 "The
Cardamom Sanctuary"
Prasat Krawan is
located in the east
of Angkor Wat and
south of Banteay
Kdei. A enter and
depart from the east
Tip: The reliefs in
this tower are best
viewed in the
morning when the
east light enters
the door, in the
afternoon they are
barely visible.
It was built in the
first half of the
tenth century (921)
by Completed
during the reign of
Harshavarman 1 (it
may have been built
by high court
officials) in Hindu
religion with
following
transitional from
Bakheng to Koh Ker.
Background
The main point of
interest at Kravan
is the sculpture on
the interior of two
of the five towers
depicting Visnu and
his consort, Laksmi;
the scene in the
central tower is the
most impressive one.
These carvings in
brick on the
interior of a
monument are unique
in Khmer
architecture.
This temple was
reconstructed by the
French and given a
new foundation,
interior walls and
drains. Some broken
bricks were replaced
with carefully made
reproductions which
are marked with the
letters CA;
representing the
Angkor Conservancy
These can be seen,
for example, on both
the interior and
exterior of the
tower on the right.
Layout
Kravan is an unusual
arrangement of five
towers in a row on
one terrace. They
are built of brick;
the lintels and
columns are of
sandstone.
Central Tower
This is the only
tower with recessed
tiers intact, which
are visible on the
interior. The
columns are
octagonal, with four
bare sides and
sandstone rings.
This tower enclosed
a linga on a
pedestal. An
inscription on the
pillars gives the
date 921 for the
erection of the
statue of Visnu on
the interior
Decoration
(exterior): The east
side of the Central
Tower is sculpted
with male guardians
in shallow niches
and chevrons and
framed figures on
the pilasters. A
frieze of small
heads adorns the
lintel. Decoration
(interior): The main
decoration of this
tower, on the left,
depicts Visnu taking
three steps to span
the universe and to
assure the gods of
the possession of
the world. It
comprises a standing
image of Visnu (with
four arms) carrying
his attributes-a
disc, a ball, a
conch and a club.
One of his feet
rests on a pedestal;
nearby a person is
meditating and
another one is
walking on a lotus
held by a woman on a
background of
undulating lines
representing the
waves of the ocean.
On the right, Visnu
(with eight arms) is
framed with six
registers of people
meditating and a
giant lizard. This
sculpture on brick
was formerly coated
with stucco and was
probably highlighted
with colours.
North Tower
This temple was
dedicated to Laksmi,
wife of Siva. She
holds the symbols of
her powers in her
four hands and is
flanked by kneeling
admirers, the niche
with multiple lobes
is decorated with
tassels and floral
swags.
South Tower
The walls on the
interior have no
decoration A lintel
on the exterior with
Visnu on his mount,
the Garuda, is
skillfully modeled.
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