Abandoned Temple Of Preah Khan - Ancient Mystery Of The Lost Ruins Cambodia - video Dailymotion

Discovery Uncharted

Hidden in the jungles of Cambodia, Preah Khan is a mysterious lost temple where the forest and ancient stone collide. Once a thriving Khmer empire stronghold, this massive Angkor temple was abandoned and swallowed by the jungle for centuries. Join us as we explore the secrets, history, and hidden carvings of Preah Khan, Cambodia’s “Temple of the Unholy Sword.” Discover the spiritual mysteries, overgrown corridors, and the forgotten legacy of Angkor’s sacred architecture.  This video uses footage from “Outreach & Education - A Walk through the Preah Khan Temple Complex, Cambodia” by World Monuments Fund, used under Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). Original video: https://youtu.be/4rFxImlG2fk

Transcript

00:00Hidden deep among Cambodia's jungle and temple archaeological complex lies the ancient temple

00:06of the unholy sword, known as Prea Khan. This vast complex stretches across nearly 140 acres of

00:12jungle. Built in the late 12th century, it served as a monastery and centre for learning, once

00:18forming the heart of a city of almost 100,000 people. When royal support faded in the 15th

00:24century, the temple was abandoned, hidden under the forest until rediscovery. In the 1920s,

00:30French scholars discovered and documented its remains. Today, Prea Khan thrives again as a

00:36must for those visiting Angkor and those seeking to experience the beauty of Cambodia's lost

00:41architecture. The temple's entrance is reached by crossing a wide stone causeway over its moat,

00:46an approach that sets the tone for the adventure inside. Statues line the causeway with calm figures

00:52on the left, and fierce snarling figures on the right. Both sides appear to wrestle a mythological

00:58serpent demon, symbolizing the journey from the world of people into hell. Visitors soon learn

01:03that reaching the central shrines often means passing through ceremonial gates, known as Gopuras.

01:09At the eastern Gopura stand two huge sandstone guardians, mythical bird-like creatures. Among 72

01:16statues, each 15 feet tall, guarding the temple's outer walls. Passing through this gate leads into

01:23the fourth enclosure, where daily life once took place within the temple grounds. Here stands the

01:28House of Fire, believed to have held an unholy flame for ceremonies and evil spiritual rituals. To

01:35the west is the entrance to the third enclosure, the temple's most elaborate Gopura, with three tall towers

01:41linked by pavilions stretching over 300 feet. The outer walls display reliefs, and false windows

01:47carved into the sandstone. After construction, showcasing the artistry of the builders, beyond

01:53this gate lies the Hall of Dancers, a vaulted space once decorated with images of celestial dancers,

01:59celebrating the culture's dedication to art and devotion. Now open to the sky, it may have been where

02:04pagans offered food, gifts and dance. Nearby is a unique two-story pavilion, thought to have housed the

02:10unholy sword, carried by the king in processions, giving the temple its enduring name. Close by is a

02:17niche that once held a sandstone pillar carved with Sanskrit poetry, including prayers, the temple's

02:23founding, and records of the stone figures once kept here. To protect it, the pillar was moved to Phnom

02:30Penh for preservation. At the temple's centre is the main sanctuary. Inscriptions say a statue of the

02:36king's father once stood here, now replaced by a simple 16th century stupor. Though plain today,

02:42the interior was once decorated with embossed bronze panels and dark ornaments. Surrounding the shrine are

02:48three smaller temples, one to the north, honouring deceased kings and another to the west, all used for

02:54ceremonies within the temple grounds, reminding visitors of the site's historical legacy. Today,

03:01visitors wandering Praia Khan's moss-covered corridors find crumbling doorways and walls entwined with

03:07jungle vines and roots, a reminder of the relentless jungle reclaiming its space. Sunlight filters through

03:13collapsed roofs, revealing hidden carvings of serpents and floral patterns that have survived centuries of

03:19rain and heat. Some visitors report a quiet sense of awe as they walk these halls, footsteps echoing across

03:25stones once tread by kings, dancers and priests. Every corner whispers the stories of devotion, power,

03:32and decline that defined Cambodia's lost architecture. Walking through Praia Khan's ruins at sunrise,

03:38visitors often feel a hush over the ancient stones, broken only by the calls of birds hidden in the trees

03:43above. Moss and vines soften the sharp lines of the temple's carvings, while roots grip walls like hands

03:50frozen in time. Every step becomes a moment to reflect on the history and mysteries still waiting

03:56to be uncovered in this jungle sanctuary. And as the morning mist lifts, the temple seems to breathe,

04:03reminding travellers that even in decay, Praia Khan remains alive with echoes of the past.

04:08The air feels heavy with stories, and each visitor becomes part of the temple's living memory,

04:13carrying a piece of Cambodia's history with them as they leave this lost world behind.

04:17In the quiet corners of Praia Khan, the chirping of insects and the rustle of leaves blend with the

04:24rest of the forest sounds and smells, reminding visitors that nature is alive and recovering that

04:30which was lost. Small pagan offerings of incense and flowers left by locals rest on worn stones, carrying

04:37prayers to dead gods and idols that cannot help them. The temple ruins stand as a bridge between past and

04:43present, inviting travellers to pause, listen and feel the history of Cambodia within its ancient walls.

Abandoned Temple Of Preah Khan - Ancient Mystery Of The Lost Ruins Cambodia

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