"Kampong Pos Thom" was the original name of the
present call Kampong Thom. Because originally long time ago, at the dock of Sen
river next to a big natural lake, there was a big cave with a pair of big
snakes inside. The people living around this area usually saw these big snakes
every Buddhist Holiday. Time after that, the snakes disappeared, and the people
of that area called Kampong Pos Thom.
Then, only short words Kampong Thom. During the French
colony in Cambodia , the
French ruled and divided Cambodian territory into provinces, and named them
according the spoken words of the people called ‘Kampong Thom
Province
Kampong Thom is a province located at the central point of
the Kingdom of Cambodia .
The province has a total land area of 15,061km2 divided into 8 districts, 81
communes and 737 Villages. The total population is 576,805 people (110,334
families, women approximate 51%).
The province has road network which links from Phnom Penh to iem Reap on
National Road 6, and separates to Preah Vihea province National Road 64 in a
distance of 126 km.
Geography
The province is divided into two parts:
- Eastern part of National Road 6: Covers 70% surface
consisting of forests and plateau, rich in natural resources which are good for
agriculture, forestry and animal husbandry.
Sambo Preikuk
- Western of part of National Road 6: Covers 30% surface is
the plain area extending to Tonle
Sap Lake
Kampong Thom is also a province-rich in tourism potentials
to attract national and international tourists such as the exotic lakes, rivers,
forests, mountain and more than 200 ancient temples.
History of Sambor Prei Kuk:
The ancient city where monuments of Sambo Prei Kuk are found
today was identified as ISANAPURA, the capital of Chenla in 7th century. Chenla
was a former vassal of the Funan kingdom that was one of the first state in Southeast Asia , but it gradually gained its power and
eventually King Citrasena Mahendravarman of Funan in the early 7th century.
Main archaeological features in these groups of monuments
are said to have been founded by king ISANAVARMAN I, the son of king Citrasena.
Many decorative details in Khmer architecture and sculpture
are classified as Sambor style: the name was derived from these monuments dated
in the first half of the 7th century. Henceforth this kingdom was the leading
state and comprised the whole of Cambodia proper. Furthermore, several
successions of kings’ reign might have maintained these monuments as their
capital city. The century following the death of JAYAVARMAN I who is the last
known king of this kingdom in the second half of the 7th century is a dark
period in the history of Chenla. According to a Chinese accounts, in the 8th
century, the country of Chenla was divided into land and water Chenlas. The
obscurity prevails and this monument might be neglected thereafter. The history.
However, is traced again with the accession of JAYAVARMAN II, who founded a new
polity that is now referred as Angkor in the
beginning of 9th century. Decorative details of Prasat Tao (Central Group) are
similar to the style of the remains belong to the period of the king JAYAVARMAN
II, Particularly, characteristic lion statues resembles the statues found in
Phnom Penh. From these reasons this architectural complex is said to be
constructed in this period.
Furthermore some inscriptions in Prasat Sambor (Northern
Group) are dated in the 10th century under the reign of the king RAJENDRA
VARMANII. And Robang Romeas group that is located about 2km northward from main
temple area, contains other inscriptions of the king SURYAVARMAN I period. Some
other decorative details and statues belong to the late Angkor
period styles were confirmed from these temples. These historical evidences
suggest that these monuments must have belonged to the important provincial
principle city after Pre Angkor period.
From above historical perspective, this group of monuments
is extremely significant not only for Cambodia
but also for the entire area of Southeast Asia ,
for they are the only remaining sound architectural constructions that
exemplify the architecture and sculpture of the early period in sizable
quantity.
Sambor Prei Kuk Group:
Sambor Prei Kuk cluttering sanctuaries were located in Sambor Village
Prasat Sambor Group (Northern Sanctuaries):
Northern sanctuary group comprised 11 sanctuaries separated
from each other with the one at the middle, and had two-wall rampart. The
sanctuaries were built of brick and limestone and carve in the beautifully real
khmer style. These achievements certified the real khmer talent, after received
the influence from India. Khmer had prepared her country and developed arts by
herself. The every great development was in Angkor civilization period. The
sanctuary was built on a rectangular hill (24m 21m or 25,200 square meters or 2.52
hectares).
