Wat Tnaot Chum

Located on the bank of the Chinit river (Stoeng Chinit), the site is not only quite beautiful for its riverside setting but also for its stupa, an ancient relic, and a library built by the French in 1933. Nearby are the ancient temple sites of Tnaot Chum Khang Cheung Temple and Tnaot Chum Khang Lech Temple making it a very worthy destination.

In front of the old French library sits an unusual pedestal, rectangular but with a large opening now used as a pot for growing Aloe Vera, perhaps originating from one of the nearby temple sites. A floral pattern has been carved on the top edge while the sidebands have been left roughly chiselled. Beside it sits a “chaitya”/bollard from a much later time.

The old library is a beautiful fusion of French and Khmer architecture.

Double sema are placed around the pagoda itself while stupa surrounds the pagoda on its eastern and western side, some possibly also date back over 80 years.

Rodney Charles LHuillier

Living in Asia for over a decade and now residing in beautiful Siem Reap. Rodney Charles L'Huillier has spent over seven years in Cambodia and is the author of Ancient Cambodia (2024) and Essential Siem Reap (2017, 2019). Contact via [email protected] - more..