Overview
Preah Khan, meaning "Sacred Sword" or "Royal Sword," is one of the largest and most complex temple compounds in the Angkor Archaeological Park. Built in 1191 by the prolific King Jayavarman VII, the temple served simultaneously as a Buddhist monastery, a center of learning, and a temporary royal residence while the nearby capital of Angkor Thom was being completed. Its scale and ambition reflect the boundless energy of a king who transformed Cambodia's religious and architectural landscape.
The temple was constructed on the site where Jayavarman VII won a decisive military victory over the Cham invaders in 1177, reclaiming the Khmer Empire from foreign occupation. He dedicated Preah Khan to his father, Dharanindravarman II, installing an image of the bodhisattva Lokeshvara fashioned in his father's likeness within the central sanctuary. This act of filial devotion mirrors the king's construction of Ta Prohm, which he dedicated to his mother , together the two temples represent one of history's great architectural expressions of parental love.
According to the foundation stele discovered at the site, Preah Khan was far more than a simple temple. The inscription records that the complex housed 97,840 attendants and functionaries, including over 1,000 teachers. It functioned as a university where scholars studied Buddhist philosophy, medicine, astronomy, and other disciplines. The stele also lists the temple's vast inventory, which included gold, silver, Chinese silk, and thousands of precious stones, revealing the extraordinary wealth channeled into this sacred institution.
Preah Khan occupies an area of roughly 56 hectares, making it one of the largest enclosed compounds at Angkor. Despite its immense size, it remains one of the less crowded temples, offering visitors the chance to explore atmospheric corridors, crumbling galleries, and tree-entwined walls in relative solitude , a marked contrast to the busy experience at nearby Angkor Wat or Bayon.
What to See
Preah Khan rewards exploration with a rich variety of architectural features, from grand processional entrances to intimate carved shrines hidden within its labyrinthine corridors.
- The Eastern and Western Approaches: The temple has four axial entrances, each fronted by a causeway lined with stone figures , devas on one side and asuras on the other , pulling a giant naga serpent, echoing the Churning of the Ocean of Milk motif found at the Angkor Thom gates. The eastern entrance is the most impressive, with its long processional way leading through a series of gopuras.
- The Hall of Dancers: Located within the eastern half of the temple, this magnificent hall features rows of carved apsara dancers on its pillars and walls. The apsaras appear to dance in procession, their bodies gracefully twisting in poses drawn from classical Khmer dance. The quality of carving here is exceptional and rivals the finest work at Angkor Wat.
- The Two-Story Structure: One of Preah Khan's most distinctive features is a remarkable two-story building with round columns, unique in all of Angkor's architecture. Scholars debate its original purpose , theories range from a royal audience hall to a granary to a library. Its Mediterranean-looking columns and proportions have led some researchers to suggest possible influence from Greco-Roman architecture transmitted through trade contacts, though this remains speculative.
- The Central Sanctuary: The innermost shrine originally held the image of Lokeshvara modeled after Jayavarman VII's father. The sanctuary has been modified over the centuries, with later additions reflecting the shifting religious landscape of the Khmer Empire. Evidence of Hindu imagery carved over Buddhist originals reveals periods of religious rivalry and iconoclasm.
- The Sword Inscription (Stele): A reproduction of the foundation stele is located near the central area. The original is now in Phnom Penh's National Museum, but the text provides invaluable details about the temple's administration, economy, and religious practices.
- Tree-Root Galleries: Like Ta Prohm, sections of Preah Khan have been left in a semi-restored state, with silk-cotton and strangler fig trees growing through and over the stone structures. These atmospheric passages offer some of the most photogenic scenes at Angkor, particularly in the morning light.
Architecture
Preah Khan follows the flat, horizontally expansive layout characteristic of Jayavarman VII's temples, in contrast to the towering pyramid design of earlier Angkorian structures. The complex is organized around a central cruciform sanctuary connected by long galleries that extend outward along the four cardinal axes. Concentric rectangular enclosures surround the core, each marked by its own walls and gopuras.
The outermost enclosure wall measures approximately 800 by 700 meters and is surrounded by a wide moat. Within the enclosures, a network of corridors, pavilions, and shrines creates an almost maze-like experience. Some galleries have partially collapsed, adding to the temple's romantic, exploratory character.
The building materials include laterite for the outer walls and foundations, with sandstone used for the carved surfaces and decorative elements. Many of the interior walls bear thousands of small holes that once held bronze or metal fittings, suggesting that the walls were originally covered with decorative metal sheets , an extraordinary display of wealth now lost to time.
The integration of Hindu and Buddhist elements throughout Preah Khan reflects the syncretic religious environment of late-12th-century Cambodia. While the temple was founded as a Buddhist institution, numerous Hindu shrines and carvings were incorporated from the beginning, demonstrating Jayavarman VII's tolerant approach to religious diversity.
Tips for Visiting
- Enter from the east: The eastern entrance offers the most dramatic approach with its naga-balustrade causeway. Most tour groups enter from the west, so entering from the east gives you a quieter start.
- Allow 1-2 hours: The complex is vast and easy to get lost in. Budget adequate time to wander the corridors and discover hidden chambers and carvings.
- Bring a flashlight: Many of the interior passages are quite dark, and a small torch will help you spot carvings and inscriptions in the dimmer galleries.
- Morning is best: The light filtering through doorways and collapsed roofs creates extraordinary effects in the morning hours, especially between 7:00 and 9:00 AM.
- Watch your step: Uneven floors, raised doorway thresholds, and rubble require careful footing throughout the complex. Sturdy shoes are recommended.
- Combine with Neak Pean: The nearby island temple of Neak Pean, set in the middle of the Jayatataka baray, is just a short tuk-tuk ride away and pairs naturally with a Preah Khan visit on the Grand Circuit.
How to Get There from Villa Agati
Preah Khan is located approximately 12 kilometers from Villa Agati, on the northern edge of the Grand Circuit route through the Angkor Archaeological Park. The journey takes about 25 to 30 minutes by tuk-tuk. Preah Khan is typically visited as part of the Grand Circuit itinerary, which also includes Ta Som, Neak Pean, and East Mebon, making for a full and rewarding day of temple exploration.
Villa Agati can arrange comfortable tuk-tuk transport with experienced drivers who know the best route and timing to avoid the largest tour groups. An Angkor Pass is required for entry. Our staff can help you plan an itinerary that places Preah Khan at the optimal time of day for photography and crowd avoidance.