Angkor Thom: Architecturally unimpressive but historically important small tower. Also known as 'Monument 487' and 'Mangalartha' in honor of a powerful monk, Jayamangalartha, who was the son of one of Jayavarman VII’s Brahman monks. Originally commissioned by Jayavarman VII, it was not consecrated until 1295AD, decades after his death. This temple was the final Brahmanic temple built in the Angkor area, marking the end of an era. Constructed in the historically hazy period of Hindu resurgence after the death of Jayavarman VII.
Mangalartha, or East Prasat Top or Monument 487, is a tiny Hindu temple at Angkor, Cambodia.
It is located in Angkor Thom, south of Victory Way, at the end of a track in the jungle which begins some 300 m before the Victory Gate. As it consists of a small ruined shrine on a basement, overgrown with vegetation, it is one of less visited temples of Angkor.
It was dedicated on 28 April 1295 CE, according to its four sided inscribed stele, and its importance is all about being the last of the known Angkor monuments dated with precision.
It was built in sandstone during the reign of Jayavarman VIII, in honour of a Brahmin scholar called Mangalartha, assimilated to Vishnu. It's cruciform in plan and opens to east, while on the other cardinal points there are false doors. The sanctuary chamber sheltered two statues, one of Mangalartha and the other of his mother, whose pedestal is still in place. The pediments lie on the ground. They show Vishnu reclining on Shesha, the three strides of Vishnu to regain the World, a Shiva dancing with four arms and Krishna lifting Mount Govardhana.
This is a small single-shrined, sandstone temple set in dense forest.
While it's an attractive setting, the temple isn't spectacular albeit with some decent carvings lying around. Its importance lies in it being, with the exception of upgrades to some of the Preah Pithu group, one of the last stone temples to be built at Angkor.
If you want a bit of peace and quiet and fancy a stroll in the woods, wander down to the well preserved but rarely visited east gate (Death Gate) and take in Mangalartha on the way!
Through Cambodia Excited Adventure Tour you will enjoy the combination of city tour; Khmer pottery products, Mountain Temples, cultural and historical of Cambodia. You would see how different life of ...
We pick you up at your hotel at 07:30 am (make sure you have breakfast as you’ll need your energy) then we proceed our tour to the north of Siem Reap, we travel for approximately. 1 hour to the ...
Hiking the Angkor Wat to see the temples and towers as well as the spectacular scenery in the ancient city at a leisure pace. And this tour also cover a boat trip to the beautiful Tonle Sap ...
Spend 4 hours riding on country roads around Siem Reap, visit villages, stop at local schools, and make sure you take lots of ...
You will also visit the southern Gate of Angkor Thom flanked by a row of 54 stone figures on each side - gods to the left and demons to the right – and the fortified city of Angkor Thom. At ‘The ...
Joining Cambodia Golf and Culture Holiday with Visit Cambodia Travel, you will enjoy a great the Cambodian golf Course (home of The Johnnie Walker Cambodian Open), an oldest golf course in Cambodia, ...
Guest Name: Ms. Lyn
Country: Philippines
City: Manila
N.of Person: 1 pax
Travel date: 23-09-2024
Booked: Ream National Park Kayaking & Boat Trip Day Tour
Tour Style: Beach Break Holiday
Duration: Full Day