Phnom Bros, Phnom Srei, and Phnom Toch

The two mountains are located near to each other and are connected with local folklore, the Khmer Rouge era, and today as a scenic area for relaxing and enjoying views on offer, a kind of cultural tourism site. On Phnom Bros (or Phnom Pros) there is a large stupa, and pagoda in Angkorian style, along with several other funerary stupas.

Phnom Bros is also known as Wat Sovan Kiri Rattanak Phnom Pros. The stupa was originally constructed in 1918 and featured a copper top piece of the four-headed Brahma, inset with gemstones (apparently), it was reduced to rubble and looted in the Khmer Rouge era. The stupa was rebuilt in 2001. In front of the pagoda that fronts the stupa on its eastern side are two lions, old or ancient, I am not sure. There are also several old sema stones perhaps from the original site.

At the base of the mountain there is Phnom Bros Library that is topped with the four smiling faces of Angkor/or Brahma, whichever you like, and several other large Buddhist-themed displays and another recreation of an Angkor-style building that seems to have no real function other than being a place to pitch a hammock out of the sun, which made me wish I had a hammock with me.

Six hundred meters away is Phnom Srei. After climbing a short flight of stairs there are nice views out over Phnom Bei (including Phnom Touch) and out towards the city on the other side. The old vihara (hall) has been replaced some time ago and has the old sema stones embedded into its walls and behind that is the old stupa built from laterite.

Phnom Touch is a nice experience, a small mountain and quite beautiful with a new prasat offering spectacular views, and a small pagoda at the top, again with Angkorian styling, and a host of curious Buddhist displays. At one stage, it even had a funicular tram running up the hill!

You can easily ride a moto or take a car up the top of Phnom Bros and get to the base of the other two mountains also, taking the short stairs to the top the rest of the way on those.

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..