ANGKOR TEMPLES IN CAMBODIA
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Krol Ko


Krol Ko (pronounced "kraol ko") is a modern Khmer name of this small temple, it means "park of oxen". As it is only a smaller structure, Krol Ko is rarely visited, though it is right next to the Neak Pean car park at the Grand Tour road. Just opposite of the entrance and footbridge to Neak Pean, slightly to the northwest, you will easily recognize a laterite wall. It is the outer enclosure of the small Krol Ko temple.

The main entrance is from the east through a simple opening. A moat lined with steps surrounding the inner enclosure is still visible. The main court is defined by this 25 by 35 metres inner laterite wall. Its entrance is a Gopuram, now without roof. On the left side there is a so-called library building.

The principal temple is a Prasat with an eastern Mandapa-Hall. The ornamentation is in the Bayon style, some Devata sculptures in niches are well-preserved. Devatas are female divine guardians of sacred places. Devatas often occur in Hindu epics, but in some Buddhist scriptures, too.

Main attraction of Krol Ko are some bas reliefs of former pediments, they are reconstructed on the ground. Two of them on the right represent the Bodhisattva Lokesvhara, to whom the temple may have been dedicated. He is depicted on a lotus. Lokeshvara "World's Lord" is the most popular Southeast Asian variant of the Mahayana Buddhist saviour Avalokiteshvara. Other scattered stone carvings on the ground depict the Buddha in niches.

To the left is Krishna raising the mountain called Govardhana, in order to shelter the shepherds and their flocks from a thunderstorm sent by Indra. Interestingly, this is a Hindu subject in a Buddhist temple.

In general, Vishnu may be popular among Buddhists, but his Avatar Krishna is usually not venerated by them. The lifting of Govardhana is a topic from the Purana scriptures from early medieval times, when new Hindu believes prevailed in India. The Govardhana-subject indicates the superior power of Krishna over Indra. This is remarkable, as Indra is the supreme god in the ancient holy sciptures of India, the Vedas. In Buddhism those original vedic deities remained to be in higher esteem after Hindu worship in the early medieval periods shifted to Shiva, Durga, Vishnu and Krishna. Indra is often regarded and even venerated as a protector of the Buddhist faith, for example in Sri Lanka. All the more astonishing is the matter of fact, that Indra's inferiority to Krishna, who is venerated by Hindus only, is depicted at a Buddhist temple. It indicates a lack of rivalry between Brahmanism (Hinduism) and Buddhism in the Angkor civilization, whereas in India Buddhism was considered heretical by orthodox Hindus, because Buddhism did not recognize the religious signigicance of the cast system. But cast is an Indian concept, that was never fully adopted by the ancient Khmer and remained alien to most Southeast Asian civilizations.

As Krol Ko dates from the time of Jayavarman VII, it was a Mahayana Buddhist monastery. Probably it was connected to the nearby Neak Pean island sanctuary, which had no monks' abodes on its own, or to the large monastery complex Preah Khan.

Krol Ko should be visited in the morning. Entering Angkor from the north-west or east, you could reach the temple without a ticket. But it is fair to have one when using the Grand Circuit road.

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Copyright © 2015 Hor Sopheak & Unique Asia Travel and Tours, Siem Reap, Cambodia
Texts and Photos by Ando Sundermann and Hor Sopheak, unless otherwise stated
with special thanks to contributers Günter Schönlein and Jochen Fellmer
  • Home
    • Welcome
    • Directory
    • Nepal Link
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  • About
  • Cambodia
    • Geography
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    • Visa and Customs
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  • Destinations
    • Phnom Penh
    • Siem Reap
    • Battambang
    • Sihanoukville
    • Kep
    • Tonle Sap
  • Temples
    • Cambodia jungle temples
    • Preah Khan
    • Ta Som
    • Phnom Kulen
    • Bang Melea
    • Koh Ker
    • Banteay Chhmar
    • Preah Vihear
    • Bakan
    • Sambor Prei Kuk
    • Tonle Bati
    • Phnom Chisor
    • Phnom Da
    • Phnom Banan
    • Prasat Sneung
  • Angkor
    • Angkor Wat
    • Angkor Thom >
      • Bayon
      • South Gate
      • North Gate
      • Victory Gate
      • East Gate
      • Prasat Chrung
      • Elephant Terrace
      • Leper King Terrace
      • Tep Pranam
      • Prasat Suor Prat
      • Preah Palilay
      • Vihear Prampil Loveng
      • Wat Preah Ngok
    • Yashodharapura >
      • Bakheng
      • Baksei Chamkrong
      • Bei Prasat
      • Baphuon
      • Phimeanakas
      • Royal Palace
      • Preah Pithu
      • North Khleang
      • South Khleang
      • West Prasat Top
      • Mangalartha
      • Ta Prohm Kel
      • Siem Reap River
      • Kapilapura
    • Small Circuit >
      • Thommanon
      • Chau Say Tevoda
      • Spean Thma
      • Chapel of the Hospital
      • Ta Keo
      • Ta Nei
      • Jayendranagari
      • Ta Prohm
      • Banteay Kdei
      • Kutishvara
    • Grand Circuit >
      • Prasat Tonle Snguot
      • Krol Romeas
      • Preah Khan in Angkor
      • Prasat Prei
      • Banteay Prei
      • Neak Pean
      • Krol Ko
      • Ta Sohm
      • East Mebon
      • Pre Rup
      • Leak Neang
      • Prasat Top
      • Srah Srang
      • Bat Chum
      • Prasat Kravan
    • Angkor East >
      • Prasat Tor
      • Banteay Samray
      • Phnom Bok
      • Chau Say Vibol
    • Angkor West >
      • West Baray
      • West Mebon
      • Ak Yum
      • Spean Memay
      • Phnom Rung
      • Kok Po
      • Neam Rup
      • Prasat Char
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      • Prasat Sampeau
      • Banteay Thom
      • Prei Prasat
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    • Roluos Group >
      • Bakong
      • Preah Ko
      • Lolei
      • Prei Monti
      • Trapeang Phong
      • Toteung Thngai
      • Prasat O Ka-aek
      • Trapeang Srangae
    • North of Angkor >
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