Srivijayan cities were often found on rivers, just upstream from the ocean. They were located near the ocean in order to take advantage of the Indian Ocean Trade. These cities had ports, or harbors for ships to dock. Large cities like Palembang had canal systems, which were used as a means of transportation. These cities may have been surrounded by walls made out of wood or possibly from still living bamboo growing close together.

Buildings in cities such as Palembang may have been made from wood. Today, very little remains of ancient buildings from the Srivijayan period, and this is probably why. However, some temples and chedis made from red brick do remain from this period. They were made from red brick. Some of the temple chedis, like those found in Surat Thani province, were elaborately decorated with many layers and surrounded by smaller chedis on each later. Others were much less elaborate.