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Royal honour to the grandparents

Prasat Lolei, ប្រាសាទលលៃ, is the northernmost temple in the old capital of the Khmer empire Hariharalaya. Finished in 893CE, the temple group of four towers was dedicated to Shiva and to members of the royal family by king Yasovarman I.

The two tall brick temple towers were built in honour of the king’s grandparents. The two lower towers were for his parents. King Yasovarman I was not a big fan of his father’s plans of succession. He ended up making his own succession line and legitimized right to the throne via his grandmother’s family.

Last larger Hindu temple built in Hariharalaya
It was originally a temple on an island in a now dried out water reservoir called Indratataka Baray. This was the first Baray of many built by the imperial god kings of Angkor. A temple on an island surrounded by water is probably meant to symbolise Mount Meru, home of the gods in the Hindu pantheon.

Back then it was an Ashram nearby, today there is a modern pagoda and a monastery surrounding the classic site. The interior of the modern pagoda is worth a closer look.

This was the last large temple build by the god kings in Hariharalaya. Yasovarman I later moved the capital to Yaśodharapura centred around Phnom Bakheng, near Angkor Thom/Nokor Thom as it is known today.

https://drzinasia.wordpress.com/2021/04/06/the-modern-prasat-lolei-a-colorful-cultural/

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Photo shows the side of two brick temple towers in early Khmer style. The one closest to the camera is restored with wall arts and stone details of high quality, but still with some darker details and stone near the top. The dancing apsaras reliefs are visible, but the one closest is mostly a green-grey outline. Its neighbour tower is more completely renovated, and the red bricks on the top is clean red. It is early on a sunny day with slightly overcast blue sky. The morning sun gives the towers a warm yellow-red glow. In the background there are some distant green treetops contrasting the reddish towers. Cambodia is as safe, comfortable and kind as ever. Angkor and Siem Reap welcomes visitors. Enjoy your visit to the Kingdom of Wonder.

Prasat Bei – Trio of one out of four

Prasat Bei – ប្រាសាទបី – means three temples. On top of a small laterite platform of 10 x 24 meter there are these three towers, where the central one is fairly complete and in order. This temple tower rises 10 meter high.

The two flanking temple towers are not in that good condition, and the north one closest to the city moat around Angkor Thom was probably never properly finished. There are still some lintels with carvings left to see.

This is the largest in a quartet of temple sites on the west side of the Southern gate to Angkor Thom. Just to the east and west of this temple is the rather rudimentary remains of Sâk Krâop Temple I and II. Closer to the main road into Angkor Thom is Prasat Bay Kaek East – ប្រាសាទថ្មបាយក្អែក.

Among the earliest Angkor Thom temples
The temple was built for the Hindu god Shiva during the reign of Yasovarman I early in the 900s. This great King was the god king who moved the Khmer capital from Hariharalaya to Yaśodharapura, the area where we today find most of the most famous constructions and temples of Angkor Empire. The first central location of the new capital was built on the nearby Phnom Bakheng.

This temple is 1,5 kilometre north of Angkor Wat. It is worth visiting to get an idea of the design of the first Angkor imperial capital and its temples.

#AncienT #1020CE #Angkor #PrasatBei #Angkorwat #architecture #archive #archivephoto #art #Asia #ប្រាសាទថ្មបាយក្អែក #bike #biking #bikingintheangkorwonderland #bluesky #Buddhism #Cambodia #capitalcity #citylife #classic #khmer #countryside #daytrip #Empire #greentourism #Hinduism #history #imperial #Kampuchea #leaveonlyfootprints #offthebeatentrack #AOTBT #angkoroffthebeatentrack #2019CE #Pagoda #Prasat #BayKaek #EastPrasat #BayKaekEast #ប្រាសាទថ្មបាយក្អែក #pyramid #roadtrip #SâkKrâop #Temple #SâkKrâopTemple #Sculpture #SiemReab #SiemReap #southeastasia #takeonlyphotos #travel #visitcambodia #visitsiemreap #worldculturalheritage

Photo shows a mid-age Angkor style three tower temple on a solid platform. The central tower is mostly complete. The tower to the left/south is in disrepair and the conic top part of the temple is missing. The temple to the right is only as tall as the entry gate, but side and top lintels are installed. The temple is built of re laterite stone and stand visible out with the green forest background. It is a warm and sunny day, with lightly clouded blue sky. Cambodia is as safe, comfortable and kind as ever. Angkor and Siem Reap welcomes visitors. Enjoy your visit to the Kingdom of Wonder.

