Surrounded by a moat, this magical temple complex, partly covered with twisting tree roots, is full of carvings and passages to explore. The name means "Royal Sword" and it was built in the 12th-century for King Jayavarman VII to honor his father. The walkway leading up to the temple is lined by statues that appear to play tug-of-war with a snake; they are actually depicting the churning of the ocean of milk. The outer wall has bears 72 garudas holding nagas. At its peak there were almost 100,000 officials and servants.

 

The temple is flat in design, with a basic plan of successive rectangular galleries around a Buddhist sanctuary. There are also Hindu satellite temples. It has had little restoration and has reminders of Ta Prohm.