Most temples in Angkor feel like sacred spaces frozen in time—but Prasat Preah Khan is different. As we wandered its mossy corridors and sun-dappled courtyards, it quickly became clear: this wasn’t just a temple, it was once a city. Built by King Jayavarman VII, Preah Khan functioned as a spiritual center, a royal residence, and even a university. It’s a place where religion, royalty, and community all overlapped—and you can still feel it in the stones.
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A Royal City in the Jungle
When Jayavarman VII took the throne in the late 12th century, he launched a building boom unlike anything Cambodia had seen. Before Angkor Thom was completed, he needed a center of power—and that became Preah Khan, which translates to “Sacred Sword.”
But this wasn’t just a ceremonial complex. It was a fully functioning city-temple hybrid:
- A royal palace (temporary home to the king)
- A Buddhist monastery housing over 1,000 monks
- A university, with teachers, students, and libraries
- A religious site, honoring the king’s father through Buddhist and Hindu symbolism
At its height, Preah Khan would have bustled with prayers, political meetings, lessons, and festivals—an epicenter of Khmer life and power.
Architecture That Tells a Story
Walking through Preah Khan today, the layout reveals its layered purpose.
- East Entrance: Reserved for the king
- West Entrance: For Brahmins and Hindu priests
- North & South Entrances: For scholars and the military
- Central Sanctuary: The spiritual heart, once home to a golden statue of the king’s father
The temple’s design merges symmetry and symbolism, with corridors aligning perfectly and carvings blending Mahayana Buddhist themes with Hindu deities—a reflection of Jayavarman VII’s inclusive vision.
Religious Duality: Buddhism and Hinduism Together
One of Preah Khan’s most fascinating elements is how it preserves both Buddhist and Hindu elements. Unlike later rulers who removed Buddhist imagery, many original features here remain intact.
You’ll find:
- Buddhist carvings of Avalokiteshvara and lotus motifs
- Hindu figures like Vishnu and Shiva etched into walls and pillars
- Shrines dedicated to both religious traditions, side by side
This coexistence speaks to the philosophical and cultural openness of the time—and it makes Preah Khan a rare place where both faiths still speak through stone.
Why Preah Khan Faded from Memory
After Jayavarman VII’s reign, the empire shifted back toward Hinduism, and many of his Buddhist temples were altered or abandoned. Over centuries, Preah Khan was slowly overtaken by jungle, forgotten by the world until it was rediscovered in the 19th century.
Today, parts of the site have been stabilized, but it’s still semi-ruined and gloriously raw—making your visit feel like a personal discovery.
A City You Can Still Explore
What makes Preah Khan so special is how much of that original city layout remains:
- Corridors stretch like streets, leading from shrine to sanctuary
- Courtyards open like plazas, inviting light and space
- Tree roots grip stones, nature reclaiming its share
It’s a quiet, immersive place where history doesn’t feel like a museum—it feels lived in, weathered, and waiting to be understood.
Final Thoughts
Prasat Preah Khan isn’t just another temple ruin. It’s a portal into the Khmer Empire’s most ambitious chapter—a place where a king dreamed of a city rooted in compassion, learning, and unity. While Angkor Wat may be the crown jewel, Preah Khan tells the story of a kingdom that was once as spiritual as it was powerful.
Want to walk the ancient roads of Cambodia’s past? Use our Cambodia Itinerary.
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