Cambodia Travel Preah Vihear - Temple Trail @Koh Ker Temple កោះកេរ្តិ៍

Cambodia Travel Preah Vihear - Temple Trail @Koh Ker Temple កោះកេរ្តិ៍ (2014 1117)

Prasat Thom of Koh Ker temple site (seven tiered pyramid)

Coordinates        13°46′30″N  104°32′50″E

Getting There:

From Siem Reap City use Highways 6 and turn to National Road 64 at Dam Dek Market ផ្សារ​ដំ​ដែក, turn Left into Road 2641D, and remember purchase entrance ticket from Angkor Wat or before turn in

Entrance fee

Tickets for Koh Ker ($10 adults, children under 12 years go free) can be purchased at the Prasat Beng Mealea ប្រាសាទបេងមាលា ticket booth. There are good bathrooms at both the ticket kiosk itself, and additionally at the ticket check point closer to Koh Ker, which also has covered picnic benches.

Koh Ker was once an ancient capital of Cambodia, located in Srayong Cheung village, Srayong commune, Kulen district, about 49 kilometers west of the provincial town. The Koh Ker complex is on the Chhork Koki highland. It was built by King Jayavaraman IV (AD 928-942). Koh Ker temple is 35 meters high, and its design resembles a seven-stepped stupa. The temple faces west toward Angkor city. It was built to worship Treypuvanesvara, the god of happiness.

Trail:

Ticket Counter at Beng Mealea

Ticket Counter at National Road 64 and Road 2641D (I get mine here)

Southern Group of Temples

Prasat Pram - Three prasat sanctuaries lined in a row, with the two structures in front being what are known as ‘libraries Constructed of laterite and sandstone, it sits on a small hill surrounded by bushes that block the lingam and the lintel. The main body of the temple is in good condition.

Prasat Ba

Prasat Chhin - it was one of the only temples dedicated to Vishnu in the city.

Prasat Thom Group of Temples

Trapeang Rohal Baray

Prasat Thom

a 35-meter-high stupa made of sandstone. It has seven levels, each level about 5 meters above the other. Each deck has a 2-meter-wide terrace, and there is a 55- step staircase to the top. At the top of the temple, there are large statues of garudas supporting Shiva lingam Treypuvanesvara. Nearby, there is a 4-meter square well, now completely covered by grass. According to local villagers, if a coconut is dropped into this well, it will appear in the pond near Neang Khmao temple. There is vegetation growing on top of the temple, and from there visitors have an excellent view of the surrounding landscape, in particular, Phnom Dangrek, Phnom Tbeng, and Kulen district.

To the north of Koh Ker temple is another temple, Damrei Sar temple, but it is heavily damaged. To the northeast, is Iingam temple. This temple once housed three Shiva lingams, but some are now damaged.

The “shrine” at the top contains a hole where the linga would’ve once extended out from.

Andong Preng(Andaung Preng Pond ស្រះ​អណ្ដូង​ប្រេង)

Prasat Dar Tong

 

Northern Group of Temples

Prasat Balang (Prasat Ling/Prasat I)

Prasat Thneng (Prasat H)

Prasat G

Linga Shrine

Prasat Andong Kuk (Prasat F)

Prasat Krachap (Prasat E) These triangular pediments are only seen at two other temples: Banteay Srei, near Angkor, and Preah Vihear.

Prasat Plae Beng (Prasat D)

Prasat Banteay Pichean - This temple featured a rather unusual layout of a central sanctuary surrounded by eight smaller ones. It also contained two libraries. A few lintel carvings are still intact, and it’s worth at least a couple minutes of exploration.

Prasat Chamres

Prasat Chrap

Southern Group of Temples

Prasat Damrei - this temple is abound in elephant imagery. It was primarily dedicated to Shiva

Prasat Khna - carvings of animals and gods in the stone. It’s very reminiscent of the carvings atop Mt. Kulen at a place called Kbal Spean.

Prasat Ang Kha

Prasat Nean Khmau - Despite being dedicated to Shiva, it faces west, while almost all other Shiva temples built by the Khmers face east. Furthermore, the lintel carving above the door featured a rare depiction of Brahma, though this can hardly be made out now due to erosion.