Preah Khan Kompong Svay

The archeological complex of Preah Khan of Kampong Svay (Khmer: ព្រះខ័ននៅកំពង់ស្វាយ) or Prasat Bakan or Bakan Svay Rolay is located around 170km east of Angkor Archaeological Park and Siem Reap, and 100 km northwest of Kompong Thom in Preah Vihear province, Cambodia. According to Wikipedia, it stands as the largest single religious complex ever built during Angkorian Era, as its exterior enclosure is about 5 km square.

It is one of the least visited Angkorian Era sites although more and more are choosing to add it to their travels. It is also mostly unrestored leaving you with an idyllic place for your own personal Indiana Jones/Tara Croft fantasies.

There are few historical data about Preah Khan Kompong Svay. French scholars argued it had been founded in the 11th century, probably by Suryavarman I. It was a royal residence during the kingdom of Suryavarman II and even Jayavarman VII lived here, before recapturing the capital city of Yasodharapura from invading Chams in 1181, and improved the complex.

Preah Khan Kompong Svay covers an area about 5 kilometers square, is oriented to north-east and has four concentric enclosures. It was provided with water by a large baray (2.8 km by 750 m but almost completely dried at present), which crosses the eastern side. On an artificial island (mebon) in the middle of the baray there is Preah Thkol (Khmer: ព្រះថ្កោល), a cruciform temple in sandstone with a standing central tower. In the southeastern corner stands the remains of the 15 metres high pyramid of Preah Damrei, with laterite enclosure and two stone elephants (Damrei means elephant) at its upper corners. The other two elephants are exhibited at the National Museum of Phnom Penh and Guimet Museum in Paris.[5]

Inside the exterior enclosure, in the middle of the western side of baray, there is Prasat Preah Stung (Khmer: ព្រះស្ទឹង), with a peculiar four-faced central tower in Bayon style, which is preceded by a landing-stage with nāga balaustrades. A laterite causeway leads from here to a centric enclosure, 701 m by 1097 m, surrounded by a moat and endowed with four gopuras similar to Angkor Thom. Near the eastern gopura there is a dharmasala.

The inner laterite enclosure contains the central sanctuary, that stands on a two-tier platform. The central tower collapsed because of a looting attempt in 2003. It has entrances in all cardinal directions and is rounded by a windowed gallery.

To get there you can hire a vehicle and driver from Kampong Thom (try Vimean Sovann Guest House or  Glorious Hotel & Spa at around 100USD or local 80-90USD) and the journey will take around 150-180mins and entry to the site is 5USD.

While at Kampong Thom you could also visit the nearby Prasat Sambor Prei Kuk (ប្រាសាទ សំបូរព្រៃគុក).

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Cambodia