Srah Srang ('Royal Bath') is a 10th-century reservoir (baray) on the eastern side of the Small Circuit, measuring 700 by 350 metres, and is Siem Reap's finest alternative sunrise spot — the sun rises directly over the water from behind distant palm trees, reflecting in the perfectly still surface, and is accompanied by a bird chorus rather than the shouts of thousands of tourists at Angkor Wat. The sandstone landing platform on the western shore (built by Jayavarman VII in the late 12th century) provides the perfect foreground for photographs.
The baray was originally constructed to store rainwater during the monsoon season for irrigation of the dry-season rice crop — the engineering that made Angkor's vast population sustainable. Arrive by 5:45 AM for the 6:15 AM sunrise, and wear warm clothes from December to February when dawn temperatures can drop to 15°C.
Verified Facts
Srah Srang is a 10th-century reservoir, 700 by 350 metres
The sandstone platform was built by Jayavarman VII
The baray stored monsoon rainwater for dry-season irrigation
Sunrise typically occurs around 6:15 AM
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Srah Srang, Angkor
