Ancient Lingapura or Koh Ker

Nowadays, Cambodia has four World Heritage sites such as Angkor (which was listed in 1992), Preah Vihear Temple (2008), and the Temple Zone of Sambor Prei Kuk, Archeological Site of Ancient Ishanapura (2017), and Archaeological Site of Ancient Lingapura or Chok Gargyar. Furthermore, it also has five areas of culture that are considered intangible cultural heritage including the Royal Ballet, the Khmer Shadow Theatre, the Tug of War, the Long Neck Lute (Chapei), Lkhon Khol Wat Svay Andet, and Kun Lbokator; traditional martial arts in Cambodia. Koh Ker Temple Complex in Preah Vihear province is constituted as “one of the marvels of Cambodian monumental heritage” by UNESCO. The temple is located in Srayong commune, Kulen district, Preah Vihear province, about 120 kilometers from Siem Reap. It is a very jungle-filled region that is sparsely populated. More than 180 sanctuaries were found in a protected area of 81 square kilometers (31 square miles). Koh Ker is located between the Kulen and Dangrek mountains and has scenery of rolling hills of varying heights ranging from 70 to 110 meters, making up the Steung Sen River watershed and producing a smooth slope from South to North.

Koh Ker’s archaeological site (Archaeological Site of Ancient Lingapura or Chok Gargyar) is a sacred urban ensemble of temples and sanctuaries, complete with sculptures, inscriptions, wall paintings, and archeological artifacts. Constructed over twenty-three years, it was one of two rival Khmer Empire capitals (the other being Angkor) and served as the sole capital from 928 to 944 CE. Established by King Jayavarman IV, his sacred city was thought to be designed around old Indian religious concepts of the universe. The new metropolis showcased unusual urban design, artistic expression, and construction technology, particularly the utilization of extremely big monolithic stone blocks.

Koh Ker Temple Complex in Ancient Time

Built by King Jayavarman IV (928-944), Koh Ker temple complex served as the national capital of the Khmer Empire. During his power, the Khmer Empire was at its most stable, allowing for cultural enlightenment. Jayavarman IV was willing to lift out regional, economic, social, and architectural advancement initiatives, urban planning, and rural infrastructure during this harmonized period.

More than that, Koh Ker’s art and architecture represent and support Jayavarman IV’s political viewpoint, mainly through the employment of a gigantic scale in building and dynamic sculptures, which are both unparalleled among other Khmer legacies.

In 944, according to UNESCO, Koh Ker was abandoned when King Rajendravarman moved his capital to today’s Angkor. Koh Ker was a cult site where Shiva had been worshipped for a long time. Also, Jayavarman IV was an ardent worshipper of this Hindu god.

As later kings (whose residence was not in Koh Ker) changed from Hinduism to Buddhism, they gave orders to make the necessary adjustments at their temples. Because of its remoteness, fortunately, the sanctuaries at Koh Ker were spared from these interventions.

Other Temples in Koh Ker Temple Complex

According to the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts, the Koh Ker complex currently consists of 86 monuments. However, new temples have possibly been discovered, such as Prasat Thom Complex (ក្រុមប្រាសាទធំ), Andaung Preng Pond (ស្រះអណ្តូងប្រេង), Bak Temple (ប្រាសាទបាក់), Krachap temple (ប្រាសាទក្រចាប់), Srot Temple (ប្រាសាទស្រុត), Kok Krorng Temple (ប្រាសាទគោកគ្រោង), Kok Khmouch Temple (ប្រាសាទគោកខ្មោច), Banteay Pir Choan Temple (ប្រាសាទបន្ទាយពីរជាន់), Chambork Temple (ប្រាសាទចំបក់), Chamreh Temple (ប្រាសាទចំរេះ), Chen Temple (ប្រាសាទចិន), Chen Sram Temple or Choan Sram Temple (ប្រាសាទចិនស្រម ឬប្រាសាទជាន់ស្រាំ ឬប្រាសាទព្រៃវែង), Chrabb Temple (ប្រាសាទច្រាប), Damrei Temple (ប្រាសាទដំរី), Kdak Temple or Po Damnak temple (ប្រាសាទក្តាក់), Pram temple (ប្រាសាទប្រាំ), Rahal (រហាល), Khnar Sen Keo temple (ប្រាសាទត្រពាំងខ្នារសែនកែវ ឬប្រាសាទខ្នារសែនកែវ), Dang Tung Temple (ប្រាសាទដងទង់), Reamker Temple (ប្រាសាទរាមកេរ្តិ៍), Dei Chhnang Temple (ប្រាសាទដីឆ្នាំង), Ktum Temple (ប្រាសាទក្ទម្ព ឬប្រាសាទនាងខ្ទុំ), and so on.

These structures were not built at close distance to one another. Many of these ancient monuments are either broken or buried in the ground.