Here before us lie the sparse remains of Prasat Kapilapura. This site offers a glimpse into Angkor’s past. It is located just northeast of Angkor Wat. Prasat Kapilapura is an ancient settlement. What makes it special? It bears its original Sanskrit name.
Kapilapura means town of Kapila. Kapila was a venerated Hindu sage. The site was forgotten. French researchers uncovered it in the 20th century. They reintroduced the original name.
Honestly there isn’t much to see at Prasat Kapilapura. Only foundations of small sanctuaries remain. You can also see rectangular chambers and scattered pedestals. The site can be hard to spot.
Two small Prasat towers once stood here. They were made of laterite and brick. One had a Mandapa facing east. A third building had a rectangular plan. An inscription mentions the date 968. This was during the reign of Rajendravarman II or Jayavarman V.
The inscription tells of a dedication to Shiva. It was made by the king’s guru. This stele was once misnamed the Inscription of Angkor Wat. It speaks of digging ponds and reservoirs. It also mentions donations to the East Baray. A deity statue was placed on an island. Kapilapura’s shrine was a private temple. It is similar to Prasat Kravan and Banteay Srei.
Prasat Kapilapura’s rediscovery is interesting. It was included in early French maps. But it was re-explored using satellite imagery. Kapilapura was a small suburb of the 10th-century capital. Pre-Angkorian stone pieces were found here. They indicate early Vishnu worship. This suggests a settlement from the Chenla period.
Earthwork curves around the mound. It is on the north and northwest sides. A circular ground plan was uncommon in Angkor. It was widespread in Northeastern Thailand. Angkor’s founders respected the earlier site. They refrained from building over it.
Kapilapura remained a separate settlement. It existed during Angkor’s peak. This site remained a religious sanctuary. It housed changing Indian religions. These included Vishnuism and Shivaism. Statues of Vishnu were found here in the 1920s. Angkor Wat marks Vishnuism’s triumph. It was built near this older Vishnu worship site.
Prasat Kapilapura is probably the least visited temple in Angkor. To reach it, walk along the north moat of Angkor Wat. At the northeast corner, take the sandy track into the forest. Take the left fork. You will see a cleared area to your right. The ruined walls are low. It’s easy to walk past them.
An inscription dated to 968 was found here. Rajendravarman II took Yashodapura as his capital. He built temples at Pre Rup and East Mebon. Kapilapura was a bit out of the way. But it may have been on the road to a temple on the site of Angkor Wat.
Today you can see remains of laterite shrines. One faces east. Another Vishnu shrine faces west. There is also a ruined brick tower. With imagination you can see a small moat. French photos from the 1930s show five temples. They also show a lintel that is no longer here. They found the 968 dated inscription.
Radar images taken by NASA brought Prasat Kapilapura to the attention of archaeologist Elizabeth Moore. Statues found at the site suggest Vishnu was important in early Angkorian religious rituals.
From the ground you can see a few laterite blocks. Kapilapura is being recleared for further study. The temple will then be maintained.