A Brief History of Koh Ker Temple

The **Koh Ker Temple** is an archaeological site located in Preah Vihear, Cambodia¹. It is situated about 120 kilometers (75 miles) away from Siem Reap and the ancient site of Angkor¹. The temple complex is on the Chhork Koki highland and was built by King Jayavaraman IV between AD 928 and 942². The temple is 35 meters high and its design resembles a seven-stepped stupa². It faces west toward Angkor city and was built to worship Treypuvanesvara, the god of happiness². Koh Ker was briefly the capital of the Khmer Empire under the reign of kings Jayavarman IV and Harshavarman II from 928 to 944 AD³. During this time, an ambitious building program was enforced, resulting in the construction of an enormous water tank and about forty temples³. The most significant temple complex, known as Prasat Thom or Prang, follows a linear plan instead of a concentric one like most temples of the Khmer kings³. The complex features a 36-meter (118 ft)-high seven-tiered pyramid, which most probably served as the state temple of Jayavarman IV³. The shrines within the complex contain two-meter (6 ft 7 in) high lingas³. Due to its remoteness, Koh Ker has been plundered many times by looters. Sculptures from Koh Ker can be found in different museums and private collections around the world. However, these pieces are considered stolen art³. The site is about two and a half hours away from Siem Reap. Visitors can stay in the nearby village of Seyiong, which offers several guest houses. Alternatively, there is also the Koh Ker Jungle Lodge Homestay, a sustainable tourism project built in the village of Koh Ker in 2009². Please note that this information is based on historical records and archaeological findings. For more details, you can refer to the references below: - [Koh Ker - Wikipedia](^1^) - [Koh Ker Temple - Tourism Cambodia](^2^) - [Koh Ker Temple: Ultimate Guide - Advantiko](^3^) Source: Conversation with Bing, 9/22/2023 (1) Koh Ker - Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koh_Ker. (2) Koh Ker Temple, Attraction in Preah Vihear | Tourism Cambodia. https://www.tourismcambodia.com/travelguides/provinces/preah-vihear/what-to-see/394_koh-ker-temple.htm. (3) Koh Ker Temple, Cambodia: Ultimate Guide 2023 - Advantiko. https://advantiko.com/en/countries/cambodia-en/koh-ker-temple-complex-cambodia/. (4) Koh Ker - Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koh_Ker. (5) Koh Ker Temple, Attraction in Preah Vihear | Tourism Cambodia. https://www.tourismcambodia.com/travelguides/provinces/preah-vihear/what-to-see/394_koh-ker-temple.htm. (6) Koh Ker Temple, Cambodia: Ultimate Guide 2023 - Advantiko. https://advantiko.com/en/countries/cambodia-en/koh-ker-temple-complex-cambodia/. (7) Koh Ker Temple, Preah Vihear Province - Tripadvisor. https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g1125878-d586700-Reviews-Koh_Ker_Temple-Preah_Vihear_Province.html.