The sanctuary comprised 14 temples (only 8 remains), and
were surrounded by two-wall rampart. These temples were constructed in various
plans-square and octagonal shapes. The top of the temple was carved in lotus
petals of sandstone, but some parts were cracked down and buried into the
ground and the pile of bricks.
Lion Temple Group:
Lion temple group comprise 18 temples with two ramparts
closed to the pond. The reasons why the people called Lion Temple because on
the tops of all stairs from the four directions, there were sitting lions with
forelegs standing up, hind-legs humbling down, its head rose up and its mouse
opened to the sanctuary.
The rampart outside made of laterite, had 328-meter length, 310-meter
width and 101,650-square-meter surface.
Lion temple
This rampart had Gopura in two-direction (East and West) entrances
that are connected by the other laterite ramparts. In between rampart 2 and 1, at
the Northeastern side near the rampart 1, there was a rectangular pond (42.10m
x 34.20m). The bottom of the pond spread by laterite and surrounded by the
stepped stairs. The small stairs of the Southern side are made of sandstone.
Now the pond is empty during the dry season. When we enter
from the Eastern Gopura on either side of the road, we see two sanctuary hills
were built on high terrace with the tracks of the round column made of laterite
lining up in 0.40m height.
Prasat Yeai Poeun Group:
Prasat Yeai Poeun Group comprised a total of 22 sanctuaries (5
have octagonal shapes) with two wall rampart, and was built of brick, masonry, laterite
and sandstone in rectangular from in 7th century (600-635) during the reign of
Isanavarman I to dedicated to Shiva. They were built on a hill with Gopura from
the eastern and western entrances joining to an outside laterite rampart. The
inner rampart reached by gateways from the four directions and joined to the
brick rampart carved in various clustering figures.
Along the sanctuary contained the eastern and western Gopura
joined to the laterite rampart (304m x 274m or 83,296 square-meter surface). Gopura
contained framed door with diamond columns and a lintel built of sandstone. Eastern
Gopura contained a buried large inscription (size: 2.41m x 0,9m x 0,15) inscribed
with 17 lines of script. This inscription was brought to be kept in Kampong
Thom Museum.
Kroul Romeas Group:
Behind Kroul Romeas Group, there were four more sanctuaries
made of brick and built during the reign King Suryavarman 1(end of 11th century).
These sanctuaries were built on a rectangular hill, and faced to the East. One
of sanctuaries was not completely built yet, it was likely built in later
period. The lintel was carved in the form of bow without the modal. At the
southeastern side, there were two temples recognized as the original ancient
khmer styles.
Phnom Santuk:
Since the ancient time to the present, Phnom Santuk Mountain
has been called in many names as below:
- Phnom Thom (in history)
- Phnom Arth Santuk (In history)
- Phnom Chorm Chong Kiri
- Phnom Krop Tuk
- Phnom Preah Bat Chann Tuk
The ancient heritages on the top of the mountain:
- Many Buddha statues were carved from great mountain rock
including three big Buddha statues reaching Nirvana, each has more than 10-meter
length.
- Prasat Touch of pyramid shape, made of sandstone, has
three stories and three-meter height, and is located next to the ancient wooden
temple (presently, it is made of cement) with a rectangular pond (10m x 4m).
- Preah Bat Chann Tuk statue was carved on the stone shaped
as food of a sacred human, and there are many other small sculptures.
By the stories, the construction and the statues were
erected during the reign of Preah Ponhea Dharma Reacha (1474-1494) and have
been maintained until now.
Phnom Santuk has changed names to Chorn Chong Kiri and Phnom
Krop Tuk. Chan Dare or Chan Chare are called two pieces of stone by local
people that join all together in marked symbol and made in small hole, the
passenger arrived there, they always dropped cash coins (ancient coins) into
this small hole. When cash coins was dropped in, it make soft weak voice like a
voice of the birds sing or music with happiness. So they did that since ancient
period.
