Temple Zone of Sambor Prei Kuk, Archaeological Site of Ancient Ishanapura

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Exploring the Temple Zone of Sambor Prei Kuk: A Glimpse into Ancient Ishanapura

The Temple Zone of Sambor Prei Kuk, officially recognized as the Archaeological Site of Ancient Ishanapura, offers a captivating window into the rich history of the Chenla Empire, which thrived during the late 6th and early 7th centuries AD. Located in Kampong Thom Province, approximately 30 kilometers north of Kampong Thom and 176 kilometers east of Angkor, this remarkable site was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2017.

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UNESCO Description of the World Heritage Site

The archaeological site of Sambor Prei Kuk, “the temple in the richness of the forest” in the Khmer language, has been identified as Ishanapura, the capital of the Chenla Empire that flourished in the late 6th and early 7th centuries AD. The property comprises more than a hundred temples, ten of which are octagonal, unique specimens of their genre in South-East Asia. Decorated sandstone elements in the site are characteristic of the pre-Angkor decorative idiom, known as the Sambor Prei Kuk Style. Some of these elements, including lintels, pediments and colonnades, are true masterpieces. The art and architecture developed here became models for other parts of the region and lay the ground for the unique Khmer style of the Angkor period.

Encyclopedia Record: Sambor Prei Kuk

Sambor Prei Kuk (Isanapura) is an archaeological site in Cambodia located in Kampong Thom Province, 30 km (19 mi) north of Kampong Thom, the provincial capital, 176 km (109 mi) east of Angkor and 206 km (128 mi) north of Phnom Penh. The now ruined complex dates back to the Pre-Angkorian Chenla Kingdom, established by king Isanavarman I as central royal sanctuary and capital, known then as "Isanapura". In 2017, Sambor Prei Kuk was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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