 
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
todayat 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.
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