Wat Kou Chan Rongsei – Prasat Kok Ku (Puok)

Located in the small village of Mukh Paen, about 30 km northwest of Siem Reap, is a small monastery and contemporary pagoda (also known as Wat Kuchan Rangsei – Khmer: វត្ត​គូ​ច័ន្ទ​រង្សី) that has superseded an ancient temple site as many pagodas do. A line of laterite blocks are exposed on one side of the pagoda which surely belongs to a prior construction. It’s unknown (to me) whether they were part of a Buddhist Terrace of the late/post-Angkor period, recycling materials from an earlier Angkorian era temple. The site also retains traces of its original ancient moat that would have surrounded the Angkorian-era temple.

The site also retains a cast bell, which is quite rare, if it is original and not a reproduction then it’s certainly the case that there was a terrace that preceded the pagoda we see today. The original cast bells date back to around the 17th century I believe. The bell also features an inscription on its inner and outer rim which may reveal more about its actual date.

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..