Purandarapura

Purandarapura

Native Name	បុរន្ទរបុរៈ
BA#	C1707267
Size	Large
Condition	Ruin
Type	Ancient City
Location
Part of	Angkor
Commune	Khnat
District	Puok
Province	Siem Reap
Country	Cambodia
Coordinates	13.43285, 103.76250
History
Founded	Late 7th - Early 8th Century
Builder	Jayavarman I
Art Style	Prei Khmeng
Material	Brick
Religion	Hindu
Deity	Vishnu, Shiva
UNESCO Inscription	1992

4.00

(one vote)

Purandarapura (បុរន្ទរបុរៈ - Pronounced: Por-andara-poora)

As with many pre-Angkorian cities, historians are still involved in active debate over Purandarapura's precise location. However, Jayavarman I's late 7th-century capital is far from the most controversial site and - with a few exceptions - the majority of archaeologists concur with a Siem Reap Province location, in the general area of the huge reservoir known today as the West Baray, (Baray Toek Thla}. (What are, in our opinion, wilder suggestions include Prei Veng, Takeo and Kampong Thom.)

Jayavarman I's origins are unclear but he does appear to have been a descendant of Isanavarman and is a likely suspect for the addition of later structures at Isanapura - Sambor Prei Kuk. However, many inscriptions relating to his reign originate from southern Cambodia and his relationship to Funan and role in its absorption by Chenla is also unknown. Historians suggest conflict with 'Java' during this period which may refer to nearby Champa, the powerful Srivijaya state, or the expansive Saliendra dynasty of Java itself. A more secure location could plausibly have been a motivation for a move to the Siem Reap area.

Constructed in the 11th-century the huge Western reservoir may well have destroyed many remnants of Jayavarman I's city; extensive vestiges have been found under the baray's west section, Prasat Ak Yum was sited on the new southern embankment itself and suffered damage, while a causeway linking Ak Yum - the possible state temple - with Prasat Kok Po, directly north, was submerged under the waters.

The city corresponds to the Prei Khmeng architectural period and would have included Prasat Prei Khmeng (Boeng Khnar) itself, (just to the west of the baray), as well as aforementioned Ak Yum, Kok Po and smaller ruins and brick mounds in the same area such as Prasat Phnom Rong. Jayavarman I is generally thought to have died around 780 after which inscriptions mention an important city, or capital, known as Aninditapura. Again, suggestions cover everywhere from Takeo to Battambang, but a similar West Baray-Puok location appears to us more logical. If so, then the city's relationship to Purandarapura - if any - is unknown while it is conceivable that it was a new name for the same site. The arrival on the scene of Jayavarman II, in the late 8th-century, shifted the focus east of present-day Siem Reap and the new capital of Hariharalaya.

Map Location

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href=\"\/index.php\/Prasat_Ak_Yum\" title=\"Prasat Ak Yum\"\u003EPrasat Ak Yum\u003C\/a\u003E","lat":13.4243799999999993133315001614391803741455078125,"lon":103.776669999999995752659742720425128936767578125,"otherValues":{"native name lang":"\u1794\u17d2\u179a\u17b6\u179f\u17b6\u1791\u200b\u17a2\u1780\u1799\u17c6","alternate name":"Prasat Ak Yom","ba no":"C1707075","condition of site":"Ruin","size of site":"Medium","type of site":"Temple"},"icon":"\/images\/7\/71\/M-m-ruin.png"},{"name":"Prasat Koh Ho","title":"\u003Ca href=\"\/index.php\/Prasat_Koh_Ho\" title=\"Prasat Koh Ho\"\u003EPrasat Koh Ho\u003C\/a\u003E","lat":13.422090000000000742375050322152674198150634765625,"lon":103.7908599999999950114215607754886150360107421875,"otherValues":{"native name lang":"\u1794\u17d2\u179a\u17b6\u179f\u17b6\u1791\u1780\u17c4\u17c7\u17a0\u17bc\u179a","alternate name":"Prasat Koh Ko, Prasat Kas Ho","ba no":"C1710312","condition of site":"Ruin","size of site":"Medium","type of 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Image Gallery

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  Prasat Kok Po

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Nearby Sites

• Aninditapura
• Asram Lok Ta Kong
• Baray Prasat Ta Nong
• Baray Toek Thla
• C1707037
• C1707040
• C1707079
• C1707237
• C1707298
• C1707299
• C1707300
• C1707301
• C1707303
• C1707327
• C1707380
• C1707401
• C1707402
• C1707405
• C1707411
• C1707413
• C1707415
• C1707416
• C1707477
• C1707478
• C1707479
• C1710426
• Kok Chas (Samrong Yea)
• Kok Chas (Ta Chet)
• Kok Kroes Trapeang Kantuot
• Kok Prasat (Pralay)
• Kok Pravas
• Kok Ta Srei (Puok)
• Kok Ta Svay
• Kok Ta Yor
• Kok Trabaek (Puok)
• Neak Ta Banteay Chheu
• Neak Ta Kok Srok
• Prasat Ak Yum
• Prasat Koh Ho
• Prasat Kok Po
• Prasat Kok Singh
• Prasat Phnom Rong
• Prasat Phum O
• Prasat Prei Khmeng (Boeng Khnar)
• Prasat Roluos (Daun Kaev)
• Prasat Trapeang Trach
• Prasat Wat Khnat
• Purandarapura
• Spean Memay (Kok Thmei)
• Trapeang Sen
• Tuol Khnat (Puok)
• Tuol Kok Khpuos
• Tuol Kok Ta Aek
• Tuol Prasat Kanhchan Reang
• Tuol Prasat Kok Chan (Puok)
• Tuol Prasat Ponnareay (Puok)
• Tuol Prasat Rolos Khang Cheung
• Tuol Prasat Rolos Khang Tbong
• Tuol Prasat Sambuor
• Tuol Prasat Srah Kou
• Tuol Prasat Ta Nong
• Tuol Yeay Nong (Siem Reap)
• Wat Ampil (Puok)
• Wat Puok
• Wat Ta Tok
• Wat Tol Khpuos

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