Skip to main content

Visit Neak Pean Temple


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. Willetts believed that "this is Jayavarman as he would have wished to have appeared to his people." Read more here or at wikipedia.




Popular posts from this blog

Mondulkiri - The Sea Forest of Cambodia

Mondulkiri is Cambodia’s largest, nevertheless least-populated province. the area features distinctive rolling hills, fine country views, wild natural landscapes, jungles, multiple of waterfalls and a unique indigenous culture.  Sen Monorom - Mondulkiri’s city, at an altitude of about 800m above sea level, offers a refreshing break from the heat of Cambodia's lower plains. sen Monorom is found 370km north east of Phnom Penh. Traveling to Mondulkiri is easy now, since the road has been upgraded and paved . This large and quiet province, is one of Cambodia’s most lovely areas, and a beautiful destination to include whilst traveling around Cambodia. Mondulkiri is a rising destination for nature / eco-tourists and there are elephant & wildlife sanctuaries and Eco-tourism projects in the area.

Cambodian Education System

Education in Cambodia is controlled by the state through the Ministry of Education in a national level and by the Department of Education at the provincial level. The Constitution of Cambodia establishes that the state shall protect and upgrade citizen's rights to quality education at all levels, guaranteeing that all citizens have equal opportunity to earn a living (Article 66). The state shall adopt an education program "according to the principle of modern pedagogy including technology and foreign languages," as well as the state controls public and private schools and classrooms at all levels (Article 67). The Cambodian education system includes pre-school, primary, general secondary, higher education and non-formal education. The education system includes the development of sport, information technology education, research development and technical education. School enrollment has increased during the 2000s in Cambodia. USAID data shows that in 201...

Koh Rong - The Biggest of the Islands

Koh Rong is the biggest island off the coast of Sihanoukville within the Gulf of Thailand that stretches from southeast to north-west, roughly elongate form and it encompasses an area of 78 square km. The parcel of land is preponderantly craggy with a large mountain (316 meters) at the island’s north-west. The hills offer water for incalculable creeks and estuaries. The island’s interior is somewhat fully forested, concealing variety of waterfalls. Koh Rong has about 43 kilometers of beaches. There are no less than twenty-three beaches of varied length and coloration – from (predominantly) white to beige to rosy sands - on most of the outline. Bays, sticking out capes and spectacular erinaceous rock formations give a beautiful island’s scenic panorama. The southern coastline - exposed to the weather and open sea, is especially spectacular, whereas the eastern coast that faces towards the land is characterised by a sequence of sleek hills, gently sloping towards the vari...