A week in Cambodia -11/18/2023-11/24/2023

Siam Reap-11/22/2023

Day 5- Neak Poan Temple

Neak Peon is a tiny temple built during the reign of King Jayavarman VII, an energetic king who ruled in the late 12th century. The King ordered the construction of a vast baray (an artificial body of water) east of Preah Khan temple possibly to provide water to the growing capital city.. Stretching .3 miles by .6 miles, the artificial lake, known as the Jayatataka is stored millions of cubic meters of water to irrigate the rice fields during the dry season. Neak Pean temple sits at the center of the reservoir. 

Over the centuries, the Neak Poan Temple fell into obscurity, covered by layers of dense jungle vegetation. It wasn’t until the 20th century that French archaeologists stumbled upon its hidden splendor during their excavation efforts. Since then, extensive restoration work has been carried out to preserve and showcase this remarkable piece of history

Amongst the countless ancient temples encompassed within the sprawling Angkor complex in Cambodia, the Neak Pean Temple stands out because it is surrounded by a beautiful lake full of lotus flowers.

A wooden bridge leads to a small island in the center of the reservoir, beautiful pink lotuses greet visitors on either side of the pathway.

I was so mesmerize by the beauty and the Zen atmosphere of the place.

It was so special to walk in the middle of this large body of water on a beautiful sunny day.

Lotus season in Cambodia starts in April and ends in October when the weather becomes very hot.  We are now toward the end of the season but we are still very lucky to see so many lotus flowers.

Pink lotus flowers on the pond.

Panoramic view.

Walking here feels like stepping into a time machine, transporting back to the glory days of the Khmer empire. The serene surroundings and the beautiful pond is such a welcome sight.

At the time the Jayatataka baray was built to help provide a reliable water supply to Jayavarman VII's growing capital city.

Today, the baray offers a unique blend of historical significance and natural beauty.

The baray is huge

Dead trees in the lake is such a visual feast.

We are now on the other side of the lake looking back where we came from.

This central pond is surrounded by four smaller pools that represent fire, water, earth, and wind. It’s believed that the site is a representation of the mythical Lake Anvatapta in the Himalayas, which was believed to have healing powers. 

This is one of the 4 pools that is surrounding the temple.

In its heyday, the temple served as a place of rejuvenation and relaxation and people would bath in the different ponds based on their ailments.

The temple was originally designed as a hospital, it was thought bathing in the pools here would cure disease. Each of the four pools are said to represent wind, fire, water and earth.

Neak Pean Temple was dedicated to Buddha and served as a sanctuary for healing practices.

Its architecture is inspired by the mythical Himalayan lake, Anavatapta, which is believed to have healing powers. Its name, Neak Pean, translates to “coiled serpents” and refers to the stone serpents that form the balustrade around the central pond.

The temple’s central pond is the main attraction, featuring four small interconnected ponds that are believed to represent the four great rivers flowing from the Himalayas. The temple was designed to be a representation of Anavatapta, often depicted in Hindu and Buddhist mythology as being located at the center of the world.

Neak Pean Temple was built using sandstone and laterite, typical materials used in the construction of Angkor’s temples. The temple is surrounded by a moat, and the central pond can be accessed via a bridge. The purpose of the temple’s design was to symbolize the human body, with the water channels representing veins and the central pond as the heart.

Trees roots growing on the surface of the ground

Nature is respected and we have to walk around it.

Next...Preah Khan Temple