Preah Palilay - the three big trees
Don’t miss:
- Buddha subduing the elephant Nalagiri
- 2 beautiful pediments showing Buddha calling the Earth to witness
- the tall trees which added charm to the site
Preah Palilay is a temple at Angkor, Cambodia. It is located in Angkor Thom, 400 m north-west of Phimeanakas. This small Buddhist sanctuary in the wooded area north of the Royal palace in Angkor Thom has a number of attractive features and is well worth the short detour. The site’s contemporary name, Preah Palilay, has the meaning Sacred Forest of Palilay whilst the original site name is unknown.
The temple has a cross-shaped terrace, 8.5 m by 30 m long, with seven-headed nāga balustrades in good conditions, on the east, guarded by two decapitated dvarapalas and a lion (of an original two). A 33 m-long causeway connects it to the single sandstone gopura.[5] Before the laterite enclosure 50 m square there is a shrine with a 3 m tall statue of Buddha, sitting on a lotus, of a later period.
The eastern gate has pediments which kept many beautiful Buddhist carvings, such as: reclining Buddha on kala’s head, Buddha subduing the elephant Nalagiri, Vessantara giving his children away, Buddha calling the earth to witness and so on.
Behind the gopura (eastern gate) is the chimney tower like sanctuary on top of a 6 meter high base. A stairway on all four sides leads to the top. A few large trees surrounded the tower have added so much charm to the site.
#historical #temple #2023trip #awesomepic #2023旅行願望 #2023travel #2023travelwish