Located within Angkor Thom, about 180 meters east of the Royal Palace and its terraces, Sour Prat is a striking line of twelve laterite towers. 

Arranged in two rows of six along Victory Avenue, the towers face North and South Khleang, forming part of what was likely the Royal Plaza, the great ceremonial heart of the Khmer capital.

History & Architecture

The layout of Sour Prat consists of twelve towers set in a north–south line, with the ones closest to Victory Avenue slightly offset, breaking the otherwise perfect symmetry. Built mainly of laterite, with sandstone used only for doorframes, windows, and frontons, the towers present an unfinished look. The absence of plaster and incomplete carvings suggest that construction may have been hurried or left unfinished.

Each tower follows a square design, with blocky bases supporting small entrance halls, or mandapas. Balustered windows and diminishing upper tiers add verticality to the otherwise heavy structures. Most scholars date their construction to the late 12th or early 13th century, during the reign of King Jayavarman VII, though this is not firmly established.

Cultural & Historical Significance

The exact function of Sour Prat remains unknown. Chinese envoy Zhou Daguan, who visited Angkor in the 13th century, described the Royal Plaza as a place of grand festivals, and the towers may have served a ceremonial role in such events. Zhou also recorded a fascinating belief that the towers were used as instruments of justice: disputants would be placed inside, and divine judgment was thought to determine guilt, with the guilty falling ill and the innocent remaining unharmed.

Another layer of legend surrounds the site’s modern name, Sour Prat, which comes from a local tale that acrobats performed on wires stretched between the towers during festivals. While no inscriptions have been found to clarify their true purpose, the towers’ prominent placement beside the Royal Palace makes it clear that they were integral to the public and ceremonial life of Angkor Thom.