stairs. This is the place where the later Angkorian kings viewed military parades, military exercises and celebrations. It was also the place where royal guests were received. As the Elephant Terrace is close to the centre of Angkor Thom, on one of the main thoroughfares through the city, it is easily included in any tour schedule.
Angkor Thom
Date : Late12th/ Early 13th century
Religion : Buddhism
Reign : Jayavarman VII
Style : Bayon
Angkor Thom is the magnificent royal city built at the end of the 12th century during the reign of King Jayavarman VII. Construction began shortly after Angkor had been wrested from the Chams by Jayavarman.
Angkor Thom is built in a vast square bordered by a 100m-wide moat and an 8m high wall. The city is oriented to the compass points and each of its walls is pierced at the centre by a towering gate. There is a fifth Victory Gate in the east wall allowing access to the palace grounds. The four principal gates are entered via four causeways spanning the surrounding moat. The causeways were originally flanked by lines of competing gods and demons pulling on a naga.
The best preserved of these causeways leads to the South Gate and gives some idea of how imposing the city must once have been. Many of the figures in the causeway's freize had their heads removed by relic hunters and very little of the original stonework remains. A number of the original heads were later removed for their own safety and now reside in the National Museum in Phnom Penh.
Several earlier temples such as the Baphuon were encompassed within Angkor Thom and Jayavarman proceeded to add to these. Among the construction projects undertaken within the city's limits was the construction of a Royal Palace, set atop a terrace supported by near life-sized elephants, and the building of the awe-inspiring Bayon Temple which is alleged to have been covered in gold-leaf.
Prasat Neak Pean
Date : Late 12th century
Religion : Mahayana Buddhism
Reign : Jayavarman VII
Style : Bayon
Although Neak Pean is only a small temple with a collection of five ponds it is worth seeing for its unique features. It is believed to have been built to celebrate Buddha achieving the state of Nirvana. The central pond is a replica of Lake Anavatapta in the Himalayas, situated at the top of the universe. The lake gives birth to the four great rivers of the earth. These rivers are represented at Neak Pean by sculpted gargoyles corresponding to the four cardinal points. Lake Anavatapta was fed by hot springs and venerated in India for the healing powers of its waters. The orientation of the ponds at Neak Pean ensured that the water was always fresh because the ponds receive only reflected light. Neak Pean is a 70m-square man-made pond, bordered by steps and surrounded by four smaller ponds. A small circular island with a stepped base of seven laterite tiers is in the center of the large square pond. Best seen in the Rainy Season.
Prasat Prei
Date : Late 12th Century
Religion : Mahayana Buddhist
Reign : JayavarmanVII
Style : Bayon
Like Banteay Prei, Prasat Prei is located to the northwest of Preah Khan and is similarly tranquil to Banteay Prei.
Ta Promh
Date : Mid 12th/early 13th century
Religion : Buddhism,
Reign : Jayavarman VII
Style : Bayon.
Ta Prohm is only rivalled by Beng Melea in terms of recreating the experience of the early explorers who re-discovered Angkor. Its structure is being steadily subsumed by trees, making it very photogenic. Ta Promh is in better condition than Beng Melea, has superior carvings and is far easier to visit. In its prime, Ta Promh boasted a fabulous wealth of precious stones and gold and controlled the activities of thousands of villages. It was constructed early in Jayavarman VII’s extravagant building programme and was dedicated to his mother. Clearance work has been thoughtfully undertaken at the temple so as not to harm Ta Promh’s mystical ambience. Visitor’s limited by time should make every effort to see Ta Promh
Prasat Ta Som
Date : Late 12th century
Religion : Mahayana Buddhism
Reign : Jayavarman VII
Style : Bayon
Prasat Ta Som is located to the east of Nean Pean. Entry is only possible from the east. It was built near the end of the 12th century and was dedicated to Jayavarman VII’s father. It adhere’s very closely to the Bayon style.
It’s a small, quiet temple and affords a delightful visit. Ta Som is a single tower monument of one level. It is surrounded by three enclosing walls with entrances to the east and west, each carved with four faces. The face on the east tower is particularly well-preserved and enigmatic.
Preah Paliley
Date : Late 12th/Early 13th century
Religion : Mahayana Buddhism
Reign : Jayavarnam VII
Style : Bayon
This sanctuary is shaded by trees. Preah Palily is situated directly to the rear of Tep Pranam temple. About 200m away is a small single-tower temple with walls that are in a state of collapse.
Outstanding features:
-The carvings on the pediments and lintels depict parts of the life of the Buddha. These are rarely found in other sanctuaries around Angkor Wat, where Hindu myths are generally predominant. Most Buddhist imagery was defaced during the reign of Jayavarman VIII. The fact that these carvings survived is nothing short of miraculous.
Banteay Chmar
Date : Late 12th century
Religion : Mahayana Buddhism
Reign : Jayavarman VII
Style : Bayon
61km from Sisophon and to the north-west of Angkor, this was one of the capitals of Jayavarman II. It was rebuilt during the reign of king Jayavarnman VII and dedicated to his son, who was killed in battle.
