Tirtha Atlas

The sacred geography of the Indic world — every site mapped, dated, storied, and cited.

1126 sites15 countries4 traditions30 centuries
Early medieval · Hindu · Cambodia

Pre Rup

Angkor, Siem Reap · 13.4355°, 103.9205°

ShivaKhmer EmpireKhmerUNESCO World Heritage
Sacred since
961 CE
first attestation / structure
Standing structure
dedicated 961–962 (Rajendravarman)
Khmer Empire

History & significance

The state temple of King Rajendravarman, dedicated in 961 or early 962 and built as a temple-mountain of brick, laterite and sandstone south of the East Baray on an axis with the East Mebon. Two enclosure walls surround an outer platform of about 117 by 127 metres, from which a three-tiered pyramid rises to a summit carrying five towers in quincunx, the central one holding the main sanctuary and the corner towers once housing images of Lakshmi, Uma and Vishnu.

Sthala katha — the legend

Its modern name means to turn the body, from a widespread Cambodian belief that funerals were held here and the ashes ritually rotated to face each direction in turn as the rite proceeded.

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Related sites

Brihadisvara Temple
Thanjavur · India
1003–1010 CE
Brihadisvara Temple, Gangaikonda Cholapuram
Gangaikonda Cholapuram · India
c. 1035 CE
Airavatesvara Temple
Darasuram, Kumbakonam · India
mid-12th c. CE
Shore Temple
Mahabalipuram (Mamallapuram) · India
c. 700–728 CE
Virupaksha Temple, Hampi
Hampi · India
7th-c. origins; major Vijayanagara expansion
Vittala Temple, Hampi
Hampi · India
15th–16th c.

Sources

coordinates: wikipedia-2026-08-27 · sources retrieved 2026-08-26 · dynasty page: Khmer Empire