Preah Khan or Prah Khan, as it is sometimes spelled, is one of Angkor temples built back in 12th century by King Jayavarman VII. It is located west of Jayatataka barray which it was associated with. It was the center of great settlement with population of nearly 100 thousand people. It is a complicated flat complex with rectangular galleries that surround Buddhist sanctuary and later additions of Hindu temples and other buildings. Like many other temples of Angkor, it is mostly unrestored with many plants and trees growing just between ruins.
It was built in the late 12th century and in translation is called as ‘holy sword’. The central stela of the temple tells us a lot about its history as, for example, two times when it was occupied by royal palace. There 430 deities each of which get its own part of foods, clothes, perfumes and even mosquito nets. The temple was decorated with gold, silver, gems and other valuable goods. This complex was a city, temple and even Buddhist university at once. There were nearly 97,000 attendants and servants including one thousand of teachers and another of dancers.
Since 1991 it is a part of World Monuments Fund.
