Although the aerial palace is named a "palace," it is not actually a royal palace. Instead, it was constructed alongside the royal palace and serves as the Shiva Temple. In comparison to other structures, this seemingly unassuming temple is, in fact, the predecessor of Angkor Wat, preserving elements such as Mount Meru, a central tower, gateways, and more. To get a close-up view, we must be prepared to overcome challenges!
At the center of the Shiva Temple, there are three tiers of overlapping rectangular terraces, forming a pyramid shape that symbolizes Mount Meru, the center of the world. Although there are staircases on all four sides leading to the top of the temple, currently, only the western staircase has wooden steps and handrails.
Since we had arrived, there was no reason not to climb. With the encouragement of my friend, I successfully reached the top. As I gazed downward, I couldn't help but feel grateful for my "foolish courage" that had enabled me to conquer the challenge.