Baksei Cham Krong Temple

Baksei Cham Krong 


Baksei Cham Krong Temple located about 150 meters north of Phnom Ba Kheng. The temple was perhaps begun construction by King Harsharvarman I12 (AD 91-944) and completed by King Rajandravaran13 (AD 944-968), dedicating Shiva Brahmanism.

Inscriptions on the door reveal the date of the temple and mention a golden image of Shiva and the mythical founder of the Khmer civilization. The temple is a simple plan with a single tower on top of a square, four tiered laterite platform. Three levels of the base are undecorated, but the top platform has horizontal molding around it that sets off the sanctuary. A square central brick tower stands on a sandstone base shape like a cone.

It has door opening to the east with three false doors on the other sides, which are in remarkably good condition. Most of the lintels are in poor condition, but, on the east, Indra riding a three-headed elephant is still recognizable and is finely carved. The interior of the tower has a sunken floor and a corbelled vault.