Prasat Char
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Prasat Char is a temple ruin surrounded by a village of the same name. On online maps it is sometimes called "Prasat Cha". The name is pronounced with a long "a". "Char" means a small kind of palm tree.
Prasat Char is located 10 km west of Angkor Thom and 5 km north of the reservoir West Baray. The village can be reached from the west by a track acoss the fields. The temple compound is situated in a grove just 300 metres north to this village street. The towers are raised on an artificial mound. They were enclosed by a 60 metres square moat and an outer earth dam. Prasat Char's towers are built of brick and laterite. They are not well-preserved, only worth a visit for those looking for some extra "Angkor feeling" of a forgotten temple in the jungle. The door posts, made of sandstone, are richly ornamented. Their inscriptions date from 979 and 994, both from the reign of Jayavarman V. Locals advise not to enter the tower area because of the risk of landmines. They furthermore believe, that someone reading the whole inscription, at the end will see a five-headed dragon living in the temple. The morning is better for a visit. Access is free. You can come close to the three towers, but do not cross the thicket nor go into the towers. Locals are not sure whether the surrounding woods are free of landmines. Prasat Char was the last temple on this website's list of 80 monuments that was freed from landmines. |