Banteay Kdei
Date : Late 12th- early 13th century
Religion : Mahayana Buddhist
Reign : Jayavarman VII
Style : Bayon/Angkor Wat
Banteay Kdei is a mysterious temple. There is no record of why it was built, or by whom as no marker stones or steles have ever been found. Its name means "The citadel of the monks' cells", but that does not necessarily indicate its function. What is known is that Banteay Kdei grew by amalgamation from a small site to a large central temple with its own enclosure wall that protected a large city.
Prasat Banteay Prei
Date : Late 12th century
Religion : Mahayana Buddhist
Reign : JayavarmanVII
Style : Bayon
Situated 150m north of Prasat Prei, Bantey Prei is a quiet, overlooked temple with a sandstone gallery, internal court and a handful of well-preserved apsara carvings. A nice place for those seeking peace and reflection.
Prasat Krol Ko
Date : Late 12th century
Religion : Buddhism
Reign : Jayavarman VII
Style : Bayon
Prasat Krol Ko is located to the northwest of Neak Pean, 100m from the road. It was built in the late 12th-early 13th centuries by King Jayavarman VII. Buddhist in religion, it follows the Bayon style of architecture.
Prasat Bayon
Date : Late 12th century
Religion : Buddhism
Reign : Jayavarman VII
Style : Bayon
The Bayon is perhaps the most enigmatic of the temples built during the reign of Jayavarman VII. It vies with Angkor Wat as the favourite monument among visitors. The Bayon post-dated Angkor Wat by about 100 years but it appears to have been built on the site of an earlier temple. The Bayon itself underwent a series of changes before evolving into its present form. As a consequence its architectural style is somewhat confused compared to other classical-period temples.
The Bayon’s aura comes from a series of towers on its third level. The towers sport four huge heads apiece, over fifty in total. The heads may be representations of Jayavarman VII himself, or the Buddha, or the benign and compassionate spirits of Mahayana Buddhism known as Bodhisattvas. The heads may just as easily be composites of all three.
The Bayon also boasts bas-reliefs to rival those of Angkor Wat and these give an extraordinary window into the daily life and military techniques of the period.
As with other Angkorian temples, the Bayon is beginning to groan under the weight of tourists. There will undoubtably be lasting damage to the structure, though locals are equally concerned that the true purpose and spirituality of the Angkorian temples is also being lost. The Bayon's popularity, particularly with Japanese and Korean package tourists, means that photographing the site has become increasingly difficult.
Ta Prohm Kel
Date : Late 12th century
Religion : Buddhism
Reign : Jayavarman VII
Style : Bayon
Ta Prohm Kel lays 300m from the western axial entrance to Angkor Wat, level with the first kilometre marker stone. There is a small ruined sandstone tower to the left. Following the discovery in 1928 of a stele (a stone slab adorned with writing) inscribed with an edict from Jayavarman VII relating to hospitals, this small monument could perhaps be identified as the chapel belonging to one of the 102 hospitals founded by the socially-conscious king and mentioned in the inscription of Ta Prohm.
Chapel of the Hospital
Date : Late 12th century
Religion : Buddhism
Reign : Jayavarman VII
Style : Bayon
Like Ta Prohn Kel, opposite Angkor Wat, this small ruined sandstone monument was o-ne of the four Chapels of Hospitals built by Jayavarman VII around Angkor Thom. In all, Jayavarman commissioned 102 such structures. It was preceded by a small sandstone entrance (gopura) a little to the east, of which only the northern and southern door frames remain.
Prasat Ta Nei
Date : Late 12th century
Religion : Mahayana Buddhism
Reign : Jayavarman VII
Style : Bayon
Another of Jayavarman VII's achievements, this little hide-away is one of the temples left untouched by the tourists. It would be peaceful spot were it not a training area for Apsara Authority staff. Weather conditions can render a visit difficult but there are several points of entry. Ask your driver.
Prasat Top (East)
Date : Late 13th century
Religion : Hindu
Reign : Jayavarman VIII
Style : Bayon
Of some historical importance, this small tower is located in Angkor Thom and was the final Brahmanic temple constructed in Angkor Thom during the Angkorian era. Prasat Top was built during a brief revival of the Hindu faith in the period following the death of Jayavarman VII.
Suor Prat Towers
Date : Late 13th century
Religion : Mahayana Buddhism
Reign : Jayavarman VII
Style : Post-Bayon
These are 12 tiny towers standing opposite the Royal Grounds. Speculation over their use ranges from them being the location for royal acrobatic shows, to places where domestic disputes were settled by imprisoning the complainants in the towers until one or the other became sick. This latter theory was drawn directly from the writings of Zhou Daguan.
Prasat Top (West)
Date : 9th-17th century
Religion : Theravada Buddhism
Reign : JayavarmanVII
Style : Post-Bayon
Two small temples with Buddhist carvings set in woodland close to Angkor Thom. A quiet, reflective spot away from the crowds.
Spean Thma
Date : 16th century
Reign : Unknown
Style : Bayon
Located on the left of the road from the Angkor Thom's Triumphal Arch, heading towards the Ta Keo temple, Spean Thma is the original stone bridge the ancient Khmer built for crossing the Siem Reap River (‘spean’ means river). The same construction methods were used as those of the temples: stone pillars on a circular base for support. Its construction mirrors the vastly superior Angkorian bridge on the road to Phnom Penh. A big tree is growing on the bridge. Carvings on many stone pieces were found near the bridge, evidence that the builders used stone from temples in various periods, especially those of the late Bayon Style, to construct the bridge.