Preah Bat Chan Tuk or Buddha statue:
- Was built by King Ang Chan I (16th century).
- King Baksei Chamkrong built a wooden temple on Phnom San
Tuk at the same year.
- Sculptures carved on large ancient stone with many scenes
of story.
- Buddha statue reaching Nirvanawas carved on larges-stone
since 16th century.
Prey Pros:
Prey Pros is a natural and cultural site located at Prey
Pros Village, Prey Preal Commune, Kampong Svay District in approximate 16-km
distance northwest of Provincial Town of Kampong. The site cover an area of 2
million square meters and includes a river (4,000-meter length and 30-meter
width) which is rich in Domrei fish. The site is a venue for foot races, bicycle
races, and other games during national festivals. In addition, the provincial
tourists’ office has organized other recreational activities such as boating, fishing
and swimming, and has built resting cottage where food and drinks are sold. The
view from Prey Pros is beautiful and
enchanting, while the wind which blows across the river will cool and refresh
the hot and tired tourists.
Prasat Kuh Nokor:
Prasat Kuh Nokor is located in Trodoc Poung Village, Pong
Ror Commune, Baray District, Kampong Thom Province and is in the complex of Wat
Kuh Nokor (Buddhist Pagoda). To reach there, passenger can take all kinds of
vehicle on National Road 6, then turn west through the gate of Kuh Nokor pagoda
in a distance of 2km. It is 79km from Provincial Town of Kampong Thom. These
sanctuaries were built on the flat ground, on a square terrace made of laterite
and sandstone facing to the East with the rampart surrounding. This rampart has
a 35m-length (East to West) and a 25m-width (North to South). There is
surrounding rampart of one meter height and 0.8 meter thick with two gateways: Eastern
gateway is 9m height divided into 3 rooms, and western gateway is small and has
square shape.
The structures of the buildings are mixed, made of laterite
and the decoration of sandstone. East of the temple, there are 2 ponds-the
small one has about one-meter depth,45-meter length and 20-meter width, and the
big one has 160-meter length, 88-meter width and more than one-meter depth.
Prasat Kuh Nokor comprises:
- The throne is square shape, made of sandstone and
decorated by lotus flowers and pointed-diamond style, and has square hole at
the middle.
- A male standing statue remains from thigh to shoulder.
- A male standing statue remains from thigh to the navel.
- A male coiling statue is difficult to be identified as the
statue broke the end of the arm and the sole of the foot (local people called
the statue ‘Neak Ta Bark Kor’.
Prasat Kuh Nokor was built in 10th -11th century by the king
Suryavarman I (1002-1050). But in the same year (1002), another document said
there was a king named Preah Bat Jayviravarman who who was also on throne (1002-1010).
The two kings claimed that they were on throne at the same year, this leading
to war between king and king until 1006. Then the king Suryavarman I conquered
Yasodharpura city, however the war still lasted for 04 years to end. In 1010, the
king Suryavarman I gained success over the entire territory and had full power
in the country.
Prasat Kok Rokar (Preah Theat):
Prasat Kok Rokar is located in Rokar Phum, Srayov Commune, Stung
Sen District, Kampong Thom province in a 14-km distance from Provincial Town of
Kampong Thom. The temple was built of sandstone and laterite in Khleng style at
the end of 11th century during the reign of king Suryavarman I to dedicate to
Siva.
This isolated sanctuary (dimension: 6m x 5m; 8m height) was
built on the hill and faced to the east. The body of the central temple has
conical form with porches opening to the east, and a door reached from the
eastern entrance (three other doors were the false doors). The diamond column
has octagonal forms, and the three lintels have various forms. Based on the
study to the site, the sanctuary was formed in rectangular shape. The outside
rampart has 25m x 25m size and Gopura from the four directions which jointed to
the surrounding laterite rampart. Outside the rampart, there were likely moats
surrounded as we saw some marks remain until now. In observation to the
temple’s court, there were lintels and inscriptions available at the
surrounding. The lintels has various style some in Sambor Prei Kuk, some in
Prei Khmeng and some in Kulen style etc. This didn’t mean that the artists
built the mixed styles. According to the elderly resident there said that during
the French colony in Cambodia, these ancient objects were brought from other
temples to gather here in preparing to break into small parts that would then
be used to pave the roads, but they didn’t construct the roads yet due to the
war happened in the Country that why these ancient objects remained there.