That time I came to a fork in the road, and someone else choose the track most travelled. I felt obliged to choose the other one.

The area in and around Angkor Park and Siem Reap are excellent for off road biking and exploration. It is a healthy and green way to enjoy the marvels of the Khmer Empire, its origin and its later development.

Finding things not seen
I was on my way to find a couple of more secretive temples and old sites. I was trying to do that by a direct route via Bayon and Angkor Thom and north out of the Grand circle. This trip took me into dirt tracks not travelled by many.

Among things I did find were stuff like a river not supposed to be there. Some bridge and road maintenance. And a bunch of locals tending to rice fields, surprised by the pink skin visitor. But politely and smiling returning greetings of hello and well wishes for a good day.

As Khmer so often do.

It is, as always, important to respect the local’s privacy and integrity. Acting as a respectful, polite and responsible good guest in their home area are of the outmost importance. And of course, be a sensible traveller leaving only bike tracks and footprints and take only photos. Including not biking or walking into any private area or destroying any crop.

#2019CE #ancient #Angkor #angkorwat #architecture #archive #archivephoto #art #Asia #backcountry #banteaythom #bike #biking #bikingintheangkorwonderland #AOTBT #bikingintheangwonderland #bluesky #Buddhism #Cambodia #citylife #classic #khmer #countryside #daytrip #dirttrack #Empire #greentourism #Hinduism #history #imperial #Kampuchea #leaveonlyfootprints #offthebeatentrack #angkoroffthebeatentrack #Prasat #Komnap #rice #ricefield #roadtrip #Sculpture #Siem #Reab #SiemReap #southeastasia #takeonlyphotos #temple #travel #visitcambodia #visitsiemreap #worldculturalheritage

Photo shows a dirt road in the woods forking into one well used and one less used track. A biker in the photo chooses the well-used track. It is a sunny morning with soft, warm sunlight making the forest scene very green. Glimpses of a clear blue sky is visible through openings in the forest trees and foliage. Cambodia is as safe, comfortable and kind as ever. Angkor and Siem Reap welcomes visitors.

The mini citadel temple in Banteay Meanchey

Despite the name, the temple complex of Prasat Banteay Chhmar is one of the largest building works from the time of Jayavarman VII. This newly cleared covered walkway between the entrance building and the first temple to the west of the temple is an example of the building style of the era.

Including the great god kings face covering some of the towers in the central parts. Like what is done in Bayon State Temple in the centre of Angkor Thom.

Banteay Chhmar can be directly translated to “Mini/small fortress”. It is situated in Banteay Meanchey province, meaning The Fortress of Victory. This temple is situated far west in today’s Cambodia, but it is situated along the Angkor Khmer Highway, the main road connecting the main cities in the Khmer Angkor Empire together. This temple was directly connected to Angkor Thom via this highway.

Banteay Chhmar, along with its many satellite shrines and dried out reservoir (Baray), comprises one of the most important and least understood archaeological complexes from Cambodia's Angkor period.

It has been under careful and extensive restoration for the last ten years. This has uncovered buildings in the style of the great kings other buildings. There are some detailed decorated friezes and pilasters, and outer walls with extensive bas-reliefs.

Prasat Banteay Chhmar is 3 hours’ drive out of Siem Reap. Suitable for a daytrip, but there are lodgings nearby. Sisophon town is under one hour away with more lodging’s alternatives and small city offerings of food, drinks and shopping.

#Prasat #Banteay #Chhmar #BanteayChhmar #Temple #JayavarmanVII #JVII #J7 #AngkorThom #Bayon #TaProhm #BanteayMeanchey #2018CE #ancient #art #architecture #sculpture #archive #worldculturalheritage #khmer #empire #Buddhism #visitcambodia #visitsiemreap #takeonlyphotos #leaveonlyfootprints #Cambodia #countryside #daytrip #history #imperial #Pagoda #site #ប្រាសាទបន្ទាយឆ្មារ,

Photo shows an old, covered walkway structure of ornate pilasters keeping up a massive roof with decorated lintels and top roof coverings. Its newly cleared, and building stones are visible in the foreground and to the right side of the structure. In the background the entrance building the walkway is connected to is visible with its little tower. In the background the jungle is visible with thick, green foliage on a variation of trees, Including one “tree of life” type renown from this time in in Angkor.

