Prasat Thom (Koh Ker)

Prasat Thom is the spectacular pyramid-shaped state temple at the heart of the Koh Ker complex, built by Jayavarman IV as the political and religious centerpiece of his short-lived alternative capital. The seven-tiered sandstone pyramid rises 36 meters above the surrounding jungle and is the tallest freestanding Khmer pyramid ever constructed, modeled on the Mount Meru cosmological concept shared with Angkor's own state temples. Each terrace is progressively smaller, with the summit platform offering commanding views across the flat tree canopy extending in every direction. The approach to the pyramid leads through a series of enclosures and collapsed structures including a causeway flanked by nagas. Climbing to the top requires care on the steep unrestored steps but rewards with a genuine sense of discovery.