Koh Ker

Koh Ker

The now rather remote and rarely visited site of Koh Ker was, for a brief period in the early 10th century, the capital of the vast Khmer empire.

Lying in the Cambodian province of Preah Vihear, around 3 hours drive from Siem Reap Town, this extensive complex of forest ruins is what remains today of the imperial city of Lingapura, constructed by King Jayavarman IV and his son Hashavarman II during the period 928 to 944 CE.

Despite only being the imperial capital for such a short time-span – Rajendravarman moved the court back to Angkor on succeeding to the throne in 944 – an impressive number of temples were raised and indeed later additions by subsequent kings during the 11th and 12th centuries demonstrate that, while no longer the capital, Lingapura (also known as Chok Gargyar) remained an important provincial centre throughout the Angkor period.

As well as leaving a large number of spectacular sites scattered throughout the densely forested area, this brief but very intense period of temple construction was also highly innovative in building style and gave rise to many architectural features widely seen in the later, better-known, sites of Angkor itself.

The large, imposing temples of Koh Ker replace the older brick-built towers (still seen at what are perhaps some of the earlier Lingapura sites) with massive laterite constructions and more extensive use of sandstone. Entranceways – as represented by the royal temple complex Prasat Krahom and Prasat Thom – are increasingly elaborate and multiple, concentric sanctuary or courtyard walls are a common feature.

Sculpture too, was innovative, and the Koh Ker style is represented by massive sandstone statuary and the introduction of large, carved stone pediments above the door lintels. Sadly, the remoteness of the site and collectability of such images means that much has been looted over time, although spectacular examples can still be seen in both the Phnom Penh and Siem Reap national museums.

As the ancient name suggests, the city was dedicated to the god Shiva and a series of sandstone shrines house giant lingas, some of which are still in place today. The overall site with its picturesque setting, impressive ruins and distinct lack of crowds, makes for a fantastic visit, while to our minds, such an extensive and historically significant 10th-century ruined city is crying out for UNESCO World Heritage status. Being so remote Koh Ker isn’t easily fitted into our standard Cambodia tour itinerary but is included in our Beyond Angkor – off the beaten track – Cambodia tour while private visits can be easily arranged.

Update: Koh Ker did indeed receive UNESCO World Heritage Status in 2023.