Neak Poan and Krol Ko Temples - 12th Century Ruins - Siem Reap Cambodia

Neak Pean (or Neak Poan) ប្រាសាទនាគព័ន្ធ, "the entwined serpents" at Angkor, Cambodia is an artificial island with a Hindu temple on a circular island in Jayatataka Baray, which was associated with Preah Khan temple, built during the reign of King Jayavarman VII. It is the "Mebon" of the Preah Khan baray (Jayatataka).

Neak Pean was originally designed for medical purposes (the ancients believed that going into these pools would balance the elements in the bather, thus curing disease); it is one of the many hospitals that Jayavarman VII built. It is based on the ancient Hindu belief of balance. Four connected pools represent Water, Earth, Fire and Wind. Each is connected to the central water source, the main tank, by a stone conduit "presided over by one of Four Great Animals (maha ajaneya pasu) namely Elephant, Bull, Horse, and Lion, corresponding to the north, east, south, and west quarters.

The stone conduits in the little pavilions are fashioned to represent the heads of the Four Great Animals, the only exception being that on the east, which represents a human head instead of a bull's."

Originally, four sculptures stood on the floor of the lake. The only remaining statue is that of the horse Balaha, a form of the bodhisattva Avalokitesvara, saving sailors from the ogresses of Tamradvipa. The temple on the lake was originally dedicated to Avalokitesvara.

Prasat Krol Ko - The shed of the oxen

Prasat Krol Ko is located in the northwest of Neak Pean, 100 meters from the road. It was built in late 12th century-early 13th century by king Jayavarman VII, as a Buddhist temple with following the Bayon art style.

The main items of interest at Krol Ko are the pediments on the ground. Two are outstanding carvings. They are a bodhisattva Avalokitesvara standing on a lotus flanked by devotees and a strongly modeled scene of Krsna lifting Mount Govardhana to shelter the shepherds.

The temple is small and can be skipped if you are short of time. The highlight is definitely the walk across the bridge to the Mebon temple of Neak Pean. The aquatic plants along the way followed by the temple inside the water feature make it defiantly worth a visit.

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