Koh Ker

About

Between 928 and 944 Koh Ker served as the capital of Cambodia’s mighty Angkor empire. Under King Jayavarman IV, the sculptures of Koh Ker reached their artistic zenith, and the site continued to be used through the 13th century. Of the 180 sanctuaries uncovered in the site’s 81 square kilometer area, visitors have access to 42 monuments, as the rest lie in deep forest that hasn’t been fully de-mined. While many of the temples with their fine carvings amidst lush forest are beautiful in their own right, the centerpiece of Koh Ker is the seven-tiered, 44 meter tall, Prasat Thom. Reminiscent of a Mayan pyramid, this former fire-sanctuary now offers visitors stupendous views of the Cambodian forest from atop its peak.