Ko Ker and Beng Melea

King Jayavarman IV built his capital of Lingapura in Koh Ker, or as he then called Chok Garguar, 80 kilometers from Angkor and it lasted from 928 to 944, when Rajendravarman II returned the capital to Angkor. In its center is Rahal - a rectangular reservoir - baray, making 1,200 meters from north to south and 560 meters from east to west, and in the north Prasat Thom with the main temple - the pyramid or Prang. Now Koh Ker unites under its name 17 temples located on an area of about 10 square kilometers, so you can not do without a car.

Koch Ker inscriptions first mention Jayavarman IV in 921, describing him as King Chok Garguar. It is possible that he was a vassal of the king of Angkor at the time. In the same year, to be exact, in December, the main object of worship of Thorn Prasat temple was consecrated - the linga of Tribhuvanamaheshvara (Lord of the Three Worlds).

Jayavarman IV was only indirectly associated with the family of the previous great king (he married the sister of Yashowarman I), which may have sharpened his ambitions and in 928 he was crowned as Chakravartin (one who turns the wheel of royal power, an ideal ruler, a very high rank in Buddhism), probably after a successful raid on Angkor. He then decided that Koch Ker, not Angkor, should be the capital of his larger kingdom. Most of the temples found in the Koh Ker area were built between this date and 940, in which the reign of Jayavarman IV was inherited by his son Harshavarman II, who left almost no trace of himself in historical records. In 944, the capital returned to Angkor under Rajendravarman II.

Koch Ker's gigantic size is astonishing. The pyramid, which is called Prang, is located west of Thorn Prasat, is 36 meters high and is the tallest pyramid ever built by the Khmers. Judging by the size of the pedestal found at the top of the pyramid, the linga that once stood there must have been very impressive (according to the calculations of Henri Parmente - 4.5 meters!).

Prasat Kraham in Prasat Thom is one of the largest brick sanctuaries ever built by the Khmers.

The statues were also unusually large. Fragments of a five-headed dancing Shiva statue, once located in Prasat Kraham, are estimated to be 4 meters tall. Two of the four two-metre garuds from Prasat Thom, which paired at the end of each dam, now welcome visitors to the National Museum in Phnom Penh. The statues were not only large, but they evoke a sense of movement, moving away from the rather rigid poses characteristic of Khmer sculpture. A good example of this is a three-meter statue found in Prasat Chen, now also in the National Museum in Phnom Penh, depicting the battle of the Valin and Sugriva monkeys.

Beng Melea was only opened to visitors in the early 2000s after years of time-consuming and dangerous demining work. Wooden platforms were built to make it easier to view the completely destroyed area of the central sanctuary. Its pediments showed scenes from Buddhist mythology, while in the rest of the temple from Hindu.

No texts defining the main dedication of the temple to any deity have been found, and accordingly, this remains unknown.

The date and initiator of the stand are still the subject of discussion by experts, but the style is clearly associated with the period of Angkor Wat.

Beng Melea is often described as a "flat" version of Angkor Wat, and indeed, the layout of Angkor Wat is repeated here, where you can find the same cross-shaped galleries connecting the second and third enclosures, as well as two libraries located in the north and south of the cruciform galleries. In addition, the quality of the temple construction (note the joints between the large stones, where it is impossible to insert a sheet of paper) is comparable only to Angkor Wat. However, the central part (the only sanctuary with a large room connecting it to the first fence in the east), as well as the location of the second fence, built in close proximity to the first, strongly resemble the layout used later by Jayavarman VII in Ta Prohm and Preah Khan. Dharanindravarman II was inspired by Angkor Wat and his son Jayavarman VII by Beng Melea.

Beng Melea was probably built around the same time as Angkor Wat.

Beng Melea and Koh Ker are quite far from Siem Reap, where you will definitely stay.

Attention! During the New Year holidays, the tariff for guide services changes:

December 26 to January 4 - $220

January 4 to January 10 - $250

• Duration of the excursion from 7.30 to 17.00
• Cost of transportation - $120
• Entrance tickets - $15 c person + guide ticket
• Work guide - $180
• Attention! Prices are per group of up to 8 people. For large groups, prices on request.