Sras Srang Reservoir

Sras Srang is one of the few reservoirs at Angkor still holding water. It was completed during the reign of Rajendravarman in the late 10th century, and was designed by the architect Kavindrarimathana, whose name has miraculously survived. Sras Srang means "royal bathing pool," and was originally far larger than any pool today—at least 350 by 700 meters. Kavindrarimathana apparently cared for the project deeply, leaving instructions at nearby Bat Chum Temple (which he also designed) that warned people not to pollute the water with bathing animals or to trammel the dikes with elephant herds. Nevertheless, Sras Srang was modified two centuries later by King Jayavarman VII, who faced the dikes with sandstone and added a beautiful boat landing (seen in the picture). He also shortened the reservoir slightly. Sras Srang is thought to have been a natural lake, which helps explain why it still holds water.