Discover
Discover
Sambor Prei Kuk, 'the temple in the richness of the forest' in Khmer, has been identified as Ishanapura, capital of the Chenla Empire. It has more than a hundred temples, ten of them octagonal, which UNESCO describes as unique of their kind in Southeast Asia.
History
History
Chenla flourished in the late 6th and early 7th centuries, centuries before Angkor. Its decorated sandstone lintels, pediments and colonnettes, known as the Sambor Prei Kuk style, became models across the region and laid the foundation for Angkorian Khmer art.
People & Culture
People & Culture
For us, Sambor Prei Kuk shows that Angkor did not appear suddenly; it grew from centuries of accumulated religious, architectural and political knowledge. These brick temples in the forest are like the first chapter of the long Khmer story.
Living Heritage
Living Heritage
Communities around Sambor Prei Kuk, in Kampong Thom province, take part in community-based tourism through guiding, homestays and crafts, making the site a source of income and pride for local people.
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