World Heritage Identification Number: 1667
World Heritage since: 2023
Category: Cultural Heritage
Transboundary Heritage: No
Endangered Heritage: No
Country: 🇰🇭 Cambodia
Continent: Asia
UNESCO World Region: Asia and the Pacific
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Koh Ker: A Forgotten Capital of the Khmer Empire
The archaeological site of Koh Ker, also known as Ancient Lingapura or Chok Gargyar, is a captivating testament to the rich history and cultural prowess of the Khmer Empire. Inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2023, this remote location in northern Cambodia offers a unique glimpse into the architectural, artistic, and religious practices of a civilization that thrived more than a millennium ago.
More to come…UNESCO Description of the World Heritage Site
The archaeological site of Koh Ker is a sacred urban ensemble of numerous temples and sanctuaries including sculptures, inscriptions, wall paintings, and archaeological remains. Constructed over a twenty-three-year period, it was one of two rival Khmer Empire capitals – the other being Angkor – and was the sole capital from 928 to 944 CE. Established by King Jayavarman IV, his sacred city was believed to be laid out on the basis of ancient Indian religious concepts of the universe. The new city demonstrated unconventional city planning, artistic expression and construction technology, especially the use of very large monolithic stone blocks.Encyclopedia Record: Koh Ker
Koh Ker is a remote archaeological site in northern Cambodia about 120 kilometres (75 mi) away from Siem Reap and the ancient site of Angkor. It is a jungle filled region that is sparsely populated. More than 180 sanctuaries were found in a protected area of 81 square kilometres (31 sq mi). Only about two dozen monuments can be visited by tourists because most of the sanctuaries are hidden in the forest and the whole area is not fully demined.Additional Site Details
Area: 1,187.61 hectares
(iv) — Outstanding example of a type of building or landscape
Coordinates: 13.7830555556 , 104.5372222222
