Preah Palilay (Brahma's Hermitage), Siem Reap

Brahma's Hermitage is a small and enchanting Buddhist sanctuary nestled in the wooded area north of the Royal Palace within the ancient city of Angkor Thom. Despite its modest size, the temple boasts several captivating features that make it a worthwhile detour for visitors exploring the Angkor Archaeological Park.

One of the intriguing aspects of Brahma's Hermitage is the coexistence of both Hindu and Buddhist elements within its architecture. The absence of foundation stele or inscriptions has made it somewhat challenging to precisely date this temple. While it is generally attributed to the reign of King Jayavarman VIII, the presence of Buddhist imagery raises questions about how it survived the iconoclast fury of that historical period.

The temple's design features a cross-shaped terrace, measuring 8.5 meters by 30 meters in length, surrounded by seven-headed nāga balustrades in remarkably good condition. The eastern entrance is guarded by two decapitated dvarapalas (guardian figures) and a lion, which are believed to have been part of an original pair.

A 33-meter-long causeway connects the temple to a single sandstone entrance tower. The sandstone sanctuary itself stands atop a three-tiered basement, reaching a height of 6 meters. The central chamber is square-shaped, measuring 5 meters on each side, and opens to the four cardinal points with vestibules. Despite the unfortunate ruination of its classical ornamentation, the sanctuary's architectural features suggest that it likely belongs to the first half of the 12th century, making it older than the tower. There is also a "chimney-like" tower that stands above the sanctuary, believed to be a later addition, possibly added during Jayavarman VII's period, serving as a frame for a covering.

The temple's pediments have undergone some removal for safekeeping, while others lie on the ground. The visible portions of the pediments depict scenes of Indra, the king of gods, mounted on his elephant Airavata, engaging in a battle against the demoniac army of Mara, a significant event from Buddhist mythology.