Prasat Kravan

Temple in Siem Reap

CC BY-SA 3.0 / Diego Delso

Prasat Kravan is a 10th-century Hindu temple located at Angkor, Cambodia, situated south of the Srah Srang baray (artificial lake). It consists of five reddish brick towers arranged on a common terrace. The original Sanskrit name is unknown, but the modern Khmer name, “Prasat Kravan,” translates to “artabotrys odoratissimus temple.” The temple, dedicated to Vishnu, was constructed in 921 CE, as evidenced by an inscription found on the doorjambs.

The temple was cleared of vegetation in the 1930s by Henri Marchal and Georges Trouvé. Further restoration was undertaken between 1962 and 1966 by Bernard Philippe Groslier, who added some new bricks, marked with a “CA” to signify the conservation effort.

Architecture and Design

The temple is oriented eastward and is surrounded by a small moat. Its architectural style is characterized by classical lines and symmetry. Notably, the central and south towers feature superstructures designed with a diminishing tier effect, creating an illusion of false perspective. Inside, the sanctuary is decorated with large bas-reliefs depicting Vishnu and Lakshmi, which are carved into the reddish brick walls, set within a vegetative motif. This type of carving, common in Cham temples, is rare in Khmer architecture.

Bas-Reliefs and Sculptures

The bas-reliefs inside the central tower represent the god Vishnu in three distinct forms:

Vishnu, with four arms, is depicted riding his vehicle Garuda and holding his traditional symbols: a globe, conch, discus, and baton.
Vishnu, again with four arms, takes a large step, illustrating his incarnation as Vamana the dwarf, who took three giant steps to reclaim the world from the asura Bali.
Vishnu, now depicted with eight arms, stands in a rigid statue-like posture, surrounded by hundreds of tiny devotees, with a crocodile or lizard above him. The significance of this scene remains unclear.

In the northernmost tower, two bas-reliefs of Lakshmi, Vishnu’s consort, are featured, flanked by devotees. One relief shows Lakshmi holding Shiva’s trident and Vishnu’s discus, possibly representing her as a goddess who transcends both Saiva and Vaishnava traditions. The other more traditional depiction shows her holding lotuses.

The Prasat Kravan appears in our Complete Guide to Visiting Siem Reap!

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