Boeng Sasar Viech Temple

Also known as Boeng Temple, it’s located in Khvav district of Siem Reap, and is an unusual and enchanting ancient temple, as regional sites often are. In this case, the site originally consisted of a group of three laterite temples with a “library” building, all enclosed by a laterite wall with an entry gopura on the eastern side, a false entry gopura on the western side and a supplementary building attached to the southern wall. It also featured an outer moat and a basin to the east.

The site is quite unique, especially noting the gopura on the east and west sides but most of all the auxiliary building that is attached to the southern wall. This auxiliary building is only standing on one side but appears as though it only opened to the inner courtyard while on its outer wall, and outside the enclosure wall, it featured a water spout formed in laterite. The overall layout of the site is somewhat reminiscent of what the French would label Temple D’etapes bar the fact this site has three towers and likely dates to a little earlier than those, around the 11th century at a guess.

The outer enclosure, laterite with a bell capping, is roughly 25 m wide by 30 m long. The west gopura, open only to the inner courtyard is in the style of a prasat with grand pediments formed in laterite and a short forebody on its eastern opening which features richly decorated sandstone pilasters. If we use its size as a benchmark, then the central prasat must have been quite large indeed. The eastern gopura, is of a differing style, elongated, perhaps once featuring a grand forebody, in which case it may resemble its western counterpart more closely. In front, you can see sandstone remnants and a scattering of laterite.

Of the central towers, only the north tower is partially standing. The central tower appears that it would have had a grand forebody leading out toward the east gopura which is still standing in part. This forebody, built upon a terrace common to the central tower extends further east with an independent structure, so one wonders about the use of a wooden roof connecting the two and/or the type of roof this chamber featured.

The library is the most intact of all the structures and opened to the west with an antechamber, and above the inner entrance, a beautiful lintel, with decorated door columns of differing style propped up on either side.

Art and features

It’s not uncommon to see unique artwork and style at regional temples and here, some of the artwork is quite unique also, especially noting the beautiful lintel in the library, door column fragments, and the pilasters of the west gopura.

Pagoda, Stupa, and Salaa

The site features two 3 buildings and a pagoda. The pagoda is under development and nearby there is a post-Angkorian era-styled stupa and it may well be from that era considering the developments around that time at the nearby Preah Theat and Wat Chas and even at Preah Khan of Kampong Svay.

Notes: the trail to the site leads off the sealed road just below the village of Khvav and at the village of Krang, it’s a Kubota tractor trail but as of 01/23, it can be passed by moto in dry weather, taking around 50 mins to do the 9 km trail to the site.

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..