On the hill 1km from the temple, where they held midnight
ceremony every full moon day with making virgin girls dancing around the fired
place to pray for the rain. This ceremony could be participated by virgin girls
only.
Prasat Phum Prasat:
Located in Prasat Village, Prasat Commune, Snatuk District, Kampong
Thom Province. This temple located in a 27-km district from Provincial Town of
Kampong Thom, and there is road from the southern direction of 500-meter length.
This temple was built of brick, masonry and sandstone in 8th century (706) with
Kampong Preah style to dedicate to Siva. It was a sanctuary built temple on the
flat terrace without the false door and faced to the east. In the ancient
period, the door were made by two wooden boards-one carved with sculptures of
male divinities at another one carved with female divinities. The southern
framed door was inscribed with five lines of inscription, and its back was
mostly erode. The lintel was ornamented by the garlands; the diamond column we
carved with carousing motifs; and the upper corner of the temple contained the
segments of Linga and Yoni. Southeast of the temple, there were other two more
temples (at present, they became the small hills). South of the large temple, were
was a hill called Toul Samrong or Toul Nak Ta Samrong; and east of this hill, there
was a Pou tree in which the local people call Toul Nak Ta Deum Pou (the hill of
the body tree spirit). In ancient time, this place was the former royal palace
where the royal valuable were kept. Then it was excavated and the valuables
were taken away during the French colony. This sanctuary was in seriously
ruined condition, in 1996 the brick of the southern and western towers dropped
down due to the trees growing and the strong wind blowing on them. Besides, there
was lack of conservation and protection leading to the serious damages caused
by nature and aged existence at the sanctuary especially by the ignorant people.
Closed against the sanctuary, where the Buddhism monks
constructed the new temple. This could caused the damages to the ancient
sanctuary. Beside the Prasat Phum Prasat,
there was an inscription buried into the ground which its upper part was
inscribed with six lines of Sanskrit scripts. This inscription was found at six
kilometers near the Police Post on National Road 6.
Prasat Andet Temple:
Prasat Andet is located northwest of Provincial Town of
Kampong Thom, in Prasat Village, Sankor Commune, Kampong Svay District, Kampong
Thom Province. The temple was built in second half of 7thcentury (627-707) during
the reign of king Jayavarman I to dedicate to God Hirihara, in Kampong Preah
style and made of brick with masonry, laterite and sandstone. Prasat Andet had
isolated plan, built on a 5.30-meter height artificial hill, and was form in
rectangular shape with 7.50-meter length, 5.50-meter width and 1-meter thick (interior
to exterior). It was facing to the East. The lintel of Prasat Andet was carved
in the garlands and carefully done in the traditional khmer style.
The coronet (2.22 lengths) was ornamented around by the
rings decorated, and at between of the rings we decorated with garland and bulb
flowers surrounded, which are joining each other by the end of the decorations.
In original former time, this temple contained Harihara Statue standing on a
decorative royal throne, and the statue was brought to be kept at Phnom Penh National Museum
Bird Sanctuary of Boeng Tonle Chmar:
Boeng Chmar contains fishing lot 5 and lot 6, and is 30km
far from Stoung District town of Kampong Thom
Province, there were villages of Nesat, Kamong Kdei, Svay Kor , Mo Boeng Kla Lake
Stone Handicraft:
Located at Ka Kos Village, Ka Kos Commune, Santhuk District
in 16-km distance from Provincial Town of Kampong Thom on National Road 6. The
craftsmen take the rocks from the Santhuk mountain’s foot to make statues and
various figures for house decoration. This stone handicraft is served for
domestically and internationally target markets. Beside stone handicraft, Kampong
Thom has other handicraft like Krama, Silk shirts, traditional khmer clothing
and handbags.
