Kdei Ta Kom Thom (Phnea Kol Temple)

Also known as Kol Temple, Prasat Kdei Ta Kom Thom is a fascinating and extremely ruinous site that from even a quick glance, one can tell that this would have been perhaps one of the most beautiful sites in Angkor, alongside the ranks of Banteay Srei albeit much smaller. It’s recorded as dating to the 11th century under the reign of king Udayadityavarman II (reign 1050 to 1066 A.D).

Photos & Visit August 2024

The site has been cleared revealing a little more of this once very special site which is confirmed by the high level of workmanship in the fragments of architectural decoration. The site now has signposts at the intersection with the main road and a new signboard providing info on the site.

library
west gopura

Photos & Visit June 2021

The original configuration is not clear through the mass of ruin and overgrowth, but it can be assumed to have had an outer wall, entry gopura to the east (in ruin and overgrown – 06/21) connecting to an elevated causeway leading to another gopura (? – and another enclosure?) which was flanked by two other towers (heavily overgrown – 06/21), entering through to library buildings (only one standing), a central shrine that has completely fallen with only an overgrown basement remaining, and exiting via a long western gopura.

What remains that can be seen are incredibly ornate, of high quality, and carved into rich red sandstone. Water would have also been a big feature of this site by all appearances.

On the eastern entrance, there was also a bollarded entranceway that led to remnants of another structure about 200m further along. A little further east again is and to the south of this east-west axis is Kdei Ta Kom (or Rong Damrei Temple).

There are several ancient bridges and temple sites in the area see Kdei Ta Kom group and 8 km directly north is Preah Phnom Temple.

Historical Notes

Layout Map – via Inventaire Descriptif Monuments du Cambodge, E. Lajonquiere
1936 – “Library” via EFEO Fonds Cambodge

Inscriptions

Inscriptions, dating to 1060 and 1064 AD, note the provisions in exchange for allocation of land, and, land that was previously allocated in the era of Jayavarman II.

  • K. 246 – 1 line Khmer – IC III, p. 85
  • K. 247 – 4 lines Khmer – IC III, p. 94
  • K. 248 – 19 lines Khmer – IC III, p. 94

Map

*Important: mapped location may only be approximated to the district level/village only. To visit sites outside the tourist zones you should seek a local guide from the area read more.

Site Info

Rodney Charles LHuillier

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

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