Preah Ponlea Sdach Komlong (Terrace Of The Leper King)

The Leap King Step is located in the Tongwang City, just north of the War Elephant Step. The platform, which is about 7 meters high, was the crematorium of the royal family at that time. It was named after a genderless "Leap King" statue on the top of the platform. The statue seen now is a replica, and the original is kept in the National Museum of Phnom Penh. There are many exquisite reliefs on the parapet around the platform, which are the essence of the Leprosy King's Steps. Constructed of red stone, the façade has a jagged, octagonal-like exterior, and its irregular south, east and north faces are covered with dense reliefs. You can see the seated figures on the sixth and seventh floors, including the princess wearing beautiful pearl ornaments, the god holding a sword, the disgusting Asura, the king wearing a crown and the ministers and concubines who accompany him. If you look closely, you can also find the 5, 7, and 9 snake spirits at the bottom of the Naga, and even stories of hell trials and torture. These carvings are very expressive and somewhat eerie. Going to the west end of the south of the platform, facing the position of the War Elephant Steps, there is a zigzag narrow road similar in shape to the outer wall, from southwest to northwest. When you walk in, you can see the inner wall corridor, which is also engraved with reliefs. And the style is similar to the exterior wall. Because the inner wall was covered by the outer building, it was able to escape the destruction of the war. The carvings on the wall, such as immortals and snake spirits, appear to be very new and quite complete. Come out from the inner wall, follow the steps outside to the top of the Leap King steps, and you can see a naked and yellow cassock statue of the Leap King, with a few sticks of incense sticking in front of it. There are different opinions about the "leprosy king", some say that the statue was covered with moss when it was found, some say that it is a king who contracted leprosy, and some say that it is actually a statue of Yama, the god of death. It doesn't take too much time to visit the Leopard King's Steps, but if you are interested in historical sites and carving craftsmanship, you can linger for a long time in these extremely varied character carvings.