Baksei Chamkrong is a small Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva and that used to hold a golden image of him. It was dedicated to the memory of the late King Yasovarman by his son, King Harshavarman I. The temple was restored by Rajendravarman II (944-968). It is one of the first temples constructed of durable material such as bricks and laterite and with decoration in sandstone.
Much of the stucco on the surface of the temple has vanished. The main sandstone lintel is decorated with a fine carving of God Indra standing on his three-headed elephant Airavata. There is an inscription on either side of the small doorway. It gives, which is rare, the date and hour of dedication: at 9.40 in the morning on Wednesday 23 February 948.
Baksei Chamkrong is the name of a small beautiful temple, which has 3 levels. It was built in the early 10th century after Bakheng temple was finished. In the area of this temple, there are some small brick temples that are covered by the trees as well. At first, there were not any inscriptions until King Rajendravarman brought the capital from Koh Ker to Angkor again in 948 AC; Sanskrit lyrics were written on the doorway, as we see today.
The meaning of that inscription was very interesting because it’s about a legend of Khmer ancestors. In the legend was told that Khmer was originally from a sage named “Kampu” who was amazingly born by his own (no parents). Then, he was married with a beautiful angel called “Me Ru”, so they created a family and so on (It’s called Khmer people). It’s noted that Baksei-Chamkrong was built in the pre-history site of the Bronze Age.
Beginning of the 10th century
Bakheng
7:30 am to 5:30 pm
Harshavarman I
Hindu
30 minutes
មូលនិធិប្រាសាទពិភពលោក(World Monument Fund) របស់សហរដ្ឋអាមេរិកក្រោមកិច្ចសហប្រតិបត្តិការជាមួយអាជ្ញាធរជាតិអប្សរា កំពុងបន្តជួសជុលជណ្ដើរ និងជញ្ជាំងផ្នែកខាងត្បូងរបស់ប្រាសាទភ្នំបាខែងបន្ថែមទៀត បន្ទាប់ពីបានបញ្ចប់ការជួសជុលរចនាសម្ពន្ធជណ្តើរ និងជញ្ជាំងផ្នែកខាងកើត និងខាងជើងរួចរាល់មក។
