West Baray Cycling Tour (Great Reservoir)

West Baray or Baray Teuk Thla “clear water Baray” is one of two enormous reservoirs found in the Angkor Archeological Park. West Baray, as the name suggests, is found west of the walled city of Angkor Thom. An identical reservoir was built to the east. Construction began in the 11th century during the reign of King Suryavarman I, and it was completed under King Udayadityavarman II, who also built the Baphuon Temple. Baray in Khmer means reservoir. West Baray is rectangular in shape and measures 8 kilometers by 3 kilometers making it, along with East Baray, two of the largest hand-cut reservoirs ever constructed on earth. In West Baray, an artificial island was created called West Mebon on which a Hindu Temple was built.

In modern times, a lock was built in the West Baray’s southern dike, raising the water level for irrigation south to the rice fields toward Tonle Sap Lake. Today the reservoir retains water in its western end year-round; during the rainy season, water advances to the east completing reaching all four dikes. With clear still waters, West Baray has become a popular place for swimming and boat rides provided by local residents. On occasion, seaplanes have also used the reservoir as an airstrip.