Barays

 A 'baray' is a water reservoir - an area of land where dikes have been raised to catch and hold water. Beginning in the 9th century, the construction of massive barays and other such grand projects became one of the marks of Angkorian kingship. There are four major barays in the area. Whe the barays were constructed , an island temple was set as the center of each.

The first major baray to be constructed was Indratataka by Yasovarman !, measuring 3.8km  x 880m and completed in 889AD when the capital was still at Hariharalaya near Roluos. Lolei (Roluos Group) sat on the on an island in the middle.

Construction of the second marjor baray, the East Baray(Yashodharatataka)  began almost immediately after. At 7.8km x 880m it was most five times larger than the Indratataka. Almost 50 years later, the temple East Mebon was constructed on an island in the center. The third and largest baray (8km x 2.2km) is the West Baray built in the early 11th century. Unlike the others, the West Baray is still partially filled, creating sizable lake. The temple ruins of West Mebon sit on an artificial island at the center of baray(requiring a short boat ride to visit.)

The last baray(Jayatataka) was constructed by Jayavarman VII in the late 12th century. It is considered to be the baray of Preah Khan though it is Neak Pean that actually sits at the center. The function of barays is a mater of academic debate. Some argued the barays did not serve an agricultural purpose but were maintained solely for political/reqious reasons. Conventional wisdom has it that the barays  were part of a giant waterworks used to irrigate the rice paddies and provide water for year round cultiation, though they certainly served  a political and religious function as well