Explore Preah Khan: Map, Tips & Cambodia Package Tours

Where Is Preah Khan Temple? Getting Your Bearings

Preah Khan is situated on the northern edge of the Angkor Archaeological Park, covering an area of only two kilometres northeast of Angkor Thom in Siem Reap. It is on the Grand Circuit, a somewhat less popular but very rewarding path for temple-goers

How to Get There

Getting to Preah Khan Temple Cambodia, is less complicated than it seems, and the journey is a part of the fun. From Siem Reap city, you have several adventurous ways of getting to the temple:

• Tuk-tuk: Preferred by most tourists. Cheap, breezy, and brimming with character, tuk-tuks can drive you directly to the temple Preah Khan so you can ride through the root-infested park’s pretty, forested boulevards. 
• Taxi or private car: Those who prefer comfort and air conditioning, or who want to structure a more flexible day trip around the Angkor temple complex. These are great for families or small groups.
• Bicycle: If you’re ready for an adventure, there’s nothing quite like traversing through Angkor’s ancient roads on a bike. But fasten your seat belts, the Grand Circuit is an epic journey, and you’ll need some endurance, a large tube of sunscreen, and a trusty map. 
• Guided tours: Add Preah Khan Temple to your itinerary with a tailor-made tour of the Angkor Wat Temples Tour with Impress Travel for English-speaking guides and air-conditioned transfers.
  

A Temple with a Story: Preah Khan’s Fascinating History

The Sacred Sword and the King

Preah Khan Temple was constructed in 1191 during the reign of King Jayavarman VII, one of the greatest Khmer kings. He constructed the temple to dedicate it to his father, King Dharanindravarman II, and deified the former as Lokesvara, the Bodhisattva of Compassion. Preah Khan in English: “Sacred Sword" is a Khmer temple located northeast of Angkor Thom and just west of the Jayatataka Baray, with which it was associated. It was the centre of a substantial organisation, with almost 100,000 officials and servants.

This victory was not just a military victory; it was a spiritual one as well. Summary Preah Khan Temple Cambodia, is a record of filial piety, Buddhist fervour, and national pride, constituting a pivotal episode of Preah Khan Temple history. Its association with Khmer fortitude is why it is one of the more meaningful sites in all of Angkor.

A Living City in Its Prime

Not just a mere place of worship but a complex historical site, because during its heydays, Preah Khan Temple Siem Reap was an urban city center. It served as:

• A Buddhist monastery of more than 1,000 monks
• A religious and academic college
• City A city which is a municipality, acting as part.

The internal workings of the place are recorded in ancient inscriptions, including a sandstone stele discovered in 1939, which states that 97,840 people worked in the temple, such as priests, dancers, guards, and artisans. The temple also commanded 5,324 villages and received regular offerings of rice, cloth, and precious metals, demonstrating that it was a religious, political, and economic force to be reckoned with. 

Architectural Wonders: What to See in Preah Khan Temple

The Four Enclosures & Sacred Zones

The floor plan of Preah Khan Temple Cambodia, can be divided into four major enclosures, which served different purposes during the temple’s occupation:

• The outermost wall was originally made of wood, as there were wooden houses for villagers and attendants.
• In the third enclosure, there is a beautiful Hall of Dancers, where rituals and royal dances took place.
• The other enclosure has shrines showing Buddhist and Hindu iconography.
• The first is Sacred Heart House, featuring chapels, ancient tombs, and carvings of Buddha.

The Four Enclosures (Source: justsiemreap)

Hall of Dancers & Apsaras Bas-Reliefs

The Hall of Dancers is an obligatory temple stop, Preah Khan. Here, sunlight streams through foliage to illuminate apsaras, celestial dancers carved in fine bas-relief above the lintels and along the walls.

This was a stage for sacred dances, and the carvings are a representation of the beauty and grace of the Khmer divine. This is the shot your lens was born for, if you’re into travel photography. Some of the most poignant Preah Khan Temple photos are taken here, where shadow and statue become flesh. 

Hall of Dancers (Source: flickr)

The Two-Story Pavilion: Mystery of Round Columns

The mysterious Preah Khan Temple Angkor contains one of its secrets yet a special two-story pavilion on round stone pillars. The only building of its kind in all of Angkor, it may have been a library or a place to house relics, and some scholars think that its design could have been influenced by distant Greco-Roman temples via ancient trade routes.

Among Khmer temples, its design is distinct, and it remains a mystery to archaeologists. If architectural anomalies fire your imagination, this is a pit stop you’ll devour.

The Two-Story Pavilion (Source: wmf)

Eastern Gate & Naga Bridge

As you approach from the east, you will cross the Naga Bridge, a 100-meter causeway flanked by two lion statues and statues of the Garuda, with the demon serpent Naga tight in its talons. This metaphorical struggle of good against evil is inscribed in every fine print.

The bridge extends east up to the eastern gate, which serves as the principal entrance to Preah Khan Temple Siem Reap and faces the serene Jayatataka Baray reservoir. It is not a mere gateway; it is a transcendent passage into the sacred interior. 

