1297 Chinese account of Cambodian king's nightly ritual. Chinese traveler Xiao Daguan documented the structure in 1297 King would climb the Vimanas alone every night after dark King met with a mysterious female entity described as a Naga. (serpent spirit)
Chinese explorer Zhou Daguan documented in 1296-97 how a king climbed a structure nightly to meet a Naga (serpent spirit). Locals today still believe the Naga appears at the site.
Key Facts
- Chinese traveler Xiao Daguan documented the structure in 1297
- King would climb the Vimanas alone every night after dark
- King met with a mysterious female entity described as a Naga. (serpent spirit)
- Only the king was allowed in the golden tower during the first watch of the night
- Ritual belief: if the Naga. did not appear, the king's days would be numbered
- If the king failed to visit, disaster would strike the kingdom
- Today locals believe the Naga. still appears nightly at the site
- Top of the structure remains off-limits to visitors
- Locals consider the site sacred due to the Naga. legend
Source: You Have to See This Before It's Hidden Again: Lost Cambodian Vimana Found? by PraveenMohan