The triple hidden tower temple at the end of red road

Prasat Bat Chum is easily accessible via a red, new dirt road from the south near Prasat Kravan.

Known architect
One unique aspect of this temple is that the architect is known by name. Normally, the god kings are the ones who got their names connected to the temples built during their reign during the 630 years of the Khmer Empire.

Bat Chum was supervised by the architect, minister and guru Kavindrarimathana to the King Rajendravarman II approximately 952CE.

Kavindrarimathana is also accepted as the supervisor behind East Mebon Temple, Srah Srang and maybe the basic designer behind Pre Rup Temple. Meaning that he designed the main reservoirs and elements of most of the Southeast Grand circle Angkor Park.

Mahayana Buddhism
The other unique aspect, Bat Chum was built as Mahayana Buddhist Temple when the Khmer Empire still had Hinduism as the main religion. Another interesting glimpse into religious pluralism early on in this powerful empire.

The three towers are in poor condition when I visited, undergoing a several yearlong restoration project. The three towers are dedicated to Buddha, Vajrapani and Prajnaparamita. Simplified one is for the Buddha, the second for the bodhisattva symbolizing Buddhas power and relentless determination in conquest of negativity, and the third perfection of Wisdom.

This temple is a 12,5 km bike ride from Siem Reap Old Market on mostly flat roads and bike tracks.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bat_Chum

#2019CE #ancient #Angkor #angkorpark #apsara #architecture #archive #art #Asia #batchum #biking #bikingintheAngkorWonderland #bluesky #Mahayana #Buddhism #Cambodia #citylife #countryside #Khmer #Empire #greentourism #Hinduism #history #imperial #offthebeatentrack #Pagoda #prasatbatchum #RajendravarmanII #ricefield #roadtrip #Sculpture #SiemReab #SiemReap #visitsiemreap #srahsrang #statetemple #takeonlyphotos #temple #travel #visitcambodia #worldculturalheritage

Photo shows a three-tower temple called Prasat Bat Chum in early Khmer architectural style. It is covered by scaffolds caused by a several yearlong restoration process. It is surrounded by tall, green forest and the platform for the towers stands on a green grass covered ground. It is a sunny morning with a visible clear blue sky.

That morning trip to Prasat Bat Chum among rich rice fields

Bat Chum Temple – ប្រាសាទបាទជុំ – is one of these off the main track sites where the travel is as interesting as the target.
There are several reasons to take a small side trip to the small Prasat Bat Chum. The beautiful entrance track among rice fields and cultural landscape is an obvious one.

It is near Prasat Kravan and close to Srah Srang reservoir. It is easily accessible both as part of and end point of a Small and Grand circuit tour of Angkor Park.

Or by mountain bike.

This morning, I met this fellow sitting near a small river trying fishing. Or simply enjoy a nice morning in the rice fields.
Good ones, either choice.

https://drzinasia.wordpress.com/2024/02/15/prasat-bat-chum-a-unique-temple-off-main-track/

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Photo shows a reddish-brown dirt track going straight through fields of rice into a small cluster of trees shielding a temple. The fields have some single trees spread out marking borders between rice paddocks. A small river is going in a culvert under the dirt track, and a man is sitting near the left side opening with a small fishing rod. It is a sunny morning with slightly warm sun and the sky is cobalt blue with some light clouds on the horizon.

By the foot of the hill: Playtime!

Remember being a child, and have access to a large playground with sandboxes?
Yeah, that feeling.
Road trips are more fun with great company. Even if they are small.
Travelling with a nearly two-year-old healthy and active child was nearly over the top fun. Especially when a lot of energy from sitting still in a car followed by a delicious lunch needed to be expended.

Getting ready for a steep ride and hike
We had just had lunch after several hours of driving in cars from Anlong Veng. After a short break time in the sun, we were getting ready for visiting the temple on the hill, Preah Vihear. And got prepared for any occasion. Including cold wind, rain, strong sun and some gifts for the shrines and guards on duty. That is how Khmer explore their own cultural heritage.
A Toyota Hilux was hired, our seniors in the travel party got inside up front, and the rest of us was the cool gang in the back.
And then we were off to expend some penned up energy.

