Phnom Chub Kambao Temple

Located atop a small hill, the ancient temple site is quite fascinating for several reasons. Standing at the site today is one partially standing sandstone temple which never received any of its final decorative carving. Its also interesting that is is singular, and that there doesn’t appear to be the space for two more shrines to make the usual trio which would usually rise on a common platform although clearance works may reveal more on that point. There is some laterite seen creating a retaining wall a little further to the east, so, who knows what else might be underneath the soil and overgrowth.

Also interesting are some of the remnants which include a carved but undecorated false door on the east side of the tower, noting that the standing shrine has its three in situ, and another false door laying upside down on the south side of the tower. There are also one decorated piece placed atop the shrine, and more carved remnants of molding seen about the overgrowth. Several pedestals are seen surrounding the tower, so another tower either existed or was planned it would seem. There’s also some brick rubble seen creating for the possibility of all this having replaced an earlier site.

Another wonder, just meters away on the same hilltop is the natural stone monolith that it appears they quarried the sandstone from.

At the foot of a hill is a small monastery with not much going on. The site is easily reached with the sealed roads leading to Varin from Angkor Chum in great condition.

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..