Prasat Khnar – A Landmark of Koh Ker

Built during the 10th century in the reign of King Jayavarman IV, Prasat Khnar is one of the most remarkable marker temples within the Koh Ker complex. Strategically aligned along the axial line of the great Rahal baray, the temple highlights Koh Ker’s unique integration of spirituality and hydraulic engineering.

The Colossal Linga

Prasat Khnar is best known for once housing a colossal Linga, measuring around 7 meters tall and 4 meters in diameter, set upon an enormous pedestal nearly 3 meters high and 7 meters square. 

Unlike the more common monolithic Lingas, this sacred object was uniquely constructed from multiple sandstone blocks, a remarkable feat of Khmer religious architecture.

Temple & Reservoir

The temple itself sits on a raised mound overlooking the nearby Trapeang Ang Khnar reservoir, reinforcing its commanding presence in the sacred landscape. Around the reservoir, natural rock carvings depict Hindu deities such as Shiva, Vishnu, Brahma, and the Navagraha (nine planets), along with symbolic animals, sanctifying the waters and emphasizing the link between divine power and natural resources.

Historical Significance

Prasat Khnar represents one of the earliest and grandest expressions of the Khmer tradition of sanctifying water through sculpture and ritual architecture. The integration of the massive Linga and the reservoir created a cosmological system, where divine energy flowed into the Rahal baray, blessing both the land and its people. 

This concept prefigures later sanctified water features at Phnom Kulen and Kbal Spean, but Prasat Khnar demonstrates Koh Ker’s pioneering role in merging sacred geography with hydraulic mastery.

Getting There

Prasat Khnar lies within the Koh Ker complex, northeast of the main temple pyramid, Prasat Thom. Visitors can reach Koh Ker by car or motorbike from Siem Reap (approximately 120 km, 2.5–3 hours) via National Road 64. A guided tour is highly recommended, both for easier navigation of the remote sites and for deeper historical insight.