Prasat Kuk Roka or Prasat Preah Theat Kampong Thom
Prasat Kuk Roka (Prasat Tret, Prasat Preah Theat) Front view
Prasat Kuk Roka also named as Prasat Preah Theat Roka or Prasat Preah Theat Kampong Thom. It’s a late 10th century temple built in the reign of King Suryavarman I, dedicated to Hinduism. The prasat is made of sandstone and laterite, measured 6 meters long by 5 meters wide and 8 meter high. The architecture of Prasat Kuk Roka is set to be Khleng Style with one entrance from the east, at the other three directions are three false doors. The shape of the prasat is inclined or leaning at the west, by this the prasat get a name called Prasat Tret (inclined temple). I’m not sure that it was built in this form or it was inclined caused by any incident in the later time.
On the false doors of the north and the south walls each has impressive lintels with different carvings. The lintel of the west false door is left uncarved. There are three other lintels are putting on the ground in front of the entrance to the prasat, also each with different carvings. A lintel of Nine Divinities (Navagraha) which can be seen in the National Museum in Phnom Penh is noted that was taken from Prasat Kuk Roka. However, the lintel’s architecture is noted as Banteay Srei style.
Prasat Kuk Roka, view of the south false door
Prasat Kuk Roka, view of the west false door
Prasat Kuk Roka, lintel of south false door
Prasat Kuk Roka, the lintel of north false door: The middle is Kala (Rahu) holding the legs of two lions putting into his mouth. Two Hamsas, the mount of Brahma, were carved on both sides.
The sanctuary was form in rectangular shape, there are many small size of carving pieces found inside. The roof of the prasat is now uncovered, because the stones are fell down. There are four new built statues house in the prasat, which probably regarded as the local spirits. These figures were putting on the original piece of carving, they are worshiped by the locals.
Around the prasat there are many pieces of stones in various sizes, pillars, column, and yonis. All the ruins are arranged in lines around the prasat to be its outer wall.
Prasat Kuk Roka, lintel places in front of the prasat
Prasat Kuk Roka, another lintel in front of the prasat. The carving of Indra on his three-head elephant
Currently Prasat Kuk Roka locates in the ground of Roka Primary School. Travel from Phnom Penh for about 160 km, from the nation road no. 6, through a Buddhist pagoda entrance of ‘Wat Sror Youv’ at the left side. Follow the red soil trail for about 5km, we will reach the side.
