It geographically
located in Srayong Cheng village, Srayong commune and Kulen district. The
temple complex at Koh Kher, northeast of Siem Reap, represents the remnants of
the ancient capital of the Khmer Empire from 928 AD.
It was a unique period in
the age of Angkor . Just a few decades after
the establishment at Angkor , there was a
disruption in the royal succession for reasons that remain a matter of academic
debate. What is known is that in 928 AD, King Jayavarman IV, possibly a usurper
to the throne, created a new rival capital about some 100 kilometers away at
Koh Kher.
Obviously a king of much wealth and power, he raised an impressive
royal city at Koh Kher of Brahmanic monuments, so far more than a hundred
temples and Prasats surrounding a huge Baray, Rahal. Jayavarman IV reigned at
Koh Kher for 20 years before he died in 941 A.D. His son Hashavarman II (941-944)
would remain at Koh Kher for another 3 years before returning the capital back
to the Angkor area.
The monuments of Koh Kher
are now on a road loop around the Baray past the most important temples. The
premier ruin of the complex is Prasat Thom, an imposing 7-tierred pyramid and
temple complex. There are some several nicely preserved ruins sit just off the
road, impressive prasats and small temples complex such as Prasat Pram, Prasat
Neang khmau, Linga-pura, Prasat Chreng, Prasat Damrei...etc. There are also dozens of other, more remote
ruins in the area. To-day, many of them are no longer standing, and some are
buried in the ground.
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