A baray is a man-made reservoir, an artificial body of water, which was a common element in ancient Khmer architecture that symbolizes the oceans that surround Mount Meru. This is the eastern royal baray Srah Srang near Angkor.

It is believed to have had both practical and spiritual purposes, i.e. being used both to irrigate the fields and provide water, as well as for ritual bathing, akin to the Indian ghats (fig.).