Neak Pean Temple

Constructed : Late 12th century
Religion: Mahayana Buddhism
Style : Bayon
King : Jayavarman VII    1181 – 1218
Location : In the north of the large circuit, between Preah Khan and Ta som.

Comment : Neak Pean is single in its kind. In the middle of a low-size baray today completely invisible, this small island temple is made of five swimming pools laid out in the shape of flower of lotus: A central swimming pool (70 metres) in the middle of which the temple is itself and four other swimming pools (20 metres) which form the petals of the flower. 4 overflows symbolize 4 rivers which took their source on the same lake meadows of the Kailash Mountain in the Tibet.

A complex hydraulic system was used to purify water and appears it gave him beneficial virtues. The temple in itself is of small size but its particular configuration is worth largely a visit. The modern name of Neak Pean (rolled up snakes) comes from a great number of snakes which proliferated in the neighbourhoods of the temple.

Jayavarman VII    1181 – 1218

Koh Ker Temple

Constructed : 10th century
Religion: Hindu (dedicated to Shiva)
Style : Koh Ker
King : Jayavarman IV   928 – 941
Location : 130 km in North East of Siem Reap, are approximately two hours and half of road.
Comments : In 928 years, for an unknown reason, the King Jayavarman IV moved the Khmer capital from Angkor towards Koh Ker. But when capital is placed at Koh Ker is short, Jayavarman IV sinks in 941, passing the reign where the child Harshavarman II is short, age of Rajendravarman II (944 years) capital means again to return to Angkor.

During twenty years, this site was the object of a very great number of constructions and Prasat Thom which one usually visits is only one very small part of immense Koh Ker. Prasat Thom is appeared as very large and majestic pyramid of seven levels whose only last stage is damaged. The staircases are extremely abrupt and required the addition of wooden staircases to be practicable and the immense sight on the surrounding countryside that one has at the top of this pyramid is a reward for those which will have climbed!

Koh Ker Temple

East Mebon Temple

Constructed : Mid 10th century, 944 – 952
Religion : Hindu
Style : Banteay Srei
King : Rajendravarman II    944 – 968
Location : East Mebon is located on the small circuit tour, in the medium of the Eastern baray.
Comment : In perfect alignment with the Royal Palace of Angkor Thom, Victory Gate and exactly in the East, in the middle of a gigantic baray of 7 km by 1.8 km, is Mebon Oriental. The baray, formerly supplied with Tonle Sap and which was used to feed the neighbouring cultures is entirely covered today with ground and sand so that you reache Mebon by the road.

But formerly, the only manner of reaching this temple was to cross the baray in boat, which explains the presence of the four landing stages located at each cardinal point.

This temple mountain does not have a central pyramid which was replaced by a simple platform. It is supposed that they will not have wanted too much to charge this small island located at the medium with such a quantity of water. This temple was built at the time when the country had been shaken by the usurping king Jayavarman IV and Rajandravarman II had just brought back the capital from Kho Ker to Angkor.

Rajaendravarman II would have built this temple in the honour of his divinized parents and to protect the country and to contribute to the continuity of the royal line. The elephants which decorate each angle of this temple are very realistic and recall us that this temple is related to a legend of a magic elephant.

Rajendravarman II    944 – 968

Preah Vihear Temple

Constructed : Early 10th century.
Religion : Hindu (god Shiva)
Style : Banteay Srei
King : Suryavarman I & II  1002 -1050
Location : In Svay Chrum Village, Kan Tout Commune, Choam Khsant District of Preah Vihear province of northern Cambodia. The temple is 140 km from Angkor Wat and 320 km from Phnom Penh.
Comment : Construction of the first temple on the site began in the early 9th century; both then and in the following centuries it was dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva in his manifestations as the mountain gods Sikharesvara and Bhadresvara.The earliest surviving parts of the temple, however, date from the Koh Ker period in the early 10th century, when the empire’s capital was at the city of that name. Today, elements of the Banteay Srei style of the late 10th century can be seen, but most of the temple was constructed during the reigns of the Khmer kings Suryavarman I (1002 -1050) and Suryavarman II (1113 -1150). An inscription found at the temple provides a detailed account of Suryavarman II studying sacred rituals, celebrating religious festivals and making gifts, including white parasols, golden bowls and elephants, to his spiritual advisor, the aged Brahmin Divakarapandita.The Brahmin himself took an interest in the temple, according to the inscription, donating to it a golden statue of a dancing Shiva known as “Nataraja”. In the wake of the decline of Hinduism in the region the site was converted to use by Buddhists.

Preah Vihear Temple

Phnom Bakheng Temple

Constructed : Late 9th/Early 10th century – 889-900
Religion : Hindu
Style : Bakheng
King : Yasovarman I    889 – 910
Location : With a little more than one kilometre in north of the principal entry of Angkor Wat and five hundred meters before the Southern Door of Angkor Thom, on the left of the road.
Comment : On the left of the road, one perforated in the forest, opposite some small merchants.

