Prasat Kravan, Hindu temple in Angkor Archaeological Park, Cambodia

Prasat Kravan is a Hindu temple in Angkor Archaeological Park built from five reddish brick towers arranged in a row on a raised platform. The central tower rises higher than the others, creating a clear focal point as you approach the site.

An inscription on the doorjambs dates the temple's dedication to Vishnu to 921 CE. The site was cleared of vegetation in the 1930s by Henri Marchal and Georges Trouvé. Between 1962 and 1966 the towers were restored on the initiative of Bernard Philippe Groslier, and replacement bricks were stamped "CA" for Conservation Angkor.

The inner walls display large carved reliefs showing the Hindu gods Vishnu and Lakshmi, revealing what mattered most in the spiritual life of the Khmer people. You can see how skilled artisans portrayed divine figures directly into the brick material itself.

Visit in early morning hours for the best light on the brick towers and fewer crowds at the site. The terrain is flat and easy to walk around, though you should wear sturdy shoes and bring water with you.

The bas-reliefs carved into the interior brick walls are rare in Khmer monuments but common in Cham temples. The eight-armed Vishnu in the central tower stands stiffly like a statue, surrounded by hundreds of tiny devotees and topped by a crocodile or lizard whose meaning is unknown.