Kranhoung Temple

Located on the northern side of Phnom Kulen in Svay Leu district, and also known as Prasat Kro Nhung, it is the remains of a brick temple with two laterite annex buildings, with an outer enclosure wall with gopura on the east side, a moat, and a large basin in the northeast. On visiting the site (01/23), it’s heavily overgrown and only the outer wall, gopura and parts of the laterite annex buildings (or libraries) are visible.

The site was noted briefly in Les sites archéologiques de la région du Bhnaṃ Gūlen (Phnom Kulen)

Towards the West we first come across the complex ensemble near which the newly settled hamlet of Krañun (2) is located, to the south of a very vast reservoir, the Bhnoet (Phnoet) whose downstream dyke has recently been repaired, there is a vast enclosure in laterite surrounded by moats; Inside, a maze of low laterite constructions is difficult to read, and the absence of any decorated piece of sandstone leads one to wonder about the destination of this monument. To the north of the large reservoir, a mound covered with laterite debris is located to the west of a deep basin with edges lined with laterite, the Trapeang Lpoek (23) which gave its name to the site. To the west of Kranun (2) starts a road that extends for almost 2 km after skirting the mound of Trapeang (21) where there are steps in laterite and a sandstone base. Finally, continuing west beyond the landscaped pond which marks the end of this roadway, we arrive at Trapeang Sin (25): on a mound surrounded by a moat and preceded by a basin to the east, the remains of two (?) very ruined brick towers can be seen.

Note: The road leading to Kronhoung village was in good condition as of 01/23, and the trail to the temple was also OK. The temple itself is located behind a private gate and nearby there is a small wooden house to ask for permission to enter.

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..