Kuk Srei Temple

Located at the northeast corner of the ancient basin and just south of the larger Neak Buos Temple, Prasat Kuk Srei is a ruinous but fascinating site of a distinct and unusual format. This unusual format consists of a U-shaped building fronted by a long peristyle construction that researchers note as a building of the type “palace”.

The outer enclosure wall of laterite features a grooved, bell-shaped top, and entrances on the east and west. Inside the enclosure is composed of a u-shaped hall or gallery constructed of a sandstone base with laterite walls and sandstone capping, that is fronted on its southern side by a sandstone pillared construction that is quite ruinous. The sandstone u-shaped section encloses a small courtyard and features columned windows internally and false doors externally. The two constructions make for a small enclosed courtyard.

Buildings of a similar layout are found at the nearby Prasat Khnar, Prasat Thnal Svay, and Prasat Kon Chen and also further afar. So how did they function and what was their purpose? Firstly, always consider what cannot be seen and that is the possibility of wooden structures adding to or complementing what remains today. You may look at it and quickly say, well, it’s not big enough to be the king’s palace surely? Although, one could look at the layout and see a ritualised greeting hall, perhaps, for meeting the king on his pilgrimages around the regional areas. As for what scholars conclude, that much I am unaware. More of this structure type can be found under the tag “palais“.

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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..