Eastern Gate (Source: visitkohrong)

Half-Day Grand Circuit Tour Featuring Preah Khan Temple

07:30 AM – Pick-up from Your Hotel in Siem Reap
Impress Travel’s guide and driver will meet at the lobby of your hotel. We leave for the Angkor Archaeological Park (Angkor Pass is $37/day).

08:00 AM – Explore Preah Khan Temple
Step through the calm tranquility of Preah Khan Temple Siem Reap, constructed in 1191 by King Jayavarman VII.

• Walk past age-old gates and see the famed Naga Bridge and an enchanted Hall of Dancers.
• Don’t overlook the two-story building with round columns, an unusual architectural detail in the Angkor region.
• This is the ideal location for photography enthusiasts hunting magical Preah Khan Temple photos at morning light.

09:00 AM – Visit Neak Pean Temple
A short drive away is Neak Pean, a small, round temple in the middle of a man-made island that was once thought to have magic healing properties. Meander the boardwalk that surrounds the wetlands and lotus pools, perfect for reflection and contemplation.

09:45 AM – Discover Ta Som Temple
Visit Ta Som, a quiet, small temple with roots creeping around its back gopura (gate). Your guide will tell you about its relationship to Jayavarman VII and the temple’s symbolism.

10:15 AM – Climb East Mebon Temple
This brick and laterite mountain sanctuary used to be surrounded by an artificial lake. Be sure to scale its three tiers to admire its elephant statues and panoramic views across the eastern Angkor plains.

10:45 AM – End at Pre Rup Temple
Our last stop is Pre Rup, a Hindu temple named after the red laterite stone that gleams in the morning sun. This one-time cremation ground for Khmer royalty provides a dramatic end to your spiritual loop. 

12:00 PM – Drop-off at Your Hotel

Neak Pean Temple (Source: wikipedia)

Preah Khan Temple in Practice: Tips for the Modern Explorer

Best Time to Visit

Dry season (November to April) is the best time to visit the Preah Khan temple Cambodia. The skies are clear, the temple is bathed in golden light, and it’s awesome for photos. “Prepare to be swarmed,” especially around major holidays, but the light for those Preah Khan Temple photos, though.

Prefer peace and lush greenery? Then comes the wet season (May to October). With the rains come lush foliage and a diminished presence of tourists, so the temple feels more peaceful and meditative. Bonus, travel and accommodations costs generally aren’t as high, an ideal environment for those looking for stillness in the grandeur of the jungle.

Tickets, Angkor Pass & Opening Hours

Meanwhile, to see temple Preah Khan, you will have to have the Angkor Pass, which costs USD 37 for a 1-day entry. This pass will let you make two to three big-hitting temple stops in the park, so it’s a great value if you want to spend a whole day discovering temples.

• Opening hours: 07:00 – 17:00
• The entrance fee of Preah Khan Temple is included in the Angkor Pass. Make sure to hold your ticket throughout; there are many checkpoints.

What to Pack

To fully enjoy your time at Preah Khan Temple Angkor, pack wisely:

• Water: Hydration is important, especially in the dry season. 
• Flashlight: Some of the corridors are so dim and dramatic, perfect for atmosphere, tricky for footing.
• Long-sleeve shirts and sun protection: Courtesy temple attire is also for sun and bugs.
• Stable walking shoes: Many paths are uneven or filled with moss; wear something with good grips.
• Backlit camera mode: Snap the shadows and sun behind the jungle pillars. 

Preah Khan vs Angkor’s Other Temples: What Makes It Special?

Banteay Kdei (Source: wikipedia)

Plan Your Visit to Preah Khan Temple with Impress Travel

Ready to dust off the jungle-shroud passages and spiritual whispers of Preah Khan Temple Cambodia? Let Impress Travel give you a tour through the silent magnificence of this holy place. Whether that’s witnessing the stunning carvings as the sun rises over it at Preah Khan Temple Siem Reap and then letting those first golden rays backlight your Preah Khan Temple photos, or tracing the mix of Hinduism and Buddhism that lay in store across its grand inscriptions, our experienced team ensure that every moment is hassle free, eye-opening and incredibly personal.

Want to add Preah Khan Temple Angkor to a customised itinerary or perhaps with a full Angkor Wat Temples Tour? Reach out today! Our travel specialists are ready to assist you with everything from queries about the Preah Khan Temple prices to mapping your ideal route through the Grand Circuit. We respond to your emails within 24 hours and work with you until you are 100% satisfied.

Contact Impress Travel

•  125 Hoang Ngan, 3rd Floor, Trung Hoa, Hanoi, Vietnam
• (+84) 912 379 189
• info@impresstravel.com

Conclusion

They are where Cambodia’s soul still, quietly, survives, among the jungle vines, sacred halls, and whispers of ancient kings. There’s none quite like it, a place that combines history, nature, and spiritual stillness in such an appealing mixture. So please, walk its forest path, feel the peace, and allow Preah Khan Temple Cambodia, to leave its imprint on your soul, as the jungle begins to retake its tale.