| Angkor Photography Tours

The enigmatic temple of Preah Khan of Kompong Svay

On May 26, 2017 / blog, Cambodia

Preah Khan of Kompong Svay (not be mistaken with Preah Khan temple in Angkor), also called Prasat Bakan by the locals, is a remote archeological site located 100 km from Siem Reap as the crow flies in Preah Vihear province at the eastern end on the ancient royal road from Angkor.

Preah Khan is the single biggest temple complex built during the Khmer Empire occupying an impressive footprint of about 22 kilometers square, 11 times larger than Angkor Wat and 2 times larger than the city of Angkor Thom. Because of its remote location (more than 200 km one way from Siem Reap including about 70 km of unpaved road) it receives less than 10 visitors daily.

The layout of the temple is unique compared to the other sites in Angkor as it is oriented northeast. It has been proposed that the temple is aligned with the raising sun during thee summer solstice.

A large baray of 3 km long lies on the east with a temple called Preah Thkol in the middle similar to the West Mebon in Angkor. It was built between the 10th and 13th centuries in different stages during the reigns of Kings Suryavarman I, II and Jayavarman VII. The influence of Jayarvaman VII is clearly visible in Prasat Preah Stun which has with a four-faced tower similar to the Bayon temple (see picture below).

Rediscovery

The rediscovery of Preah Khan is credited to French explorer and artist Louis Delaporte who lead a expedition there in 1873. At the end of their visit they took many statues which are now at the Guimet museum in Paris : among them, a naga garuda and an elephant statue from Preah Damrei (see picture below).

Because of its remote location and lack of security, the site was badly sacked during the 1980’s and 1990’s and even more recently in 2003. Even so, some beautiful pieces like doors and lintels are still there. The causeway crossing the moat (mostly dry like in Beng Mealea) has many garuda carvings on both sides.

Exploring the site can be quite difficult because of the dense vegetation there and the absence of clear paths.

Recent archeological missions

The Cambodian Archaeological Lidar Initiative (CALI) known for his groundbreaking discovery of the first Khmer empire city, Mahendravarpata, in Phnom Kulen and in 2014 did a survey of Preah Khan in 2015 and confirmed the previous layout of the temple. They confirmed that Preah Khan was an important iron smelting center at the height of the Khmer Empire. 90 structures were identified within the four enclosures of the temple.

Another project called The Two Buddhist Towers lead by a multidisciplinary team of researchers (UCLA, University of Illinois, University College London, EFEO,…) aims to study the transition from Mahāyāna to Theravāda Buddhism at Preah Khan did some excavations in 2015 and 2016. Three Chinese coins dating from the 10th and 11th century were found confirming the importance of his site during the Khmer Empire.

LIDAR image of Preah Khan of Kompong Svay

Main entrance of Preah Khan of Kompong Svay

Buddha niche at Preah Khan Kompong Svay

Atmospheric entrance in Preah Kompong Svay

Garudas below the main bridge of Preah Khan of Kompong Svay

The same garuda bridge by Louis Delaporte in 1873

Remain of a lion statue

preah khan kompong svay photography tour

Laterite towers in Preah Khan Kompong Svay

Beautiful door at the main temple of Preah Khan Kompong Svay

Temple ruin in preah khan kompong svay second enclosure

One of the two elephant statues remaining statue at Preah Damrei. Louis Delaporte took one back to France in 1873.

Bayon like temple in Preah Khan Kompong Svay

Beautiful Naga with Garuda at Preah Damrei

Tree growing on one of the temples of Preah Khan of Kompong Svay

Devata at Preah Damrei

Preah Stun , a surprising Bayon look alike temple in the jungle

Preah Khan of Kompong Svay is best visited during the dry season when the unpaved road is in fairly good condition. It is a 1-day trip from Siem Reap that can be combined with a visit to Koh Ker or Beng Mealea. A 2-day trip with a visit to Preah Vihear can also be arranged. If you like to do a private photography tour of this enigmatic and beautiful temple, please contact me.

Angkor Up Close

On January 30, 2016 / blog

bas relief bayon temple angkor photography tours

Visiting the temples of Angkor can be overwhelming. The structures are quite massive that most tourists focus their attention solely in watching the breathtaking grandeur of the fortresses against the picturesque landscapes. More often than not, the elaborate details of the temples are inevitably missed or neglected, for some reason.

But the beauty of Angkor is revealed on its exquisite elements: intricate carvings of Apsara dancers, Devatas, Buddhas, guardians and demons, bas-reliefs of battles or everyday life scenes. The minute details are actually the ones telling us fascinating stories of the bygone era.

Uncovering interesting details can be a challenge for most as quite a lot are hidden in the dark corners of the temples where only the curious dare go while others are covered with moss.

People who have visited Angkor temples for first time could not seem to get enough so they tend to come back for more. Even if they have been to the temples several times, each visit is just as stimulating as the first time. Every visit is an opportunity to find something new and unique.

