Cambodia: Preah Khan Temple, Siem Reap
Preah Khan Temple is a huge, highly explorable monastic complex. Full of carvings, passages, and photo opportunities. It originally served as a Buddhist monastery and school, engaging over 1000 monks. For a short period it was also the residence of king Jayavarman VII during the reconstruction of his permanent home in Angkor Thom. Preah Khan means "sacred sword". Preah Khan was dedicated to the king's father. Like most of Jayavarman VII's monuments, the Buddha images were vandalized...
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Preah Khan Temple is a huge, highly explorable monastic complex. Full of carvings, passages, and photo opportunities. It originally served as a Buddhist monastery and school, engaging over 1000 monks. For a short period it was also the residence of king Jayavarman VII during the reconstruction of his permanent home in Angkor Thom. Preah Khan means "sacred sword". Preah Khan was dedicated to the king's father. Like most of Jayavarman VII's monuments, the Buddha images were vandalized in the later Hindu resurgence. According to the foundation stele, Preah Khan was built on the site of a major battle in the recapture of Angkor from the Chams, and the Cham king died here.
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