The North Kleang and the South Kleang dates from the period of Jayavarman V built along the east side of Royal Square
In front of the two Kleangs are 12 laterite Towers there are 10 in a row and two more at right angles facing the Ave of Victory which known as the Prasat Suor Prat or Temple of the Tightrope Dancers. They are oriented along the north-south axis. Archaeologists believe the towers, which form an honour guard along Royal Square, were constructed by Jayavarman VII. Hence, some scholars believe that The two were not built at the same time where the North Kleang was built under King Jayavarman and the South Kleang under his successor Suryavarman I, but both have similar architectural design, only a slight difference whereby South Kleang is slight narrower.
It is likely that each one originally contained either a statue or a linga. It is believed artists performed for the king on tightropes or rope-bridges strung between these towers. It is also rumoured that they were used for public trials of sorts during a dispute the tow parties would be made to sit inside two towers, one party eventually succumbing to disease and hence proven guilty.
They have given their name to the Kleang style, which is characterised by relatively simple lintels (a simple construction technique, also called "post and beam", where a horizontal beam is supported by two vertical posts at either end.) Other buildings in the style are Phimeanakas and Ta Keo.
