Kampoul Ta Non Temple

Located atop the mountain, south of Ta Nhean East Temple, are the remains of a rectangular brick temple. The temple is only standing in part, rectangular, and perhaps once was similar to the temple lower down the mountain, with all the overgrowth and lack of remains it’s hard to know much else. There is a very degraded lintel remaining on-site and ancient pedestals, and it’s also recorded that an inscribed shale slate was discovered here, recording a date of the 7th century.

The views over the city below and across the mountain range are superb, and what a temple it must have been in its day. I can imagine that with the mountain top cleared and the temple at its original height, perhaps rendered a bright white finish, it would have been a spectacle from afar and provided pilgrims with an astonishing viewpoint.

Getting there: The site is reached by following a sketchy trail leading up the mountain from the monastery hall near Ta Nhean East Temple. I say sketchy only because of the risk of trip and fall injury, the trail is unmarked, bar someone’s kindness to hang some plastic bottles from trees to help mark the way, and rarely passed it seems. The very last part becomes steeper with lots of loose rock.

Across to the west are Preah Ko and Phnom Bayang temples.

Rodney Charles LHuillier

Living in Asia for over a decade and now residing in beautiful Siem Reap - Contact via [email protected] - more..