Angkor Archeological Park

Royal Palace

Explore the heart of the Khmer ancestral empire

   The Royal Palace compound is delimited by a 600-meter long, 250 meters wide laterite wall, delimits the Royal Palace compound. Many Kings have modified it during 600 years.

The Royal Palace was first built by King Suryavarman I and used continuously from the 11th to the late 16th century AD. During that period, the area was transformed and restored several times. Recent excavations have revealed many remains, such as a 10th-century temple which was built by a minister to Yasovarman I, was probably considered to be this minister’s residence.

Most of the royal palace buildings were constructed by using perishable materials because they would have been non-religious in nature.

Plan

The rectangular place of the royal palace was surrounded by a 5 meters high laterite wall with 250 meters along the north-south axis and 600 meters along the east-west axis, covering an area of more than 15 hectares. Five sandstone gopuras with steps served as the entrance to the palace. Two gopuras are located on the south, other two are on the north, the largest one faces to the east and aligned with the Elephant Terrace and Victory Gate. The first group of buildings, built by King Suryavarman I, was surrounded by a moat on the east. The ground inside the palace compound is 1.2 meters higher than outside that necessitating a double course of stone on the exterior of the entrances and in some places, the ground has been raised even higher.

The Large Pond

The Large pond is 125 meters by 45 meters, 5625 square meters pond, probably built by king Jayavarman VIII, is faced with sandstone around its circumference. 13 tiers of steps descend 5.32 meters to the laterite paving. A wall was built on the south and to a lesser extent on the west which probably retain the embankment that extends to the pond from Phimeanakas. Dominating the pond on top of the wall is a paved terrace.

The walls are completely carved with bas-reliefs the lower sections show marine lives, heads of cow or horse, There are two rows of princes and naga princesses in the middle part which is similar to Terrace of the Leper King that located above winged figures, male and female guardian figures.

The East Pond

The eastern one, Srah Srei, measures 50 meters by 30 meters,  800 square meters sandstone pond, situated near the east gopura, was probably part of the first palace.

Terrace and the West Pond

A small pond and low terrace are located to the west of the Large Pond that both connected by a laterite wall to the west northern gopura of the royal palace. The walls are carved with fascinating bas-reliefs of a procession of people, elephants and horses above a frieze of hamsas.

Terrace to the east

The cruciform terrace with round column and overhanging top was typically built in the 16th century AD.

Four small sanctuaries to the east

The four small sanctuaries were constructed in the early phase, which evidenced by their floor level. They are opening to the west and parallel to the southeast of the second part of the Royal Palace

Discover all the current projects happening in Royal Palace

Info and tips for visitor

Date :

From 10th to 16th century

Style

Baphuon

Opening hours

7:30 am to 5:30 pm

Reign

Many Kings have modified it during 600 years

Religion

Hindu

Tour

20 to 30 minutes

Click to take a tour of the photo gallery of Royal Palace Compound