Wat Khnat | Hello Angkor

Area: Siem Reap Province > Puok District > Khnat Commune > Khnat Village
| Type: Ancient Remains & Temples

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)

Bollard carved a multitude of small images of Vishnu

Vishnu and his consort Laksmi. Below, two disciples

Lintel: in the center, Garuda holding the naga

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

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).

Map

Site Info

Site Name: Khnat (V.) Khmer Name: វត្តខ្នាត
Reference ID: HA11770 | Posted: January 20, 2021 | Last Update: July 17th, 2021
Other Names: វត្តខ្នាតរង្សី, Wat Khnat Temple
Date/Era: 7th Century
Tags/Group: Angkor, Temples, Wat
Location: Siem Reap Province > Puok District > Khnat Commune > Khnat Village
MoCFA ID: 487
IK Number: 592
Inscription Number/s: K. 259

Rodney Charles LHuillier

Living in Asia for over a decade and now residing in beautiful Siem Reap. Rodney Charles L'Huillier has spent over seven years in Cambodia and is the author of Ancient Cambodia (2024) and Essential Siem Reap (2017, 2019). Contact via [email protected] - more..