Sambor Prei Kuk

About

Sambor Prei Kuk was the temple of Ishanapura, the capital of the 6th and 7th century Chenla Empire. While the empire and city fell into ruin, many red brick temples are still standing, despite the site being bombed by Richard Nixon in 1970 to combat the Khmer Rouge. The site’s architecture and intricately decorated sandstone elements served as the prototype for the Khmer style of the Angkor period. Today, part of Sambor Prei Kuk’s allure is the romantic atmosphere given off by nature’s encroachment - Banyan trees grow between, over, and around the 8 surviving temple buildings. A closer inspection reveals the amazing details of the lintels, pediments, and colonnades. Pay particular attention at the Southern group of temples - the beam above the columns of the Kda Ouk building bears the carvings of 12 men, whose unusual Western-looking features continue to baffle researchers.