Preah khan
Preah khan was built by King Jayavarman VII 1125 - 1215 AD. It was a temple dedicated to his father (while Ta Prohm was for her mother). King Jayavarman VII built many rest houses and hospitals during his regin. He was also known as the Buddha King. Preah Khan was originally dedicated to Hindu God, but Jayavarman turned it into a Buddhist University (and later it was converted back to Hindu Shrine). The change could be seen on the sculptures on the wall. Some Hindu Hermits were converted into Buddha monks. Preah Khan means Sacred Sword which used to store in the library but is now lost. Preah Khan is also the second largest temple after Angkor Wat.
Entrance: US$ 40 (can be bought from Angkor Ticket Booth north of Siem Reap)
You can reach there by tuk tuk (I paid US$10/half day including Ta Som, Neak Pean and Preah Khan). The Temple was located north east of the Angkor Thom.
1) Tug of war - demons
From the Churning of the milky ocean Preah Khan, Siem Reap, South East Asia, Cambodia, Angkor Wat
Mon 2008-10-20 10:02:36 | | 2) West entrance
There are many doorways at the west entrance. The doorways are getting smaller as it goes into the center. It's so the visitors has to bow to the King as they visit the temple. Preah Khan, Siem Reap, South East Asia, Cambodia, Angkor Wat
walk 0.27 km (or 4 mins) SE from last photo
Mon 2008-10-20 10:08:49 | | 3) Base of statues
This Lingam originally hosted the statues of Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma. Preah Khan, Siem Reap, South East Asia, Cambodia, Angkor Wat
walk 0.05 km SE from last photo
Mon 2008-10-20 10:10:59 | | 4) Hindu hermits
They were originally Buddhist monks but were converted into Hindu hermits after Jayavarman Preah Khan, Siem Reap, South East Asia, Cambodia, Angkor Wat
walk 0.04 km SE from last photo
Mon 2008-10-20 10:12:53 | | 5) Center stupa in preah khan
This is located at the center of the temple. It has no ashes inside. Preah Khan, Siem Reap, South East Asia, Cambodia, Angkor Wat
walk 0.02 km SE from last photo
Mon 2008-10-20 10:13:50 | | 6) Apsara
This dancing figure was converted from a monk sitting in meditation. Preah Khan, Siem Reap, South East Asia, Cambodia, Angkor Wat
walk 0.04 km SE from last photo
Mon 2008-10-20 10:16:29 | |
7) Library
Preah Khan, Siem Reap, South East Asia, Cambodia, Angkor Wat
walk 0.11 km (or 2 mins) NE from last photo
Mon 2008-10-20 10:23:48 |
8) Library
Preah Khan, Siem Reap, South East Asia, Cambodia, Angkor Wat
walk 0.06 km NW from last photo
Mon 2008-10-20 10:25:44 |
9) Hindu god
Preah Khan, Siem Reap, South East Asia, Cambodia, Angkor Wat
walk 0.07 km (or 1 mins) NW from last photo
Mon 2008-10-20 10:29:59 | 10) Preah khan temple
one demon, one angel
means sacred sword
used to be in library, now lost
used to be Buddhist University in Jayavarman VII times,
then converted to Hinduism,
then back to Buddhist
some statue were Buddhist with flat meditation,
then Hindu with upward... Preah Khan, Siem Reap, South East Asia, Cambodia, Angkor Wat
walk 0.16 km (or 2 mins) SW from last photo
Mon 2008-10-20 10:36:13 | | 11) South gate
angel and demon Preah Khan, Siem Reap, South East Asia, Cambodia, Angkor Wat
walk 0.09 km (or 1 mins) SE from last photo
Mon 2008-10-20 10:39:21 | | 12) Echo room
this room used to fill with gems Preah Khan, Siem Reap, South East Asia, Cambodia, Angkor Wat
walk 0.09 km (or 1 mins) NE from last photo
Mon 2008-10-20 10:45:23 | |
13) Preah khan temple
Preah Khan, Siem Reap, South East Asia, Cambodia, Angkor Wat
walk 0.05 km SE from last photo
Mon 2008-10-20 10:47:10 |
14) South entrance
Preah Khan, Siem Reap, South East Asia, Cambodia, Angkor Wat
walk 0.02 km SE from last photo
Mon 2008-10-20 10:47:21 |
15) Elephant tree in preah khan
Preah Khan, Siem Reap, South East Asia, Cambodia, Angkor Wat
walk 0.05 km SE from last photo
Mon 2008-10-20 10:50:13 | 16) Preah khan east entrance
This is the side where the king entered the temple. Of course he needed not bow, so the entrance were constructed with the same size. Preah Khan, Siem Reap, South East Asia, Cambodia, Angkor Wat
walk 0.02 km SE from last photo
Mon 2008-10-20 10:51:08 | | 17) Preah khan tree roots
Preah Khan, Siem Reap, South East Asia, Cambodia, Angkor Wat
Mon 2008-10-20 11:28:38 | | 18) Elephant trunk tree
Preah Khan, Siem Reap, South East Asia, Cambodia, Angkor Wat
walk 0.03 km SE from last photo
Mon 2008-10-20 10:53:12 | |
19) Elephant trunk tree
Preah Khan, Siem Reap, South East Asia, Cambodia, Angkor Wat
Mon 2008-10-20 07:51:25 |
20) Spun tree
Preah Khan, Siem Reap, South East Asia, Cambodia, Angkor Wat
same location as last photo
Mon 2008-10-20 10:53:28 |
21) Meditation in preah khan
Preah Khan, Siem Reap, South East Asia, Cambodia, Angkor Wat
same location as last photo
Mon 2008-10-20 10:53:38 |
22) Old roots
Preah Khan, Siem Reap, South East Asia, Cambodia, Angkor Wat
same location as last photo
Mon 2008-10-20 10:53:46 |
23) Preah khan tree roots
Preah Khan, Siem Reap, South East Asia, Cambodia, Angkor Wat
same location as last photo
Mon 2008-10-20 10:53:59 |
24) Rooted window
Preah Khan, Siem Reap, South East Asia, Cambodia, Angkor Wat
walk 0.02 km SW from last photo
Mon 2008-10-20 10:54:11 | 25) Preah khan temple
2nd largest after Angkor Wat Preah Khan, Siem Reap, South East Asia, Cambodia, Angkor Wat
walk 0.20 km (or 3 mins) SW from last photo
Mon 2008-10-20 10:59:03 | | 26) Churning of the ocean of milk
From the Churning of the milky ocean Preah Khan, Siem Reap, South East Asia, Cambodia, Angkor Wat
walk 0.25 km (or 4 mins) SW from last photo
Mon 2008-10-20 11:03:34 | | 27) Tug of war - side of the asuras
from the book Mahabharata
devas held tail
asuras (demons) held head
the naga is Vasuki
devas and demons fought for Amrita (the Elixir for Immortality) but no result
so Vishnu asked them to work together.
so they churn the milk of ocean
used m... Preah Khan, Siem Reap, South East Asia, Cambodia, Angkor Wat
walk 0.05 km SW from last photo
Mon 2008-10-20 11:04:17 | | 28) Pussy tree
Preah Khan, Siem Reap, South East Asia, Cambodia, Angkor Wat
walk 0.16 km (or 2 mins) NW from last photo
Mon 2008-10-20 11:06:34 | |
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