THOMMANONThommanon is just north of Chau Say Tevoda. Although unique, the temple
Complements its neighbour, as it was built to a similar design around the
same time. It was also dedicated to Shiva and Vishnu. Thommanon is in much better condition than Chau Say Tevoda thanks to extensive work by the EFEO in the 1960s. PREAH KHAN
The temple of Preah Khan (Sacred Sword) is one of the largest complexes at
Angkor – a maze of vaulted corridors, fine carvings and lichen - clad stonework.
It is a good counterpoint to Ta Prohm and generally sees slightly fewer visitors.
Preah Khan was built by Yayavarman VII and probably served as his temporary
residence while Angkor thom was being built. Like Ta Prohm it is a place of
towered enclosures and shoulder-hugging corridors. Unlike Ta Prohm, however,
the temple of Preas Khan is in a reasonable state of preservation thanks to the
ongoing restoration efforts of the World Monuments Fund (WMF;www.wmf.org).
The central sanctuary of the temple was dedicated in AD 1191 and a large
Stone stele tells us much about Preah Khan’s role as a centre for worship and
learning Originally located within the first eastern enclosure, this stele is
now housed safely at Angkor Conservation. The temple was dedicated to
515 divinities and during the course of a year 18 major festivals took place
here, requiring a team of thousands just to maintain the place.
Preah Khan covers a very large area, but the temple itself is within a
rectangular enclosing wall of around 700m by 800m. Four processional
walkways approach the gates of the temple, and these are bordered by
Another stunning depiction of the Churning of the Ocean of Milk, as in the
approach to Angkor Thom, although most of the heads have disappeared.
From the central sanctuary, four long, vaulted galleries extend in the cardinal
directions. Many of the interior walls of Preah Khan were once coated with
plaster that was held in place by holes in the stone. Today, many delicate
reliefs remain, including essai and apsara carvings.
The main entrance to Preah Khan is in the east but most tourists enter at
The west gate near the main road, walk the length of the temple to the east gate
before doubling back to central sanctuary, and exit at the north gate.
This is reason enough to trip up the rule and enter from the original
entrance in the east. Approaching from the west, there is little clue to nature’s genius, but on the outer retaining wall of the east gate is a pair of trees with monstrous roots embracing, one still reaching for the sky. There is also a curious Grecian-style two-storey structure in the temple grounds, the purpose of which is unknown, but it look an exile from Athens.
towered enclosures and shoulder-hugging corridors. Unlike Ta Prohm, however,
the temple of Preas Khan is in a reasonable state of preservation thanks to the
ongoing restoration efforts of the World Monuments Fund (WMF;www.wmf.org).
The central sanctuary of the temple was dedicated in AD 1191 and a large
Stone stele tells us much about Preah Khan’s role as a centre for worship and
learning Originally located within the first eastern enclosure, this stele is
now housed safely at Angkor Conservation. The temple was dedicated to
515 divinities and during the course of a year 18 major festivals took place
here, requiring a team of thousands just to maintain the place.
Preah Khan covers a very large area, but the temple itself is within a
rectangular enclosing wall of around 700m by 800m. Four processional
walkways approach the gates of the temple, and these are bordered by
Another stunning depiction of the Churning of the Ocean of Milk, as in the
approach to Angkor Thom, although most of the heads have disappeared.
From the central sanctuary, four long, vaulted galleries extend in the cardinal
directions. Many of the interior walls of Preah Khan were once coated with
plaster that was held in place by holes in the stone. Today, many delicate
reliefs remain, including essai and apsara carvings.
The main entrance to Preah Khan is in the east but most tourists enter at
The west gate near the main road, walk the length of the temple to the east gate
before doubling back to central sanctuary, and exit at the north gate.
This is reason enough to trip up the rule and enter from the original
entrance in the east. Approaching from the west, there is little clue to nature’s genius, but on the outer retaining wall of the east gate is a pair of trees with monstrous roots embracing, one still reaching for the sky. There is also a curious Grecian-style two-storey structure in the temple grounds, the purpose of which is unknown, but it look an exile from Athens.
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