The ruins of a monumental staircase which climbs the slope of a 60 m height natural hill, it is the temple mountain of Phnom Bakheng. Every evening, a many crowd – a little too many – is pressed there to go to admire the sunset.

Some choose to ride elephant to go until in top of the hill, others climb the staircases courageously. Arrived in top, the sight is with the height of the efforts made for the rise. With far, one can see the silhouettes of Phnom Krom in the South and Phnom Khulen in North. One sees there also Baray, the forest of Angkor Thom and one overhangs Angkor Wat.

The construction of Phnom Bakheng (Bakheng Hill) is an important event insofar as it marks the displacement of the Khmer capital of Roluos towards Angkor. Moreover, Phnom Bakheng is largely inspired by Bakhong in its architecture but using materials and more elaborate methods of construction. It should be noted that this temple mountain is built directly on the rock whereas the other temples mountain are built on embankments.

Phnom Bakheng Temple

Preah Khan Temple

Constructed : Late 12th century  1191
Religion: Buddhism
Style : Bayon
King : Jayavarman VII   1181 – 1218
Location : On the large circuit, in the North of Angkor Thom,
approximately two kilometres after the Northern Gate.

Comment : Beautiful to be cried! Preah Khan, “the crowned sword”, it is the most beautiful monument of whole Angkor! Built by Jayavarman VII little after Ta Phrom, but in the honor of his father, this temple is of an incomparable beauty. Unfortunately of broad part of this monument are reduced to heaps of stones which piled up during centuries and under the force of the vegetation and the bad weather.

Preah Khan, city of the Victory would have been built on the same spot where Jayavarman VII gained the victory over Chams, provisional royal city when the Royal Palace of Angkor Thom was downtown repair and especially monastic where unrolled many traditional and religious festivals.

It was in fact a real city of 56 hectares. In spite of the vandalism and the plunder there’re still some magnificent sculptures. The city sheltered 10.000 persons, 1000 dancers and one Sanscrit’s school. Originally it was a convent Buddhist whose Buddha’s representations were destroyed by Brahmanes (Indian priests) and replaced by representations Hindus, (A single Bouddha representation stayed). To arrive in the center of the temple, a row of galleries and doors which become more and more low has measure that one approaches the centre (to show his respect). In the center, a stone, big Stuppa Bouddhiste which was brought in the XVth century. There’re small holes in all the walls in the center of the building. Originally, in every hole was some gold and diamonds, one says that all this was taken and resold by the Red Khmers. Magnificent sculptures of the gods barattant the sea of milk, as well as Vishnu and Lakshmi (his wife), and the place of 3 Lingams (sex of the Gods), circle on the base for Shiva, square for Brahma and octagonal for Vishnu. One finds as in Ta Phrom, a luxuriant vegetation which resumed its rights.

Jayavarman VII   1181 – 1218

Ta Prohm Temple

Constructed : Late 12th/Early 13th century  1186
Religion: Buddhism
Style : Bayon
King : Jayavarman VII    1181 – 1218
Location : On the large circuit, just beside Banteay Kdei. East of Angkor Thom.
Comment : Ta Prohm temple is certainly one of most impressive, if not most impressive of all the temples of the site of Angkor . It was to be in its time a gigantic monastic city and when you enter by the Est gate, while moving through this splendid forest towards the temple itself, it is necessary to imagine that you cross an active city of many people where houses, made light materials entirely disappeared with Time. Inscriptions indicate that 80.000 people worked at the service of this monastery and inter alias the monks used 5 tons of gold plate! Ta Phrom forms part of the last generation of Angkorian temples, on only one level, surrounded by many galleries. You will be immediately impressed by the number, the size and the quality of the still intact galleries.

The others are only fall and heap of stones. The French School of Extreme Orient, which is at the base of many work of restoration of Angkor, would have voluntarily left this temple in this state of decay, where nature continues its work destroying in order to give to the visitor this very special impression to discover a wild place. The EFEO is as justified by saying as there exists on the site of Angkor many other examples of this kind of architecture, like Banteay Srey or the very close Banteay Kdei, but also releases itself from an enormous task, it is enough for persuaded to look at the numbers of stones scattered on the ground. In addition, the roots which surround the walls and invade certain galleries are a true treat for the eyes and the photographers! Set up five years after the arrival on the throne of Jayavarman VII, Ta Phrom is dedicated to his mother, and is formed part of the temples dedicated to the divinized parents. It will build later Preah Khan in the honor of his father. To be visited absolutely.

Ta Prohm is a Buddhism temple ruins like one city that inside the immense site which east west 1000 meter north and south 600 meters. There is a mark of the ring moat which surrounds the third lap wall on left and right. The next second lap wall does with the laterite. Inside having become the corridor, the roof of the sandstone is riding. As for the banyan tree with the very much high trees and shrubs, there is no branch excluding the part of the canopy. The key also voice of the bird which calls sharply has emphasized strange atmosphere.

Jayavarman VII    1181 – 1218