Preah Ko Temple of Thala Borivat

Area: Stung Treng Province > Thala Barivat District > Thala Barivat Commune > O Triel Village
| Type: Ancient Remains & Temples

Located in the Thala Borivat district of Stung Treng Province, Prasat Preah Ko (a name also shared by other sites) is the remains of a partially standing brick temple that once featured an outer enclosure wall and terrace. Fronting the temple today is a large sculpture of Nandin (Preah Ko) from which the temple draws its contemporary name.

An inscription registered under K. 473 was found here whilst a stele (registered under K. 359) and other remnants were found 350 m southeast at a site recorded as “Veal Kantel”. The K.359 inscription dates to the mid-7th century and is an incredibly important one in Khmer culture for being the first record of the offering of the Ramayana (later to become the Reamker) and the Mahabharata, the two most important Sanskrit epics of ancient Hinduism.

Inscriptions

K. 359 – stele – ISC, n° IV, p. 28
K. 473 – Pedestal – unknown

Also See

Map

*Important: mapped location may only be approximated to the district level/village only. To visit sites outside the tourist zones you should seek a local guide from the area read more.

Site Info

Reference ID: HA11917 | Last Update: January 1st, 2026
Site Name: Preah Kô (Pr.) | Khmer: បា្រសាទព្រះគោ
Other Names: Boran (Pr.), Pr. Bohan., Prasat Bohan, Veal Kantel
Location: Stung Treng Province > Thala Barivat District > Thala Barivat Commune > O Triel Village
Inventaire Khmer IK: 321
MoCFA/EFEO Inventory - CISARK: 634
Monuments Historiques - MH: 628
Inscription Number/s: K. 359
Tags/Group: 1926MH, Aymonier, Inscription, Lajonquiere, MH, Parmentier, pr, rb, T16, Temples, Thala Borivat

Historical Inventories of Preah Kô (Pr.)

1901, E. Aymonier, Le Cambodge, Tome II, pg. 179 (Site Name: Les ruines de Veal Kantel la stèle Region: Bassak)
1907, E. Lunet de Lajonquière, Inventaire descriptif des monuments du Cambodge, Tome II, pg. 57 (IK #: 321 Site Name: Prasat Bohan Region: Thala Borivat, Cambodge)
1913, Parmentier, Complément à l'inventaire descriptif des monuments du Cambodge, in BEFEO Tome 13 (Site Name: Prasat Bohan )
1926, Liste des Monuments Historiques, #: 628 Site: Pr. Bohan. - Brick building; sandstone nandin. Region: Tonlé Ropou
1927, H. Parmentier, L'art khmèr primitif, pg. 226 (Site Name: Boran (Pr.))

Preah Kô (Pr.) Inscription References

K. 359 - Lines: 7 Script: Sanskrit Date (Saka): vie Ref: 1885, Barth, Inscriptions Sanscrites du Cambodge, n° IV, p. 28

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..