Royal Bath modeled around the year 1200 by Jayavarman VII. During the dry season, you can see the remains of an ancient temple in the center of this reservoir, like the Mebon in the center of the Baray. Good place to relax and walk around.
For a beautiful start to your touring day head to the east- facing terrace overlooking the enchanting Srah Srang, a 700m (23foot) man-made lake to the east of Banteay Kdei. This body of water offers a pleasant escape throughout the day but is especially serene in the early light of day. Maurice Glaize, the author of the first definitive guide to Angkor temples in 1944, even likened Srah Srang to the Grand Canal at Versailles. In the late afternoon it is worth taking a stroll around the south of the lake away from the road to watch villagers from South Srah Srang Village fish and children play in the water.
Inscriptions tell us that Srah Srang, “royal bath” was originally dug during the 1oth century by Kavindrarimathana, an architect to King Rajendravarman, as a watering place for animals. The name Srah Srang is of later origin.
A small, lightweight sanctuary was likely built in the centre akin to East Mebon in the Yashodharatataka and is evidenced by a jumble of stone blocks visible at low water levels. The basin was remodelled to its current form by Jayavarman VII who installed the small pier and likely added the sandstone edging.
The well-proportioned terrace of laterite covered with sandstone probably supported a wooden pavilion. At the front there is a large garuda riding a three-headed naga. Two especially attractive lions flank a stairway leading to the water and provide a strategic framing point for photographers. Note also the refined ornamentation of the naga balustrades.
In the distance you can make out the towers of Pre Rup, a contemporary structure to the first basin on this site.
End of the 12th century
Bayon
5:00 am to 5:30 pm
Jayavarman VII
Buddhist
15 minutes to a couple of hours depending on visitors
មូលនិធិប្រាសាទពិភពលោក(World Monument Fund) របស់សហរដ្ឋអាមេរិកក្រោមកិច្ចសហប្រតិបត្តិការជាមួយអាជ្ញាធរជាតិអប្សរា កំពុងបន្តជួសជុលជណ្ដើរ និងជញ្ជាំងផ្នែកខាងត្បូងរបស់ប្រាសាទភ្នំបាខែងបន្ថែមទៀត បន្ទាប់ពីបានបញ្ចប់ការជួសជុលរចនាសម្ពន្ធជណ្តើរ និងជញ្ជាំងផ្នែកខាងកើត និងខាងជើងរួចរាល់មក។
