Angkor VIP tour - Srah Sang「ស្រះស្រង់」

Srah Sang「ស្រះស្រង់」

• Date: Mid 10th century
• Style: Bayon
• Highlights: Srah Srang stands for "The royal bathing pool". Its baray (artificial lake) was a square dug to 700m x 300m during the Hindu period, set amidst large trees, able to deliver turquoise blue waters all year round. The approaching steps to the water edge are flanked by two stone statues of lions with ornamented nāga-garuda balustrades. The pond was reserved for use by the king and his wives. A stone base seen at an island in the centre of the pond once housed a wooden temple where the king did meditation. The water from the lake is now used for rice cultivation by farmers of the area.

5 headed Vasuki is also the nāgarāja (king of the nagas), famous for coiling around Shiva's neck. Interestingly, it is often depicted decorating balustrades together with Garuda which would be his natural enemy but turns out to be the king of birds and vahana (vehicle) of Vishnu.

The lake surroundings deliver local random views: cows, small restaurants and mini temples.