Sambor Prei Kuk

Sambor Prei Kuk is an archaeological site in Cambodia located in Kampong Thom Province, 30 km north of Kampong Thom, the provincial capital, 176 km east of Angkor and 206 km north of Phnom Penh. The now ruined complex dates back to the Pre-Angkorian Chenla Kingdom, established by king Isanavarman I as central royal sanctuary and capital, known then as "Isanapura". In 2017, Sambor Prei Kuk was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Located on the Eastern bank of the Tonle Sap lake, close to the Steung Saen River, the central part of Sambor Prei Kuk is divided into three main groups. Each group has a square layout surrounded by a brick wall. The structures of the overall archaeological area were constructed at variable times: the southern and north groups by Isanavarman I, who is considered a possible founder of the city and the central group.