At the root of the Chenla kingdom

The three distinct Sambor Prei Kouk temple sites is an important archaeological area. The complex is just north of today’s Kampong Thom city in central Cambodia. It shows the bridging development from the Funan Civilisation into the Angkor Khmer Empire.

These temples were state temples in the old capital Isanapura of the Chenla kingdom.

The Funan state was a loosely organized confederation of cities and lesser kingdoms with large population centres and advanced technology. It was established about 2000 years ago and lasted for about 500 years. Funan covered southern part of today’s Cambodia, Viet Nam, Thailand and northern part of Malaysia.

The Chenla kingdom marks the rapid development of architecture, culture and society building into a unified centralised kingdom and culture. The Chenla kings reach north into today’s Laos, Isaan and Burma.

Isanapura was the core city of this pre-Angkor kingdom for 250 years, between 550 and 800 CE. The first writings in Khmer are found here, marking a continuous writing culture lasting into modern times.

By the end of the Chenla Kingdom unrest and pressure from outside slowly weakened and destabilized the realm. In northwest the Angkor Khmer Empire was declared in 802 CE to finally replace the Khmer Chenla Kingdom.

The Isanapura area is beautiful, with its fauna and flora adding to the experience. In 2017 Sambor Prei Kouk was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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I saw the Buddha in the stone

The heritage from the old capital city of Chenla is still visible in the Kampong Thom area.

When it comes to the art of stonework is still kept in high regards in the modern day just south of Kampong Thom city.
Driving southeast along National Road 6 towards Kampong Cham, Skoun and Phnom Penh, you will drive along stone masonries and cement sculptures along the road. And you get to see how its done.

Like in this photo.

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Sunset over the great port city

The province capital of Kampong Thom province is a nice stop halfway between Phnom Penh and Siem Reab. Over the years, the city has developed in a rapid tempo, and I find it more and more interesting to visit to check on the progress.
Cradle of the Khmer Empire
The area was an important capital in the pre-Khmer era, when the Funan culture and later the capital of the Chenla Kingdom lay down the basis for the great Angkor Empire.
Today it is a logical place to stay for the surrounding cultural and historic sites, including the UNESCO heritage site Prasat Sambor Prei Kouk. This was the state temples for Chenla Kingdom from 500 to 800 CE.
A hub for communication
The buses running from the capital via National Road 6 to Siem Reap and on to the Thai border often stops here. There are lodgings available from high end to hostels, markets, shops, restaurants and cafés.
Including a couple of really nice breakfast places, traditional or modern.
Notable sites are the city centre roundabout with the Independence monument, and the elephant statues fighting two tigers. On the north side of the river lays a large, see worthy pagoda.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kampong_Thom_city

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