Preah Pithu, according to the Khmer Dictionary, the word Preah Pithu or Vithu is the name of a Bodhisattva in Vithu Cheadok, Sastra Preah Pithu or the Preah Pithu story (called Preah Pithu or Vithu Bandit ), is a group of temple located northeast of the Terrace of the Leper King.

Studies of their style indicate that all except one are Brahman temples built during the 12th century by King Suryavarman II. The lone Buddhist temple, built sometime between the 13th and 16th centuries, has many Buddha bas-reliefs and other signs related to Buddhism.

Most of the structures are in poor condition, but their bases remain and, from the evidence, the temple were of excellent quality in design, workmanship and decoration. Preah Pithu temples consists of two cruciform terraces and five sanctuaries situated in seemingly random order amongst ramparts, moats and ponds. All the shrines are square with false door, stand on raised platform and are oriented to the east.

Top