Birthplace of the Ancient Khmer Empire. Once referred to as the Mount Mahendraparvata, the Kulen Mountain is the place that marked the origin of the Khmer empire in the 9th century when King Jayavarman II announced independence from Java and declared himself as the 'Chakravartin', meaning universal king. During the construction of the ancient temples, sandstones were brought from this sacred mountain to Angkor. Kulen is considered by Khmers to be the most sacred mountain in Cambodia.