North Khleang – History & Highlights

Located in Angkor Thom, north of the causeway that leads from Victory Gate to the Royal Palace, the North Khleang is a large sandstone structure configuring of long galleried halls enclosing a courtyard with a small shrine at its center. It is duplicated, almost identically by the South Khleang, all of which are fronted by the Prasats Suor Prat.

The layout consists of a long hall, on a north-south axis with a chamber that was originally topped by a tower at its center offering an entrance on the east and an exit to the west that then enters into an enclosed courtyard. Only remnants of the courtyard wall are still standing. At the center of the courtyard rests a small cruciform-shaped shrine with entrances on each cardinal point.

The entrance to North Khleang faces west towards the Royal Palace and was extended by a long raised terrace with naga balustrade, remnants of which can still be seen. Flanking the doors are decorated door columns that are topped with lintels as are the other entrances to this chamber, with faint remains of two lintels on venturing to the left and right. As mentioned, above the chamber a tower rises which is suspected to be a later addition. The roof of the long gallery on either side of this chamber and tower would have originally been a tiled wooden structure, also noting, there are small chambered rooms at each end and balustraded windows along the length of each side.

You can exit the courtyard enclosure of the North Khleang through a lesser exit on the eastern side where there is immediately another site referred to as Prasat, East of North Khleang, which features 3 small shrines, all of which are somewhat fascinating due to their unrestored nature and remaining details.

In Khmer, ‘Khleang’ means ‘storeroom’ although some believe it may not have been the function of the structures. Some researchers speculate that they may have served as reception areas or even as palaces housing visiting noblemen and ambassadors, or even possibly as ashrama, more here. It should also be noted that several remnants of statues etc. were found here indicating that it, or at least some part of it, had a religious function.

The highlights here are the mystery of its original function, and the refined and subdued styling while noting the ornate base molding, decorated door columns and pilasters in places.

The prasat at the center of the courtyard

Historical Photos

In the mid-1900s, French conservators discovered several statues and relics including a beautiful Ganesha statue and a partially carved tortoise which is a popular consecration deposit, plus a four-armed (Avalokiteshvara?) statue atop a spouted pedestal, and more. – see more at Fonds Cambodge

Inscriptions

In K 468, Sanskrit inscription and possibly the Khmer text, only partly legible, named a king of who little is known, Jayaviravarman (reign possibly from 1002 to 1011 AD). The other, also partly legible, notes an offering to King Suryavarman I, mentions a date of 1006 AD, notes the divisions of certain lands, sanctuaries, and supplies allocated, see Inscriptions du Cambodge V III, Prasat Khlan for more detail.

• K. 468 – on the doorframe – 13 lines of Sanskrit and 22 lines of Khmer text – IC III, p. 225
• K. 542 – on the south doorframe – 29 lines of Khmer text and 44 lines of unknown text – IC III, p. 221