.

PREAH KHAN – UNESCO World Heritage Site [WHS],
as part of Angkor Archaeological Park, listed as WHS in 1992.

Location: Northeast of Angkor Thom and west of Jayatataka baray.

Built: 12th century.

Creator:  Jayavarman VII

Sanctum: Buddha / Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara.

The temple was built on the site of Jayavarman VII’s victory over the invading Chams in 1191.

The modern name, meaning “holy sword”,
is derived from the meaning of the original—Nagara Jayasri meaning “holy city of victory.”

The temple is dedicated to Jayavarman VII’s father.  The main image, of the bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara in the form of the king’s father.
As such it forms a complementary pair with Ta Prohm, which was dedicated to his mother.

.

.

 

.

The Preah Khan is oriented toward the east, so this was the main entrance, but there are others at each of the cardinal points. Each entrance has a causeway over the moat with nāga-carrying devas and asuras similar to those at Angkor Thom.

.

 

 

.

 

 

.

 

 

.

 

 

.

 

 

.

 

 

.

 

 

.

While the main temple was Buddhist, these are statues dedicated to other deities like Shiva and Vishnu and also previous kings and queens.

.

 

 

.

 

 

.

 

 

.

 

 

.

Hall of Dancers: The walls are decorated with apsaras; Buddha images in niches above them were destroyed in the anti-Buddhist reaction under Jayavarman VIII. North of the Hall of Dancers is a two-storeyed structure with round columns. No other examples of this form survive at Angkor, although there are traces of similar buildings at Ta Prohm and Banteay Kdei.

.

 

 

.

 

 

.

 

 

.

 

 

.

 

 

.

 

 

.