Wat Khnat

Also known as Wat Khnat Temple, it is now a monastery that was built on the site of an ancient sanctuary that consisted of a group of six brick temples. The modern monastery is certainly ornate and unique. In the front yard, you can see a collection of sandstone remnants by a tree.

Numerous ancient relics were found here, such as (photos property of EFEO)

Brick well

Colonnettes and bollard

Bollard carved a multitude of small images of Vishnu

Vishnou Khleang style

Sculptures of differing periods

Unfinished dvarapala

Khleang style statue

Vishnu and his consort Laksmi. Below, two disciples

Lintel

Lintel: in the center, Garuda holding the naga

Pre-Angkorian lintel: rectilinear median arch decorated with plant motis, adorned with garlands alternating with pendants.

Lintel fragment

Colenette

Pre-Angkorian colonette

Bust of Durga / Laksmi

So legend has it, this site is the origin of the statue that adopted the spirit of Ye Tep (noting its a male statue revered as a female spirit) and is today the most popular Neak Ta in the Siem Reap community (located in front of the Royal Palace in the middle of Road 6).

Replica statues of the Leper King/Yama seen at the site in the mid-1920s (property of EFEO).

Rodney Charles LHuillier

Living in Asia for over a decade and now residing in beautiful Siem Reap - Contact via rod@helloangkor.com - more..