Koh Ker Temple
- Jon Elkins
- Jun 10, 2018
- 2 min read
Koh Ker is a remote jungle temple 130KM north east of Siem Reap in a sparsely populated area surrounded by rich green forests. The site served as the capital of the Khmer empire for a brief period between 928AD and 944AD.
Koh ker is highly recommended if you can make it out this far (3 hours drive) and this is one temple you should not have to share with the crowds. It’s an interesting and tranquil place to explore. Due to a lack of restoration work, Koh Ker is perhaps one of the most enigmatic and least understood Angkorian temples.
Koh Ker was constructed by Jayavarman IV almost 1,100 years ago. It is not known why he chose to locate his capital 80 kilometres northeast of Angkor, one theory is that he was a local king who went on to rule the khmer empire in its entirety. Jayavarman IV ruled the empire until 941AD when the Capital returned to Angkor.
It has been said that the city constructed on the site exceeded even the magnificence of Angkor, raising unanswered questions about the source of King Jayavarman IV’s wealth. Starting with Prasat Thom, he oversaw the construction of more than 40 temples, as well as additions to Preah Vihear temple.
Due to its remote location, the temple has seen its fair share of looters and there has not been any restoration works carried out on the temple so far. An archaeological survey was undertaken by a Cambodian team in the 1960s, but these studies were destroyed during the Khmer Rouge regime.
It takes about 3 hours by car to reach Koh Ker from Siem reap and visitors should allow 2-3 hours for exploration of the site. Taxis cost about $80 and the entrance fee is $10 - no Angkor Pass is required. Organised tours are available and Koh Ker can also be combined with a visit to Beng Melea.
The images used in this article are licensed from "commons.wikimedia.org - Koh Ker Temple" by Thomas Wanhoff under CC BY-SA 2.0.
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