North & South Suor Prat temples (Known as 12 laterite towers)

"The 12 laterite towers inside the ancient of Angkor Thom, which was so amazingly designed and arranged symmetrically."

Temple Info

Although you are traveling by grand or small circuits while arriving at the Terrance of Elephant at Angkor Thom, you will see the beautiful 12 towers of the temple which was built by laterites. Along the central square in front of the two temples call north and south Kleangs are the 12 laterite towers which stand symmetrically arranged "so amazingly designed", 10 temples in a row and two more at right angles facing the road of Victory, known as the Prasat Suor Prat, meaning ‘Temple of the Tightrope Dancers’.

One tower of 12 towers of the Suor Prat temple inside Angkor Thom

Their function of the temple still remains unknown. Many ideas raise up among the Archaeologists believe that the towers were constructed by Jayavarman VII which form an honor guard. It is likely that each one originally contained either a linga or a statue. It is said artists performed for the king on tightropes or rope bridges strung between these towers, hence the name.

The romantic idea derived from the local belief that they were used to support a high wire stretched between them for acrobatics during royal festivals.

According to 13th-century Chinese emissary Chou Ta-Kuan (or Zhou Daguan, arrived at Angkor in August 1296), the towers of Prasat Suor Prat were also used for public trials of sorts among Angkorian people. During a dispute the two parties would be made to sit inside two towers, one party eventually succumbing to illness and proven guilty.

"When two men dispute over some unknown matter, each of the contestants is forced to sit in one of them while the relatives stand to watch at the base. After three or four days, he who is wrong shows it by suffering some illness - ulcers, or catarrh, or malignant fever - while the other remains in perfect health. Thus right or wrong is determined by what is called 'divine judgment."

The temple was possibly built during the reign of Indravarman II.

The temple is the best-photographed place, especially in the afternoon time. Also, crowded places at the weekend as the local people spend evening time with their family to relax and refresh.