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 today at 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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