Neak Poan – The Mystical Island Temple
Temple in Siem Reap
Built during the reign of King Jayavarman VII (1181–1218 AD), Neak Pean is a unique and mysterious temple complex located on a man-made island in the center of the Jayatataka Baray reservoir. The temple sits atop a double circular lotus base, surrounded by a large central basin with four smaller shrines positioned at each cardinal direction. Each shrine connects the central basin to smaller outer basins, and each cardinal shrine features spouts designed to allow water to flow from the central basin—symbolically purified—to the outer ones through the heads of a lion, horse, elephant, and human. The central shrine itself is decorated with carvings of Avalokiteshvara, and beneath the nagas encircling the structure is a statue of the horse Balaha, a previous incarnation of Avalokiteshvara. This distinctive design reflects a vision of healing, inspired by Lake Anavatapta, a legendary lake in Buddhist cosmology thought to be the source of all water. Accessed today by a walkway across the baray, Neak Pean remains a scenic and tranquil site with a nature trail around its outer edge, offering peaceful views over the baray and showcasing its ancient laterite retaining walls.
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Visiting Neak Poan – The Mystical Island Temple
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