If you want to see the awe-inspiring intricacies of Angkor temples with your very own eyes, please check our website at www.angkorphotographytours.com to know more about our photography tours. You might just spot an angel, on your lucky day.

sanskrit pillar angkor wat photography tours

Sanskrit writing on a pillar in Angkor

sanskrit writing angkor wat photography tours

Sanskrit writing in Prasat Kravan temple

angkor wat pillar angkor wat photography tours

Intricate details of a pillar in Angkor Wat temple

lintel close up koh ker angkor photography tours

Detail of a lintel in Koh Ker temple

demon carving in koh ker angkor photography tours

Detail of a demon carving in Koh Ker temple

Demon carving in Banteay Thom temple

apsara carving Bayon temple angkor photography tours

Beautiful Apsara dancers carving at Bayon temple

Bas relief detail in Bayon temple

aspsara dancers preah khan temple angkor photography tours

Apsara dancer carvings in Preah Khan temple

aspara hand banteay thom angkor photography tours

Detail of an aspara’s hand in Banteay Thom temple

Apsara feet Ta Prohm temple Angkor Photography Tours

Apsara feet close up in Ta Prohm temple

Buddha carving moss preah khan angkor photography tours

Buddha carving covered in moss in Preah Khan temple

bayon temple carving angkor photography tours

Carving in sandstone blocks in Bayon temple

carving preah khan angkor photography tours

Angel carving in Preah Khan temple

Angkor Wat Documentary Videos

On January 9, 2016 / Uncategorized

Your flight ticket and hotel are booked and you are a now a few days away from your trip to Siem Reap. Like many you probably did not have the time to read about the temples of Angkor. Do not worry!
To help you out, we compiled a list of the best Angkor Wat documentary videos available online. Most of them are in English, some others in French only. If you have other movies to suggest or want to report broken links, please feel free to let us know.

THE KHMER EMPIRE: FALL OF THE GOD KINGS (2020, Fall of Civilizations MMXX, in English)

Watch online: Complete (98 min)

Combining footage from various sources: video stock agencies, digital work from Monash University, work from Chandara Ung of SensiLab, this documentary gives a very good overview about the rise and the fall of the Khmer Empire.

LOST WORLDS: CITY OF THE GOD KINGS (2002, Channel 4, in English)

Watch online: Complete (49 min)

This documentary gives a good overview about the history of the temples of Angkor. In this film, you will learn about the first images of the 1994’s Spaceborne Imaging Radar survey from NASA, the accounts of Zhou Daguan’s visit in Angkor in the 13th century, the first impressions of Henri Mouhot from 1860. Several leading archaeologists are interviewed and gave any interesting insights about their research on Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom and Phnom Kulen.

JUNGLE ATLANTIS BBC

(2014, in English)

Watch online: Part 1 (59 min) Part 2 (59 min)

Jungle Atlantis by the BBC is about the latest findings from the LIDAR, a groundbreaking laser technology which gave archaeologists new insights about the temples, the sacred mountain of Phnom Kulen and revealed new archaeological sites hidden beneath the dense jungle.
In this documentary are also presented some new research evidences about the sophisticated Angkorian water irrigation system believed to be at the origin of the rise and fall of the Khmer Empire.

AUX SOURCES D’ANGKOR ARTE

(2015, Science Grand Format, in French)

A documentary about the first capital of the Khmer Empire, Mahendraparvata, and its discovery in 2000 by Jean-Baptiste Chevance on the top of Kulen mountain. The map of the ancient city is confirmed by the LIDAR survey of 2012.

Watch online: Complete (53 min)

ANGKOR REDECOUVERT ARTE

(2013, in French)

Watch online: Complete (86 min)

Angkor redécouvert is an Angkor documentary about the latest findings of the LIDAR project and some archaeological research led by French and German teams in the temples of Koh Ker. Also presented, the groundbreaking documentary work of the French explorer and artist Louis Delaporte, at the end of the 19th century.

ACCESS 360 WORLD HERITAGE ANGKOR WAT

(2013, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC, in English)

Watch online: Complete (44 min)

A documentary about the LIDAR technology which helped scientists to get a better understanding of the layout of the city of Angkor Wat. A large part of the documentary is about the restoration and conservation efforts that took place in the temples over the years.

VISUALISING ANGKOR

(2009, MONASH UNIVERSITY, in English)

Watch online: Complete (3 min)

An amazing short animation film produced by Monash University depicting the landscapes and daily life during the golden age of Angkor Wat.

ANGKOR THE LAND OF THE GODS

(2011 SMITHSONIAN CHANNEL, in English)

Watch online: Part 1 (55 min) Part 2 (55 min)

The first part of this documentary focuses on the rise of the Khmer empire and the legacy of Suryavarman II: Angkor Wat temple. Is explained also the connection between the temples and the quarries in the Kulen mountain. The second part is about Jayavarman VII well known for his extensive temple building program. Also presented, the last findings about Angkor Thom and the Bayon temple. Both part feature beautifully designed 3D and movie sequences.

ANGKOR: LA CIVILISATION ENGLOUTIE

(2012, ARTE, in French)

A documentary which highlights the works of the EFEO about the history of the consecutive capitals of the Khmer empire. New research is been presented about the temples of Beng Melea, Phnom Kulen, Preah Khan and the West Baray water reservoir. Presented also, the new archaeological evidences uncovered by the LIDAR technology.

Watch online: Complete (52 min)

A LA POURSUITE DES PILLEURS DE TEMPLES

(2016, ARTE, in French)

A documentary about the controversial topic of antiquities trafficking and in particular about the looting of the statues of the statues of Koh Ker in Cambodia. Tess David a lawyer successfully executed a lawsuit against Sotheby’s for the sale of the unique statue of Duryodhana bondissant which was stolen in 1972 at Prasat Chen temple and which was part of a unique 3 dimensional Hindu fighting scene composed of 9 statues.

Watch online: Complete (52 min)

ANCIENT MEGASTRUCTURES ANGKOR WAT

(2008, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC, in English)

This documentary focuses exclusively on the construction of Angkor Wat temple under the reign of Suryavarman II.

Watch online: Complete (47 min)

DIGGING FOR THE TRUTH ANGKOR WAT

(HISTORY CHANNEL, in English)

A fast-paced documentary about Angkor Wat temple.

Watch online: Complete (45 min)

PHOTOGRAPHY TOURS

If you are a passionate photographer who wants to get the best pictures of Angkor and wants to improve your photo skills you can join our Angkor Wat sunrise tour or our countryside tour. We run also photography tours in the capital city of Phnom Penh.

Posts Tagged Jayavarman