Preah Palilay

Temple in Siem Reap

CC BY-SA 4.0 / Christophe95

Preah Palilay is a small temple located in Angkor Thom, Cambodia, situated 400 meters northwest of Phimeanakas. This Buddhist sanctuary, nestled in a wooded area north of the Royal Palace, features several interesting attributes, making it worth a short visit.

History of Preah Palilay

Dating the temple is challenging due to the blend of Hindu and Buddhist elements and the absence of foundation inscriptions or stele. While it is typically attributed to the reign of Jayavarman VIII, the survival of Buddhist imagery from that period’s iconoclastic movement raises questions. Some scholars propose that the temple was constructed in multiple phases: the sanctuary in the first half of the 12th century and the gopura (gateway) in the late 13th or early 14th century. Art historian William Willetts (1918–1995) suggested the temple could date back to the reign of Suryavarman II (1113–1149). In 1918–1919, Henri Marchal cleaned the temple, and in 1937–1938, Maurice Glaize restored the gopura using anastylosis (reassembling the original stones).

Description of Preah Palilay

The temple features a cross-shaped terrace, measuring 8.5 by 30 meters, with well-preserved seven-headed nāga balustrades on the east side. These are flanked by two decapitated dvarapalas (guardian figures) and a lion. A 33-meter-long causeway connects the terrace to a single sandstone gopura. Before the laterite enclosure (50 meters square), there is a shrine with a 3-meter-tall Buddha statue seated on a lotus, from a later period.

The gopura has three entrances, with the eastern pediment of the northern one depicting “the offering of animals in the forest of Parilyyaka,” where the Buddha retreated after leaving Kosambi. The name “Pralilay” may have evolved from “Parilyyaka.” Other pediments illustrate scenes from the Buddha’s life, such as Sujata’s offering of rice-milk and the subjugation of the elephant Nalagiri.

The sandstone sanctuary sits on a three-tiered platform, 6 meters high. It contains a central chamber (5 meters square) with vestibules opening to the four cardinal directions. The classical ornamentation, though largely ruined, indicates the sanctuary was likely built in the early 12th century, making it older than the gopura. The “chimney-like” tower above the sanctuary is believed to be a later addition, possibly from the reign of Jayavarman VII.

Some of the pediment carvings have been removed for preservation, while others lie on the ground. The visible carvings depict Indra on his mount, the elephant Airavata, and the attack by the demon army of Mara.

Currently, a small Buddhist monastery exists near the temple, and monks are frequently seen in the area.

The Preah Palilay appears in our Complete Guide to Visiting Siem Reap!

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