Hariharalaya

ancient city, Cambodia

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June 17, 2026

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Hariharalaya was an ancient city in Cambodia that served as the early capital of the Khmer Empire. Founded by Jayavarman II around 802 CE, it was located near present-day Siem Reap, north of the Tonle Sap lake. This strategic location provided access to both the sacred Phnom Kulen mountains and the vital Tonle Sap lake. The city was a center of religious and political activity, with kings performing rituals to ensure the kingdom's well-being. The name Hariharalaya itself is derived from Sanskrit, combining names of Hindu deities Vishnu and Shiva, reflecting the Indianized culture of the Khmer people. The city's importance waned as the capital shifted, but its legacy is tied to the foundation of a self-aware Khmer kingdom that would later build the magnificent temples of Angkor.12

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Jayavarman II
…Cham; then, moving northwards, at Hariharalaya, southeast of present-day Siĕmréab (Siem Reap); and then at Mahendraparvata, in the region just north of the Tonle Sap (Great Lake), not far from Angkor, the next seat of the Khmer empire, which remained its capital for 600 years.
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…Cham; then, moving northwards, at Hariharalaya, southeast of present-day Siĕmréab (Siem Reap); and then at Mahendraparvata, in the region just north of the Tonle Sap (Great Lake), not far from Angkor, the next seat of the Khmer empire, which remained its capital for 600 years.
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