Dharma4world : Khmer History

Prasat Preah Theat Baray is an important historical site that is associated with many historical stories. Preah Theat Baray temple is located in Baray commune, Srey Santhor district, Kampong Cham province. To get to this temple (from Phnom Penh), take National Road 6A and cross the Prek Tamak Bridge. The east bank then turns left along the riverbank. Must travel to Srey Santhor district town, Prek Po town. Then continue for about 8 kilometers to Prek Dambok market. Then turn right on the dirt road in front of Wat Prasat Vadey and travel about 7 kilometers before reaching Baray commune. The Preah Theat Baray temple is located about 1 km south of the commune.

Today, the temple remains a tower made of sandstone and laterite. The tower had entrances from the east and west (they covered the west door with bricks), and the north and south gates were false doors. It is suspected that the temple has three towers because of the remnants of the sculptures and relics that have been reused. According to the sculptures, the temple is thought to have been built in the 11th century in the Baphuon style. Later, perhaps in the 14th or 15th century, the temple was remodeled with a terrace in front of the temple Take a piece of cake and put it around and make it into a temple.

Near the hill on the north side is the hill of Oknha Ton. Not far from there is Tuol Oknha Pheakdey, at the back of Tuol Preah Theat, about 500 meters away, there is an ancient hill called Tuol Basan. In front of Tuol Preah Theat, there are traces of the Om River, which is called the Om River for men and the Om River for women, and in the middle there is a field as a platform for King Kong Tot. Behind the Om River, there is a racecourse with scars. In the fields around Tuol Preah Theat, while the villagers were plowing their fields, they found pieces of drainage pipes. Near Tuol Preah Theat, there is a hill that looks like a large ancient brick kiln. At the north-eastern part of Tuol Preah Theat, there is a large pond left over from the time of King Ponhea Yat. All of this testifies to the ancient capital.

It should also be noted that the question arises as to whether this site was actually the capital of King Ponhea Yat when he left Angkor in 1431. Yes or no, there is no clear answer can be confirmed.