Baray

Barays are large artificial water reservoirs commonly found in the Angkor region of Cambodia, created during the Khmer Empire. They are remarkable for their immense size and precise rectangular shape, typically oriented east-west. The East Baray and West Baray are notable examples, spanning roughly five by one and a half miles. While their precise function remains debated, they likely served multiple purposes, including irrigation, water storage, and spiritual symbolism, possibly representing the Hindu cosmological ocean around Mount Meru. The construction of these structures highlights the engineering prowess and complex societal organization of the Khmer Empire during the Post-Classical Period. The barays were likely influenced by similar water management traditions in Eastern India.