Sunday, June 21, 2015

The Popular Temples in Cambodia

Angkor Wat Temple: The temple was built by the Khmer King Suryavarman II in the early 12th century in Yasodharapura, as his state temple and eventual mausoleum. It is called temple complex and the capital of Khmer Empire in Cambodia and the largest religious monument in the world. This temple was first a Hundu religion and later transformed to a Buddhist religion. Breaking from the Shaiva tradition of previous kings, Angkor Wat was instead dedicated to Vishnu. The temple is at the top of the high classical style of Khmer Architecture. It has become a symbol of Cambodia, appearing on its national flag  and it is the country's prime attraction for visitors.


The Bayon Temple (Brasat Bayon) is a well-known and richly decorated Khmer temple at Angkor Wat Complex in Cambodia and it stands at the center of Jayavarman's capital of Angkor Thom. The Bayon's most distinctive feature is the multitude of serene and massive stone faces on the many towers which jut out from the upper terrace and cluster around its central peak. The temple was built in the late 12th or early 13th century as the official state temple of the Mahayana Buddhist, by King Jayavarman VII. Following Jayavarman's death, it was modified and augmented by later Hindu and Theravada Buddhist kings in accordance with their own religious preferences.
Banteay Srei or Banteay Srey is a 10th-century Cambodian temple dedicated to the Hundo and god Shiva. Located in the area of Angkor in Cambodia. It lies near the hill of Phnom Dei,  25 km (16 mi) north-east of the main group of temples that once belonged to the medieval capitals of Yasodharapura and Angkor Thom.  Banteay Srei is built largely of red sandstone, a medium that lends itself to the elaborate decorative wall carvings which are still observable today. The buildings themselves are miniature in scale, unusually so when measured by the standards of Angkorian construction. These factors have made the temple extremely popular with tourists, and have led to its being widely praised as a "precious gem", or the "jewel of Khmer art."

Koh Ker Temple is located in Srayong Cheung village, Srayong commune, Kulen district, Preah Vihear Province. The distance from the provincial town to the temple is about 49 kilometers west of the provincial town and was once an ancient capital of Cambodia. 

Until now, there are 96 temples have been found in Koh Ker and many of them are no longer standing, and some are buried in the ground such as Brasat Dav, Brasat Rumlum Bey, Brasat Beung Veng, Brasat Trapiang Prey, Brasat Dey Chhnang, Brasat Srok Srolao, Brasat Lingam, Brasat Kuk Srakum, Brasat Trapiang Ta, Brasat Sophy, Brasat Krahom, Brasat Andoung, Brasat Ang Khna, Brasat Teuk Krahom, Brasat Damrei Sar, Brasat Krarab, Brasat Banteay Pichoan, Brasat Kuk, Brasat Kmao, Brasat Thneung, Brasat Thorn Balang, Brasat Rohal, Brasat Chamneh, Brasat Sampich, Brasat Trapiang Svay, Brasat Neang Kmao, Brasat Pram, Brasat Bat, Brasat Khnar Chen, Brasat Klum, Brasat Chrab, Brasat Dangtung, Brasat Prang, Brasat Kampiang.... 

Some of them are in the ground and they all need help to repair and improve to be long stable for humanity. The following, there are some temple where still in the ground such as: 
Brasat Dav
Brasat Rumlum Bey
Brasat Beung Veng
Brasat Trapiang Prey
Brasat Dey Chhnang
Brasat Srok Srolao
Brasat Lingam
Brasat Kuk Srakum
Brasat Trapiang Ta
Brasat Sophy
Brasat Krahom
Brasat Andoung
Brasat Ang Khna
Brasat Teuk Krahom
Brasat Damrei Sar
Brasat Krarab
Brasat Banteay Pichoan Brasat Kuk
Brasat Kmao
Brasat Thneung
Brasat Thorn Balang
Brasat Rohal
Brasat Chamneh
Brasat Sampich
Brasat Trapiang Svay
Brasat Neang Kmao
Brasat Pram
Brasat Bat
Brasat Khnar Chen
Brasat Klum
Brasat Chrab
Brasat Dangtung
Brasat Prang
Brasat Kampiang

