Ta Keo temple is located east of Thommanon and Chao SayTevoda on the east bank of Stung Siem Reap. The temple wasbuilt in the late 10th to early 12th centuries by King Jayavarman V and Suryavarman I, dedicating to Shiva Brahmanism. Had it been finished, Ta Keo, undoubtedly, would have been one of the finest temples at Angkor.
The temple rises to a height of 22 meters to the sky, giving an impression of strength and power. An innovation at Ta Keo is a porch at each cardinal point on the five towers of the top level. A gallery was situated on a second base and had a roof of brick which is now destroyed. Enormous blocks of feldsparthic wacke-a very hard to carve, greenish-grey sandstone-were cut to a regular size and placed in position. This absence of decoration give it simplicity of design that separates it from other temples.
Ta Keo temple is a replica of Mount Meru with a rectangular plan and five square towers arranged in a quincunx, standing majestically on a finely molded three-tiered pedestal that is 12 meters high. Long rectangular halls on both levels probably sheltered pilgrims. Two libraries on the east side of the platform open to the west. The upper platform is square and stands on three diminishing tiers with stairways on each side. Most of the space on the upper level is occupied by the five towers, all unfinished, opening to the four cardinal points. The central sanctuary dominates the layout which is given further importance by the development of porches.