OLDER CITY

The old city extends over 2 km and has a double earthen wall. It is said to have been founded around the ^5th century AD as attested by an inscription of a king named Devanika, found on the spot, in the present village of Vat Luang Kau. Two other inscriptions have been discovered in the same area and indicate that from the late 6th century the town became the capital of King Mahendravarman (who later also ruled over the area of Sambor Prei Kuk, 240 km to the south-west in Cambodia). Then this city lost its importance..