Spean Praptos

Spean Praptos (Khmer: ស្ពានប្រាប់ទិស, also known as Kampong Kdei Bridge ស្ពានកំពង់ក្ដី) on the road from Angkor to Phnom Penh,[1] Cambodia, used to be the longest corbeled stone-arch bridge in the world, with more than twenty narrow arches spanning 285 ft (87m). The bridge was built in the 12th century during the reign of King Jayavarman VII. It is one of the few Khmer empire era bridges to have survived to the modern day.

Spean Praptos
The bridge's corbel arches
The bridge's corbel arches
Coordinates13°07′36″N 104°20′20″E
CarriesRoad traffic
CrossesChickreng River
LocaleSiem Reap Province, Cambodia
Characteristics
DesignCorbel arch
MaterialStone
History
Construction start12th century
Location

Several other bridges on the same model are visible: in the Angkor site (Spean Memai), Spean Thma on the former path of the Siem Reap River between Angkor Thom and the Eastern Baray, and at several locations of the former empire.

  • Spean Praptos
    Spean Praptos
  • Spean Praptos front view
    Spean Praptos front view
  • The bridge is depicted on the Cambodian 5,000 riel bank note
    The bridge is depicted on the Cambodian 5,000 riel bank note

References
  1. Rooney, 2005, pp.391-392

Bibliography
  • Rooney, Dawn F. (2005). Angkor: Cambodia's wondrous khmer temples (5th ed.). Odissey. ISBN 978-962-217-727-7.

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