The West Baray, the largest of the Angkor-era artificial reservoirs, remains mostly filled with water to this day. The main attraction is the West Mebon temple, built upon a small island within the baray.
While little of the temple remains, the Mebon makes a fine picnic site, though there are few other attractions nearby and you must really be willing to sacrifice a half-day and pay for a boat to reach the island.
The West Baray, which lies just west of Angkor Thom, is now a popular local recreation area, though its original purpose was arguably a religious representation of the Hindu Sea of Creation and perhaps a vast water storage container for times of drought. On the island in the middle of West Baray, now referred to as the west-mebon, there are ruins of a Hindu temple that are relatively unimpressive.
The West Baray is thought to have been initiated in the 11th century under King Suryavarman I and completed by King Udayadityavarman II. The waters are hemmed in by earthen dikes and water levels could once be altered by a lock in the south. Today, only the west half of the baray holds water year-round, while the eastern part partially fills-in during the wet season.
Following a tip from a farmer who was told in a dream by the Buddha, a bronze image of a reclining Visnhu was unearthed at the Mebon; this magnificent artifact, the largest bronze image from the Angkor-era, is currently on display at the national-museum in Phnom Penh.
Archeological digs in other areas around the baray have (and may continue to) reveal other treasures; The once grand temple of ak-yom, the ruins of which are located near the southwest corner of the baray, may have once been the center of an influential pre-Angkorian kingdom, or more precisely ‘queen-dom.’ The temple was also perhaps the first pyramidal temple built by the Khmer and the area was thought to have been used by Angkor founder Jayavarman II as one of his many early capital cities. Even Yasovarman, who constructed the West Baray, attempted to build the dyke around the reservoir to protect Ak Yom temple.
Anyway, the West Baray is about five miles long by over a mile wide and represents a significant feat of engineering, especially considering it was built roughly 1,000 years ago.
Need to Know
- What is it: The only artificial lake from the Angkor-era that still retains water.
- When to visit: The island at the center is best visited in the dry season; the Baray is best appreciated from atop Phnom Bakheng.
- Nearest Town: Siem Reap
- Don’t Miss: Sunset over the baray from Phnom Bakheng.
- King: Suryavarman I
- Date: early 11th century
- Religion: Hinduism