These temples were not constructed near each other and the followings are locations and descriptions of some of the Koh Ker temples: 

Koh Ker Temple: About 300 meters farther to the west is Kampiang or Koh Ker temple. From a distance, the temple looks like a small hill, because it is covered by forest. Up close, however, it is actually a 35-meter-high stupa made of sandstone. It has seven levels, each level about 5 meters above the other. Each deck has a 2-meter-wide terrace, and there is a 55- step staircase to the top. At the top of the temple, there are large statues of garudas supporting Shiva lingam Treypuvanesvara. Nearby, there is a 4-meter square well, now completely covered by grass. According to local villagers, if a coconut is dropped into this well, it will appear in the pond near Neang Khmao temple. There is vegetation growing on top of the temple, and At the top of the mountain, the tourists can have the good view surrounding the Phnom Dangrek Mountain. in particular, Phnom Dangrek, Phnom Tbeng, and Kulen district.To the north of Koh Ker temple is another temple, Damrei Sar temple, but it is heavily damaged. To the northeast, is Iingam temple. This temple once housed three Shiva lingams, but some are now damaged.

Rampart of Koh Ker Temple: Another kilometer down the trail is the rampart of Koh Ker temple. 1 kilometer long and 2 kilometers high, it is made of laterite. Koh Ker temple is the middle of a rampart, surrounded by 20 more temples. Some of the temples are: Kuk Temple or Gopura - Kuk temple or Gopura is made of sandstone and has a sculpture of lotus petals on the temple fronton. Although the door frame is damaged, most of the temple is in good condition. A Shiva lingam that once was housed inside has been looted. Prang Temple - Prang temple is constructed of sandstone and bricks. There are five separate parts of this temple. About 70 percent of the temple is still standing. Krahom Temple - About 10 meters farther is Kramhom temple (The red temple). Constructed of brick and shaped like a seven-level pyramid, the temple is decorated with a 20-meter-tall sculpture of lotus petals. Inside the temple, there is a 3-meter-tall statue of Shiva with eight arms and four heads. The statue is supported by a l-square-meter base. The statue is seriously damaged, only some parts remain. Khmao Temple - Farther down is Khmao temple. On the wall and door frame of the temple, there is a partially damaged inscription. Near the temple is a rampart gateway to Kampiang temple. The gateway is a 2-meter staircase. Some sculptures of lotus petals, seven-headed nagas and garudas remain.

Neang Khmao Temple is in Koh Ker complex with 3 Kms long. It is the first temple in the top of small hill on the east side. The temple was made by the sandstone and its west faces of the temple faced to Angkor City. The terrace of this temple is two meters of height and separated into three levels. Neang Khmao Temple: The Koh Ker complex is along a trail that is about 3 kilometers long. The first temple, Neang Khmao sits atop a small hill on the east side of the trail. The temple, which faces west toward Angkor city, is made of sandstone. It is 20 meters high and resembles a stupa. The temple terrace is 2 meters high and divided into three decks. The temple is surrounded by a laterite rampart, 44 meters square and 2 meters high. The rampart has only two openings; one on the east side, and the other on the west. The temple once housed lingam and yoni, but only yoni remains. The lintel sculpture has been damaged, but otherwise, most of the temple is in good condition, while nearly three-quarters of the rampart is good condition.

Chen Temple: Farther down the trail is a three-peak temple made of laterite and sandstone. It faces east and is called Chen temple. Inside the temple there is a piece of lingam and remnants of a statue of King Jayavarman IV. A sculpture of garuda's head on the south lintel is missing. The temple is overgrown by forest. Preng Well: About 800 to 900 meters farther, there is the Preng well, which is similar to a pond. Surrounded by stone, it is 20 meters square. The terrace is about 8 centimeters high. The water in the pond is clear, and a nearby tree provides shade for weary visitors looking for a place to relax. 

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