Baksei Chamkrong Temple

Baksei Chamkrong (Khmer: ប្រាសាទបក្សីចាំក្រុង) is a temple located in the Angkor Archeological Park (Siem Reap, Cambodia). The temple can be seen on the left side when entering Angkor Thom at the southern gate. It was dedicated to King Yasovarman by his son, King Harshavarman I, and held Shiva as the main deity. The temple was completed by Rajendravarman II (944-968). It is one of the first temples constructed in the area of what would later grow to become the sprawling ancient city of Angkor.

It is one of the many ancient Khmer “pyramid” style temples, this one with four tiers of decreasing size and height, formed by retaining walls of laterite with steep stairs on each side that lead up to the single brick tower. The square-bodied brick tower atop the tiered pyramid opens to the east, with false doors around the other sides, and rises above its cornices and pediments with four false levels of reducing size and height.

The sandstone doorframe on the east entrance features an inscription on either side that details the dedication of and gives praise for the early Khmer kings. It also includes the ancestor of the royal lineage legend, the sage Kambu Swayambhuva, and the uniting of Funan and Chenla (pre-Angkorian empires). The doorframe also carries an ink inscription in Chinese/Japanese characters that may be from the same period as those left at Angkor Wat in the 17th century.

Flanking the doorways are ornate octagonal door columns relief carvings of deities. Much of the ornate carving in the brickwork can still be seen which would have originally been further complimented by stucco work, some of which is still visible. You can also note the chisel marks made in the brickwork to help retain that stucco rendering.

The main sandstone lintel above the east entrance displays Indra standing on his three-headed elephant Airavata with garlands radiating outwards. Above that, a grand decorative arch formed in brick whose detail is lost to time.

Inside the tower, a beautiful sculpture carving of a reclining Buddha can be seen, a much later addition to the temple, also, a large pedestal and remnant of a deposit stone. Looking up you can still see remnants of the original polychrome finish applied to the shrine’s inner walls.

Fronting the temple on the eastern side, remnants of its brick enclosure wall and entry gopura can still be seen along with remnants of guardian lions.

The site is also fascinating for discoveries made into pre-historic settlements in the area. Excavations here have revealed ceramics, glass beads, and ironworking (University of Otago – APSARA, 2001).

Thma Bay Ka-ek, Prasat Bei, and Sak Kraop are within meters of here. To the south is Phnom Bakheng.

Inscription

The site features one of the more relatively important inscriptions from the ancient Khmer Empire as noted by Georges Coedes, it provides the only summary of the history of Cambodia from its origins to the reign of Rajendravarman and offers the origins of Khmer royalty, as well as the main foundations of the first rulers of Angkor.

• K. 286 – doorjambs of the east entrance – IC IV, p. 88

Historical Images

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