#sun #sand #asianboy #funinthesun #preahvihear #Cambodia #bluesky #breaktime #khmer #2019CE #playtime #sandbox #worldisyouroyster #roadtrip #buddies #preahvihear #phnompreahvihear #breakearea #stagingarea #visitpreahvihear #ancient #Angkor #architecture #archive #art #breakearea #Buddhism #countryside #daytrip #Hinduism #history #imperial #leaveonlyfootprints #Nikon #phnom #playtime #PreahVihear #roadtrip #sand #Siem #Reap #siemreap #site #stagingarea #statetemple #sun #takeonlyphotos #temple #visitcambodia #visitsiemreap #worldculturalheritage

Photo shows a large sand covered area with some trees and cars parked in their shadow. It is a sunny day with some blue sky visible in the distance. Running into the sandy area is a 2-year-old boy dressed in shorts only. There is obvious playtime and breaktime in the sun.

Morning with some warm sun rays at Prasat Kravan

This five-tower temple was built at the same time as the pyramid at Koh Ker. It gives a glimpse into the earliest city and capital sites of the Khmer Empire.

The red brick construction surrounded by a moat are stunning in its simplicity.

Inside the towers, there are large bas-reliefs of the Hindu god Vishnu and his partner Lakshmi. They are on the other hand grand examples of complex artwork.

Two of the towers still have a roof telling of an architectural style of early Angkor Empire. The side gates on all towers are sealed. But the east gates are open in all towers.

In front of the temple to the east there is a platform with some stairs. To the south there are a base structure for another building, presumably a library. Most of the area is green turf with some red brown gravel walk tracks.

The whole site is surrounded by a square moat. Parts of it still has water, but there are roads over land bridges east and west. Along the moat there are trees on the temple side, and forest on the other side on the east and south side.

Kravan is on both the main guided tours into Angkor Architectural Park. Having a roomy area in front of the moat on the west side, the temple is often used as a background for cultural performances and special events.

#Angkor #ancient #art #architecture #sculpture #worldculturalheritage #hinduism #vishnu #lakshmi #champainfluence #khmer #empire #angkorpark #prasat #kravan #10thcentury #921CE #visitcambodia #greentourism #biking #takeonlyphotos #2022CE #angkor #angkorpark #biking #bikingintheangkorwonderland #bluesky #Cambodia #ancientcapital #citylife #countryside #daytrip #Empire #greentourism #history #imperial #Kampuchea #khmer #khmerempire #prasatKravan #roadtrip #Sculpture #siemreap #southeastasia #southeast #asia #temple #travel #tip #visitsiemreap #ប្រាសាទក្រវាន.

Photo shows an old temple, a row of five towers on a meter tall platform. Two of the towers still have a roof telling of an architectural style of early Angkor Empire. The side gates to the towers on the north side are sealed off. The gates to the east are open. The photo is taken slightly from the northeast corner. In front there are remains of lion guardian statues in various condition. It is an early morning just after sunrise and the temple is flooded by soft, warm sunlight. The temple is placed on green turf, with some red brown tracks and a stone pathway to leading up to the temple from the east/left. In the background there is a fundament for another building, presumably a library. Around the temple area the forest is forming a green border. The sky is light cloudy blue.

#SilentSunday

Lush willow trees & plants #biodiversity, surrounding #ColquitzRiver.

#nature #SaanichParks #VictoriaBC #VanIsle #GetOutside #NatureWalks #YYJ #waterway #ColquitzWatershed #PacificNorthwest #Cascadia #Wsanec #PNW #Saanich #Streamkeepers #ecological #ecosystem #LeaveOnlyFootprints #TakeOnlyPhotos

A serene river, surrounded by trees & many green plants.

That morning I caught some really warm sun rays at Prasat Kravan.

This five tower temple was built at the same time as the pyramid at Koh Ker, and gives a glimpse into the earliest city and capital sites of the Khmer Empire.

#Angkor #ancient #art #architecture #sculpture #archive #worldculturalheritage #hinduism #vishnu #lakshmi #champainfluence #khmer #empire #angkorpark #prasat #kravan #921CE #visitcambodia #greentourism #biking #takeonlyphotos
🎶 #bikingintheangkorwonderland 🎶

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