Cambodian said to be
proud having such wonderful and thousand of temples in the whole country, most
of which build before and during 14th century. Today, our journey took place in
one famous temple in Siem Reap province. The temple is called "Prasat Bakong".
Through this video clip, it provides a lot of attractive scenery with some
explanation from our local guide. Historically, this temple was built earlier
than the most famous Angkor Wat that's why we can see the temple hardly stands
against this polluted environment. The temple need to be preserved as such
inclusive participation highly recommended. Join with Cambodian and UNESCO to
preserve ancient temple.
Detail Description:
Bakong is located at
Roluos south of Preah Ko. Enter and leave the temple at the east. A modern
Buddhist temple is situated to the right of the east entrance to Bakong. It was
build in late ninth century (881) by king Indravarman I dedicated to Siva
(Hindu) followed Prah Ko art style.
The temple of Bakong is
built on an artificial mountain and enclosed in a rectangular area by two
walls. It has a square base with five tiers. The first, or outside, enclosure
(not on the plan) (900 by 700 meters, 2,953 by 2,297 feet) surrounds a moat
with an embankment and causeways on four sides, which are bordered by low Naga
balustrades.
The second and smaller
enclosure has an entry tower of sandstone and laterite in the center of each
side of the wall. There were originally 22 towers inside the first enclosures.
After passing through the entry tower at the east one comes to a long causeway
decorated with large seven-headed serpents across a moat. Long halls on each
side lie parallel to the eastern wall. They were probably rest houses for
visitors.
The square-shaped base
(10) has five tiers with a stairway on each of the four sides and, at the base,
a step in the shape of a moonstone. Remains of a small structure can be seen at
the base of the stairway fairway flanked by two sandstone blocks, which may
have held sculpted figures.
Elephants successively smaller in size stand at the corners of the first
three tiers of the base. The fourth tier is identified by twelve small
sandstone towers, each of which originally contained a linga. The fifth tier is
framed by a molding decorated with a frieze of figures (barely visible) the
ones on the south side are in the best condition.
