Yashodharapura

Yashodharapura (Khmer: យសោធរបុរៈ), also known as Angkor, was the second capital city of the Angkor Empire, established by Yashovarman I in the late 9th century and centred on the temple of Phnom Bakheng Temple.

Phnom Bakheng Temple was constructed just before the foundation of Yashodharapura, due to Yashovarman I's belief that the mountain was among the holiest of places to worship the Hindu deities.

Yashodharapura was linked to the previous capital, Hariharalaya, by a royal road from Phnom Bakheng Temple to the Indratataka baray, drawing a straight line which can still be seen on satellite images.

The East Baray reservoir, Yashodharatataka, was built to the east of the city to provide it with a reliable supply of water.

Yashodharapura was an enormous city, likely larger than Angkor Thom, although very little remains today.

The succeeding capitals built in the area were also called Yashodharapura, including Angkor Thom, which overlapped the north-east quarter of the original Yashodharapura.

Map of Yashodharapura

Yashodharapura probably covered an approximately square area, 4.3 km (2.7 miles) on each side, centred on Phnom Bakheng Temple.  It would have included the southern half of Angkor Thom and all of Angkor Wat Temple, both built much later.